10 cricketers known for their one-off brilliant moments

#5 Ricardo Powell

Ricardo Powell

A typical West Indian batting talent, Ricardo Powell loved to tonk the cricket ball. However, he ended up earning a reputation as a restless slogger. Powell’s rare moment of brilliance on the cricket field came during the final of a tri-series against India in Singapore in 1999.

Chasing 255, West Indies had crumbled to 67 for 4. Powell, however, walked in at No.6 and played one of the most brutal knocks in the history of one-day cricket. He smashed 124 in 93 balls with the aid of nine fours and eight sixes against a reasonable bowling attack featuring Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad.

Powell’s power-hitting saw West Indies cruise to victory in 47.4 overs, with four wickets standing. The Jamaica-born batsman could never replicate the brilliance on the international stage again.

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#6 Mike Veletta

Mike Veletta

Mike Veletta could not make much of an impact on Australian cricket. But he played a key role in Australia’s World Cup triumph in 1987 in Kolkata. Coming in to bat at No.6, he cracked a smart 45 not out off only 31 balls, hitting six fours.

Veletta’s cameo took Australia past 250 in the final against England. It was a significant knock in hindsight as the Aussies lifted their maiden cricket World Cup title with a close seven-run win.

Velleta had a short international career lasting three years, in which he played eight Tests and 20 ODIs.

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#7 Rajesh Chauhan

Rajesh Chauhan. Pic: Allsport

Former India off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan’s career was marred by doubts over his bowling action. And, in most of the games that he featured in, he played second fiddle to Anil Kumble. His moment of glory, rather surprisingly, came with the willow.

In an ODI against Pakistan in Karachi in 1997, India needed eight to win with the ball in Saqlain Mushtaq’s hand. Chauhan was on strike, and everyone wanted him to turn over the strike to the proper batsman Robin Singh.

Instead, Chauhan jumped out of his crease and launched the bowler over the ropes. India easily went on to cross the target of 266 from thereon and Chauhan’s place in Indian cricketing history was secure.

For some Indian fans, this was a revenge to the legendary six Javed Miandad hit off Chetan Sharma.

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#8 Sameer Dighe

Sameer Dighe and Harbhajan Singh celebrate the Chennai triumph. Pic: Allsport

Mumbai stumper Sameer Dighe briefly represented India. He will be remembered as someone who played one of the most significant cameos in the history of Indian cricket. Chasing 155 for victory in the deciding Test of the famous 2001 series against Australia, India had crumbled inexplicably to 135 for 7. The hosts seemed on the verge of losing a golden opportunity to defeat the mighty Aussies.

Dighe, a veteran of domestic cricket, held his nerve, nudging and pushing India towards the target. The wicketkeeper-batsman contributed an invaluable 22 off 48 balls to keep India in the hunt before Harbhajan Singh took India past the victory line with a couple off Glenn McGrath.

Dighe played only six Tests and 23 ODIs in a short career and even managed a highest score of 94 not out in one-dayers. But Indian cricket fans will forever associate him with the Chennai knock.

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#9 Collis King

Collis King

Former West Indies cricketer Collis King played nine Tests and 18 ODIs in an unremarkable career. He had some batting talent though. Else how could he outshine Sir Viv Richards in a famous partnership between the two, that too in the 1979 World Cup final against England at Lord’s?

King walked in with West Indies at 99 for 4, batting first in the summit clash. He batted like a king and cracked 86 in only 66 balls. The big-hitter hammered 10 fours and three sixes to put West Indies firmly on top, as England bowlers could only watch in amazement.

King and Richards (138 not out) added 139 runs for the fifth wicket as the Windies went on to post 286 for 9. Clive Lloyd’s men went on to lift their second consecutive World Cup title as Joel Garner claimed five wickets. As for King, he played his last match for West Indies in August 1980.

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#10 Anthony Stuart

Anthony Stuart. Pic: ICC

How many cricketers have taken a one-day hat-trick and never played for their country again? Former Aussie medium-pacer Anthony Stuart may be the only name on the list. He claimed 5 for 26 in an ODI against Pakistan in Melbourne in January 1997.

During the course of his brilliant spell, Stuart dismissed Ijaz Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim and Moin Khan with the third, fourth, and fifth balls of his sixth over to claim a famous hat-trick. He was even named man of the match as Australia won the game by three wickets.

Despite the match-winning performance, Stuart was never seen in Australian colors again. In fact, his international cricket career lasted all of 12 days - from January 5 to January 16, 1997.