Rating The 10 Best Opening Pairs In The History Of ODI Cricket

Opening pairs are like a backbone for the batting department of any team in cricket. Openers are always expected to provide a great start to the team while batting. Openers also have a lot of responsibility and pressure when they open the batting, as the opposition bowlers are full of energy to attack them with their bowling prowess.

A good partnership by openers gives great motivation to the team while when openers lose their wickets cheaply, it lays pressure on the upcoming batsmen.

In ODI cricket, many opening pairs have done a fantastic job for their teams in the past. These openers piled up a lot of runs for their respective teams while batting at the opening spot. These pairs also shattered many 50+ and 100+ partnerships for the first wicket, thus delivering a good batting start in many matches.

In this listicle, we take a glance at the 10 best opening pairs in the history of ODI cricket and rate them according to their performances as openers.

Rating The 10 Best Opening Pairs In The History Of ODI Cricket

10. Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)- 6/10

Former Sri Lankan cricketers Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya take the 10th spot in the list of best opening pairs in ODI cricket. They get a rating of 6 out of 10. Left-handed batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and right-handed batsman Marvan Atapattu opened together for Sri Lanka in 79 ODIs from 1999 to 2007.

They scored 3382 runs together at an average of 43.92. The former Sri Lankan openers also hit 8 hundred-plus knocks and 19 fifty-plus knocks for the opening partnership. Their highest opening stand was 23 runs in an ODI against Australia in January 2003.

9. Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith (South Africa)- 6/10

Former South Africa’s opening pair Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith get the 9th spot in this list with a rating of 6/10. Right-handed batsman Gibbs and left-handed batter Smith played together as openers in 74 ODIs for South Africa from 2002 to 2009.

Both of them mustered 3007 runs as openers at an average of 41.19. They also smashed 8 hundred-plus scores and 13 fifty-plus scores together. Their highest partnership for the opening wicket was 174, which was made in an ODI match against Zimbabwe in August 2007.

8. Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar (India)- 6.5/10

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar seize the 8th spot in this list with a rating of 6.5 out of 10. The Indian opening pair opened for the national team in 93 ODIs from 2002 to 2012. Both the right-handed batsman muttered 3919 runs as openers in 93 ODIs at an average of 42.13.

They also account for 12 hundred-plus and 18 fifty-plus partnerships while opening the innings. Their highest opening stand was 182 runs, which they scored in an ODI against New Zealand in November 2013.

7. David Warner and Aaron Finch (Australia)- 7/10

Australia’s current opening pair Aaron Finch and David Warner get the 7th spot in this list with a rating of 7/10. Right-handed batsman Finch and left-handed batsman Warner has batted together in 70 ODIs for Australia so far since 2014, scoring 3638 runs at an average of 52.72.

Both the Aussie openers have also hit 12 hundred-plus and 14 fifty-plus partnerships in ODI cricket. Their highest opening stand was an unbeaten 258 runs in an ODI against India in January 2020.

6. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock (South Africa)- 7.5/10

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock take the 6th spot in this list with a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Hashim Amla retired from international cricket in 2019 while De Kock is an active player. The South African opening pair played 93 ODIs together from 2013 to 2019.

The right-handed batsman Amla and left-handed batter De Kock piled up 4198 runs in 93 ODIs at an average of 46.64. They also smacked 11 hundred-plus knocks and 14 fifty-plus knocks. Their highest opening stand was an unbeaten 282-run knock in an ODI against Bangladesh in October 2017.

5. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (India)- 7.5/10

Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma get a rating of 7.5 out of 10 and takes the 5th spot in the list of best ODI opening pairs. Left-handed batter Dhawan and right-handed batsman Sharma have played as openers in 100 ODIs since 2013.

Both of them have mistered 4978 runs together at the opening slot at an average of 45.66. The Indian batsmen have also smacked 17 hundred-plus knocks and 15 fifty-plus knocks. Their highest opening partnership in ODIs is 210 runs, smashed against Pakistan in an ODI in September 2018.

4. Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes (West Indies) – 8/10

Former West Indies opening pair Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes grabs the 4th spot in this list with a rating of 8 out of 10. The former Caribbean players are among the best openers to ever play for West Indies. Both the batsmen played as openers in 102 ODIs for West Indies from 1979 to 1991.

They piled up 5150 runs at an average of 52.55 while batting together as openers. Greenidge and Haynes also registered 15 hundred-plus and 24 fifty-plus opening stands. Their highest knock was an unbeaten 192 runs in an ODI against New Zealand in March 1987.

3. Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy (England)- 8.5/10

England cricketers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy get the 3rd spot in this list with a rating of 8.5 out of 10. England’s opening pair have opened the innings for the English side in 45 ODIs so far since 2017.

They have mustered 2739 runs at an average of 60.86. Both the right-handed batsmen also account for 13 hundred-plus and 10 fifty-plus opening stands. Their highest opening partnership is 147 runs in an ODI encounter against Australia in June 2018.

2. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden (Australia)- 9/10

Former Australia’s opening pair Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden bags the 2nd spot in this list with a rating of 9/10 out of 10. Both the left-handed batsmen played 114 ODIs as openers for Australia from 2001 to 2008. They piled up 5372 runs at an average of 48.39.

Both the hard-hitting Australian batsmen account for 16 hundred-plus and 29 fifty-plus opening stands in ODIs. Their highest opening partnership was 172, which they shattered against Sri Lanka in ODI World Cup 2007 final.

1. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (India)- 9.5/10

Former Indian cricketers Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar steal the top spot in this list with a rating of 9.5 out of 10. They are arguably the best opening pair in the history of ODI cricket. Left-handed batsman Ganguly and right-handed batsman Sachin Tendulkar have opened the innings for India in 136 matches, scoring 6609 runs at an average of 49.32.

They have smashed 21 hundred-plus knocks and 23 fifty-plus knocks while batting as openers. Their highest opening stand was of unbeaten 258 runs in an ODI match against Kenya in October 2001.