A left-handed player is regarded as valuable in cricket. This is due to the fact that lefties have a distinct edge. Even while Australian scientists have refuted the notion that left-handed individuals, particularly batters, have an intrinsic edge, batting records reveal a definite advantage for left-handers in cricket.
Left-handed batters score more runs and bat for longer periods of time. Furthermore, bowlers may not always have the experience to cope with a player who has a different posture. As the bowlers are taken off guard, boundaries are scored more frequently. They also tend to lose wickets only when slogged out. Let us examine the top ten best left-handed batsmen in cricket history.
10) Matthew Hayden:
Matthew Hayden, a retired Australian left-handed batsman, played for numerous teams including the Brisbane Heat, Chennai Super Kings, Hampshire, and Northamptonshire as well as the Australian national cricket team.
He scored a total of 8625 runs in 184 innings throughout 103 international test matches in his career, with a career-best test match score of 380. He finished with 30 centuries and 29 half-centuries. Hayden also played 14 not-out innings in international test cricket for his team.
Matthew Hayden also amassed 6133 runs in 161 ODI matches throughout his active cricketing career, including his career-high ODI score of 181*. He also ranks ninth on our ranking of the best ten left-handed batsmen in cricket history.
In limited-overs international cricket, he scored 10 hundred and 36 half-centuries and played 15 not-out innings for Australia.
Whenever talking about the greatest left-handed batsmen, be it in first-class cricket or international cricket history, the list always has a special mention for Matthew Hayden. He was one of the most successful batsmen in terms of international test cricket as well as in limited-overs international cricket.
9) Saeed Anwar:
Saeed Anwar, a retired Pakistani left-handed batsman, played for numerous teams including Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, and United Bank Limited in addition to his appearances for the Pakistani national cricket team.
Pakistani Legend:
He scored 4052 runs in 91 innings throughout 55 international test matches in his career, with a career-best test match score of 188. In international test cricket, he scored 11 hundred, 25 half-centuries, and played two not-out innings for his country.
Saeed Anwar also scored 8824 runs in 247 ODI appearances throughout his active cricketing career, with his highest ODI score of 194.
Without a doubt, he ranks tenth among the best left-handed batsman in cricket history. He finished with 20 centuries and 43 half-centuries. He also played 19 not-out innings for Pakistan in One-Day Internationals.
Saeed Anwar contributed consistently to the Pakistani team and was probably the best left-handed batsman Pakistan has ever seen.
8) Allan border:
Allan Border, a legendary retired Australian left-handed batsman, played for various clubs including Essex, Gloucestershire, New South Wales, and Queensland in addition to his appearances for the Australian national cricket team.
He scored 11174 runs in 265 innings throughout 156 international test matches in his career, with a career-best test match score of 205. In international test cricket, he scored 27 hundred, 63 half-centuries, and played 44 not-out innings for his country.
Successful batsmen and Captain:
He is also one of the most successful cricket captains in history. Allan Border also amassed 6524 runs in 273 ODI appearances throughout his active cricketing career, with the highest ODI score of 127*.
He surely deserves to be ranked ninth on our list of the greatest left-handed batsman in cricket history. In limited-overs international cricket, he scored three hundred, 39 half-centuries, and played 39 not-out innings for Australia.
Allan border’s batting was something that the fans loved watching. He was a very flamboyant batsman in ODI cricket history. Whenever playing international matches, he made sure he showed the world why he is considered the best left-handed batsman of his era.
7) Sanath Jayasuriya:
Sanath Jayasuriya, a retired Sri Lankan left-handed batsman, scores one of the most career sixes in ODI cricket history. In addition to his appearances for the Sri Lankan national cricket team, he played for Colombo Cricket Club, Dolphins, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mumbai Indians, Ruhuna, and Somerset.
The Power Hitter:
Jayasuriya scored 6973 runs in 188 innings throughout 110 international test matches in his career, with a career-best test match score of 340. He had 14 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name.
In international test cricket, Jayasuriya also played 14 not-out innings for his team. Sanath Jayasuriya also scored 13430 runs in 445 ODIs throughout his active cricket career.
He had his best ODI score of 189 and was ranked seventh in our ranking of the top ten greatest left-handed batsmen in cricket history. He finished with 28 centuries and 68 half-centuries. In ODI cricket, Jayasuriya also has 18 not-out innings for Sri Lanka.
Sanath Jayasuriya was a very successful batsman for the Sri Lankan team who revolutionized the way of power hitting, not only for Sri Lanka but also for world cricket. Jayasuriya was a world cricket legend and probably one of the best left-handed batsmen in history.
6) Clive Llyod:
Clive Lloyd, a legendary former West Indian left-handed batsman, played for numerous teams including British Guiana, Guyana, and Lancashire in addition to his appearances for the West Indies national cricket team. Lloyd was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1971.
He amassed 7515 runs in 175 innings in 110 international test matches, including his career-high test match score of 242*. In Test cricket, he scored 19 hundred and 39 half-centuries. Lloyd also had 14 not-out innings in international test cricket for his team.
Achievements:
Clive Lloyd also amassed a total of 1977 runs in 87 One-Day International matches throughout his active cricket career. He achieved a career-high ODI score of 102. And he is ranked sixth among the top ten finest left-handed batsmen in cricket history.
In one-day international cricket, he scored a century and 11 half-centuries. In addition, he played 19 not-out innings in limited-overs international cricket for West Indian teams.
Clive was probably the finest test batsman with the most durable cricketing career. He was probably the greatest left-handed batsman for the West Indies team.
5) Kumar Sangakkara:
The retiring Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara is largely regarded as one of his country’s finest cricketers. During his active career, he played for many teams in addition to representing Sri Lanka in international competitions.
He played for Kings XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Jamaica Tallawahs, Dhaka Dynamites, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans in domestic T20 matches.
Revolutionizing Cricket in Sri Lanka:
He also represented Surrey in county cricket. He scored 12400 runs in 134 test matches throughout his active test career. In the test circuit, he made 38 centuries and 58 half-centuries.
In his active ODI career, Sangakkara also scored 14235 runs in 404 matches. He achieved his career-high ODI score of 169. With his incredible accomplishments, he ranks sixth on our list of the top left-handed batsman in cricket. In ODIs, he scored 25 centuries and 93 half-centuries.
A great wicket-keeper and the greatest left-handed batsman for the Sri Lankans had revolutionized cricket in Sri Lanka to make them one of the dominating teams in world cricket.
4) Adam Gilchrist:
Adam Gilchrist, a retired Australian left-handed cricketer, is largely considered the best wicketkeeper-batsman of all time. In addition to his appearances for the Australian national cricket team, he played for the Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Middlesex, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
The best Wicket-keeper batsman:
In 96 international test matches, he scored 5570 runs in 137 innings. Gilchrist also recorded a career-high test match score of 204. In international test cricket, he scored 17 hundred, 26 half-centuries, and played 20 not-out innings for his country.
Adam Gilchrist also amassed 9619 runs in 287 ODIs throughout his active cricket career. He recorded a career-high ODI score of 172. With his incredible accomplishments, Gilchrist ranks fourth on our list of the top left-handed batsman in cricket.
In ODIs, he scored 16 hundred and 55 half-centuries. In addition, he played 11 not-out innings for Australia in limited-overs international cricket.
This left-handed batsman also holds a great record of scoring 50 plus runs in three consecutive world cup finals and went on to win it in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Adam Gilchrist was arguably the greatest left-handed batsman of his era who just went on to dominate the game whenever he played.
An aggressive left-handed batsman like Adam Gilchrist always gave an upper hand to the Australian team in terms of limited-overs internationals as Gilchrist used to smash the bowlers all around the park starting from the first ball itself.
3) Sir Garry sobers:
Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, popularly known as Sir Gary or Sir Garry Sobers, is a former West Indian cricketer who played for the team from 1954 to 1974.
He is widely regarded as cricket’s finest ever all-rounder and one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He is a highly proficient bowler, an aggressive batter, and an amazing fielder.
Test Cricket legend:
Sobers, who was born in Bridgetown, Barbados, made his first-class debut for the Barbados cricket team in 1953 at the age of 16, and his Test debut for the West Indies the following year. Initially a spinner, he was quickly elevated up the batting order. Sobers struck his first Test century against Pakistan in 1958, going to 365 not out.
In 93 international test matches, he scored a total of 8032 runs in 160 innings. In addition, he set a career-high test match score of 365*. In international test cricket, he scored 26 hundred, 30 half-centuries, and played 21 not-out innings for his country.
In his active cricketing career, Sir Garry Sobers also amassed 28314 runs in 383 First-class matches. He achieved a career-high First-class score of 365*.
The cricket icon is ranked third on our list of the top ten best left-handed batsman. In First-class cricket, he scored 86 hundreds, 121 half-centuries, and played 93 not-out innings for his clubs.
2) Sourav Ganguly:
Sourav Ganguly, often known as Dada (meaning “older brother” in Bengali), is an Indian cricket administrator, pundit, and former national team captain who now serves as the 39th and current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
King of Indian national cricket team:
He is known as the Maharaja of Indian Cricket. During his playing career, Ganguly established himself as one of the world’s best batters as well as one of India’s most successful captains.
While batting, he was extremely effective through the off side, earning him the moniker “God of the Off Side” for his graceful stroke play square of the wicket and through the covers.
Sourav Ganguly is one of the most successful cricket leaders of all time. In addition to his appearances for the Indian national cricket team, he played for Bengal, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lancashire, Marylebone Cricket Club, Northamptonshire, and Pune Warriors.
In 113 international test matches, he scored 7212 runs in 188 innings. Ganguly recorded his best test match score of 239 in his career. In international test cricket, he scored 16 hundred, 35 half-centuries, and played 17 not-out innings for his country.
Sourav Ganguly also scored 11363 runs in 311 ODIs during his active cricket career. He achieved a career-high ODI score of 183.
With incredible hitting statistics, he deserves to be ranked second on our list of the greatest left-handed hitters in cricket. He scored 22 One-Day International centuries and 72 half-centuries. In addition, he has 23 not-out innings for India in limited-overs international cricket.
1) Brian Lara: Greatest left-handed batsmen
Brian Lara, the retired West Indian left-handed batsman, deserves to be considered one of the best cricketers of all time. In addition to his appearances for the West Indian national cricket team, he played for Marylebone Cricket Club, Mumbai Champs, Northern Transvaal, Southern Rocks, and Warwickshire.
Becoming the best left-handed batsmen:
In 132 international test matches, he scored 11953 runs in 232 innings. Lara recorded his greatest test match score of 400 not out. He scored 34 hundred, 48 half-centuries, and had six not-out innings in international test cricket.
Brian Lara also amassed 10405 runs in 299 One-Day International matches throughout his active cricket career. He achieved a career-best ODI score of 169 and ranked first on our list of the greatest left-handed batsmen in cricket history.
He accumulated 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries. Lara also played 32 not-out innings in limited-overs international cricket for the West Indies.
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