5 batsmen who were bad runners between the wicket

There is fame to be gained for your batting prowess. There is also infamy to be earned when the batting prowess is in inversely related to one's inability to run between the wickets.There have been solid batsmen who flourished at the crease only to flounder like a fish out of water between the creases. Some batsmen charge ahead with dogged determination, heedless that what they are considering to be a blazing speed is actually coming across as a peaceful crawl.These ground-bound leviathans could hold their own at the crease, but problems arose when they had to cease holding and commence moving away from the crease. This has time and time again led to hilarious dismissals. It has also attracted controversy arising from calling a runner, along with the world taking shots at the fitness of the batsman.In wake of another dismissal between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while running, here are five batsmen who were not very adept at running between the wickets.

#1 Inzamam-ul-haq

Inzamam-ul-haq did not have the best luck running between the wickets

Inzamam-ul-Haq had a number of unfortunate experiences running between the wickets. One would be remiss if one attempted to pick one. Inzamam was an adept batsman who has amassed a respectable tally of runs over his career. But he also gained notoriety for his dismissals while running out, or when his partner was run out owing to some confusion.

Commentators even began prefacing an announcement of his run out with “And yet again Inzamam is run out.” or “To no one's surprise Inzamam is run out once again.” His mishaps at running became a running joke. He was run out 40 times over the 350 ODI innings he played.

One should take into accout the fact that Inzamam has scored 11739 runs in his ODI career. That is nothing to sneeze at. Having said that however, he does hold the distinction of faring rather poorly between the wickets. Somthing which affected the batsman on the other end of the crease more than a few times.

#2 Arjuna Ranatunga

Ian Healey and Arjuna Ranatunga had some harsh words

Arjuna Ranatunga's reputation as a poor runner gained thrust when Sri Lanka was playing against Australia. He seemed to sprain his ankle and he asked for a runner. Ian Healey shouted from behind the wickets "You don't get a runner for being overweight, unfit fat (expletive)"

Ranatunga's request was denied by the umpire Steve Randall, but after one over the umpire allowed Sanath Jayasuria to come on as a runner.

It was to no avail though as Sri Lanka lost by 9 runs. Healy had later said: "I saw what the physio was doing on his leg - nothing. Then Sanath Jayasuriya was padded up, the fastest man in world cricket, to replace the slowest man. So I blew up. There was no way he was as injured as he was making out. He was nine not out or something, and he said it was a cramp."

Arjuna Ranatunga did not fare much better when he was running for himself. He was run out 30 times in 255 ODI innings.

#3 Saeed Anwar

Saeed Anwar wasn’t the quickest on his feet

In 1997, Saeed Anwar of Pakistan managed to score 194 runs against India. Perhaps some of his runs ought to be credited to Shahid Afridi who was running for him in the match after the 18th over.

Anwar batted for 205 minutes and hit 22 fours and 5 sixes before being caught by Ganguly. Sachin was the bowler and he went on to break Anwar's record later. Anwar appeared to not break a sweat as he finished his stand. This brought into question how much credit should be given to a batsman who did not sweat out his runs.

Anwar set the then world record for the most runs scored in an ODI, beating Vivian Richards’ record of 189* vs England in 1984.

#4 Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh exercised poor judgement in running between the wickets

Steve Waugh has had a prolific career in ODI cricket. He has scored 7569 runs with 120 being his highest score. But this belies the fact that he did not have the best of times running between the wickets.

Steve Waugh has been run out 27 times in ODI cricket. And his partner has got out 50 times in the 288 innings Waugh has played. That is a total of 77 dismissals through run outs.

Steve Waugh was diligent at the crease thugh. He was not out on 56 occassions in his ODI career.

#5 Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf was run out 38 times in 273 innings

Mohammad Yousuf was not the best at calling for runs, and there were more than a few instances where either he was run out or his partner was run out because of some mix up. Mohammad Yousuf was run out himself 38 times in 273 innings.

Ironically Yousuf had occassion to call out a teammate for not taking runs. In a Test series against Australia he called Salman Butt "a lazy runner." and said that he couldn't understand why someone a decade younger than him would refuse to take a run.

He said "I am 35 years old, he is 25 years old, why not take three runs?"

After being dismissed, Yousuf stood and stared at Butt for a good while before taking off. He later said "I just stopped there and didn't say anything but I was very sad because of him.He is just 25 years old and he can't run and that is why I was just standing there.”