The T20 format has been the most popular and entertaining form of cricket thanks to the big sixes and hard-hitting. The One-Day Internationals have too lived up to its charm. But one has to admit that the two formats are quite different from each other in many aspects.
It is not possible for a player to play the two formats with the same mindset and the most the success of a player depends on his ability to adapt to the two formats seamlessly. There are many cricketers who played both ODIs and T20s with equal domination. Yet, there are some who have been successful hard-hitters in the 50-over format but lagged behind and could not cope with the 20-over version.
Let us have a look at successful hard-hitting ODI players who have failed to make a mark in Twenty-20 matches:
1) Ricky Ponting
Most destructive innings: 140 not out off 121 balls vs. India in 2003 World Cup Final.
Ricky Ponting is one of the most successful captains in the history of the game. The Australian Cricket Team reached its pinnacle under him and the domination displayed by the Aussies during the early 2000’s can only be compared to the invincible West Indies squad led by Clive Lloyd.
Keeping aside his captaincy, he was one of the greatest batsman ever play the game. He also had the ability to hit the ball out of the park and his innings in the 2003 Cricket World Cup Final against India at the Wanderers, Johannesburg was a sheer example of how he mastered the art of hard hitting.
He scored over 13,000 runs in ODIs at a rate of 80.39 with an average of 42.03.
Yet he was not successful in the shortest format. Playing 98 Twenty-20 matches, he scored only 909 runs at a strike rate of 110.98.
2) Sourav Ganguly
Most destructive innings: 183 off 158 balls vs. Sri Lanka in 1999 World Cup
The “Prince of Kolkata” Sourav Ganguly was one the most successful captains for India. Under his reign, India played many memorable matches and scripted victory from the jaws of defeat.
He was a prolific batsman in ODIs and scored more than 11,000 runs. The opening pair of Ganguly-Sachin in the 50-over format is comparable to none.
In an ODI career spanning 311 matches, he hit 190 sixes and his ODI strike rate was 73.70, which is quite high in terms of the 50-over format.
But he was never successful in T20s. Having played 77 matches, he scored 1,726 runs at a strike rate of 107 and an average of 25.01. His stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Pune Warriors India in the Indian Premier League did not work out well.
3) Chris Cairns
Most destructive innings: 115 from 80 balls vs India in 1999, Christchurch
Chris Cairns was a very handy player for the Black Caps and was also a capable big-hitter. He was an eligible all-rounder and provided balance in the Kiwi batting line-up.
He played 215 ODIs and scored 4,950 runs at a strike rate of 84.26. He also picked up 201 wickets during his tenure with the island nation in the 50-over format. The man from down-under had hit 153 sixes in ODIs.
With such promising statistics much, was expected of him in Twenty-20s. He did not live to the hype though as in 14 matches he scored only 176 runs with a poor strike rate of 118.12.
4) Nathan Astle
Most destructive innings: 119 runs from 116 balls vs Pakistan in 2001, Dunedin
Nathan Astle had an excellent ODI career. He scored 7,090 runs in 223 matches. Having scored 16 centuries at a strike rate of 72.64, he is the second highest run scorer for New-Zealand after Stephen Fleming.
Though, he was unable to cope up with the shortest format. He played Twenty-20 matches with New Zealand and with the Mumbai Champs in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Having played a total of 22 Twenty-20 matches, he scored only 545 runs at a strike rate of 115.46.
5) Lance Klusener
Most destructive innings: 75 runs from 58 balls vs India in 2000, Nagpur
Lance Klusener was one of the most prominent all-rounders in World Cricket during the 1990s. His brilliant performance during the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 is still remembered by cricket followers around the world.
Klusener played 171 ODIs for the Proteas and scored 3,576 runs at a strike-rate of 89.91 and a healthy average of 41.10.
He was known for his big hitting and often helped his team secure important matches. But he failed to shine in Twenty-20 cricket. The South African played 53 Twenty-20 matches and passed the 50-run barrier only on 4 occasions with a strike rate of 136.10
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