Best left-handed ODI XI of all time

India V Sri Lanka x
India V Sri Lanka

A left-handed player, whether a batsman or a bowler, often adds to the variety of a team in cricket. According to some scientists, left-handers are more responsive towards a game.

Considering the fact that most of the bowlers are right-handed, it becomes extremely difficult for a right-handed bowler bowling over the wicket to catch a left-handed batsman in front of the stumps for an LBW (which is the third most common form of dismissal). That's because either the ball pitches outside the line of leg stump, or if it pitches in line, it misses the stumps.

Thus, left-handed batsmen tend to bat freely - which makes them an asset for the team.

Meanwhile, left-handed bowlers are known for generating cumbersome angles and acute movement, especially when bowling to right-handed batsmen.

There have been many great left-handed batsmen as well as bowlers in the history of cricket. In this article, we will try to churn out a playing XI covering the greatest of left-handed bowlers and left-handed batsmen in ODI cricket.

Note: A player making the list as a specialist batsman or a specialist bowler must be a left-hander in his forte. However, in the case of all-rounders, the player must comply with both the criteria: i.e. left-handed in batting as well as in bowling.


#1 Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

South Africa v Sri Lanka - ICC Champions Trophy
South Africa v Sri Lanka - ICC Champions Trophy

Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the very few openers who has a tremendous record in both the departments of batting and bowling. With a freestyle approach, Jayasuriya often decimated the opposition with dazzling strokeplay.

Having played 445 ODI matches, Jayasuriya amassed 13,430 runs at an average of 32.36 and an astonishing strike-rate of 91.20. His records also include 68 fifties and 28 centuries with the highest score being 189.

The left-hander also picked 323 wickets at an average of 36.75 and an economy of 4.78, with the best bowling figures being 6 for 29.


#2 Sourav Ganguly (India)

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, centre leads a desp
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, fondly known as Dada, has been one of the best batsmen in the history of Indian cricket. An absolute God on the off-side, Ganguly is the second highest run-scorer (ODIs) in the history of Indian cricket.

From 311 ODIs, Ganguly scored 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02 and a strike-rate of 73.70 which also included 72 fifties and 22 centuries - with the highest score being 183.

He left a huge mark on One Day Internationals, leg spinners, and the hearts of fans.

#3 Brian Lara (West Indies)

Super Eight - West Indies v South Africa - Cricket World Cup 2007
Super Eight - West Indies v South Africa - Cricket World Cup 2007

Brian Lara, the 400-run-man, was a player of pure class with some flashy and effective strokes in his arsenal. With deft late-cuts and flashing cover drives, Lara was as good in ODIs as he was in Tests. Besides, Lara was equally efficient against spin and pace which made him one of the best batsmen in the 50-over cricket.

Lara played 299 ODIs for West Indies and amassed 10405 runs at an astonishing average of 40.17 of and a strike-rate of 79.51 which also include 63 fifties and 19 centuries with the highest score clocking 169.

#4 Allan Border (C) (Australia)

Image result for Allan Border hd images
Allan Border

Tough, confident, and determined - traits that are prevalent in most of the Australian legends. One such example is Allan Border. Besides being one of the most successful captains in the history of cricket, Border was a fabulous batsman as well.

Allan Border, the then captain of the legendary Australian team, played 273 ODI matches and scored 6524 runs at an average of 30.63 and a strike-rate of 71.43 which also include 39 fifties and three centuries with the highest score being 127.

Besides being a good batsman, the left-hander was also an able bowler. In his span of ODI career, he scalped 73 wickets at an average 28.37 of and an economy of 4.67 with the best bowling figures being 3 for 20. Thus, Allan Border surely adds to the strength of the side with being an all-rounder as well as a great captain.

#5 Kumar Sangakkara (WK) (Sri Lanka)

England v Sri Lanka - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
Kumar Sangakkara

The former Sri Lankan skipper, Kumar Sangakkara is known to be one of the notable cricketers in the history of cricket. Apart from being a brilliant left-handed batsman, Sangakkara won many accolades as a wicket-keeper as well.

In addition to that, the veteran Srilankan batsman also holds the record of most consecutive hundreds (4) in a World Cup.

Starring in 404 One Day International matches for Srilanka, Kumar Sangakkara has amassed 14234 runs at an average of 41.98 and a strike-rate of 78.86, which also include 93 fifties and 25 centuries with the highest score being 169.

#6 Michael Bevan (Australia)

Australia headshots
The Australian Finisher, Michael Bevan

The term finisher was given birth by this legendary Australian batsman, who specialized in his forte of finishing and chasing the matches to the death. Undoubtedly the best finisher in the pre-MS Dhoni age of cricket, Bevan was a master at building the innings and ultimately piloting his side over the line from the most precarious of situations.

Michael Bevan played 232 ODI matches for Australia and scored 6912 runs at an astounding average of 53.17 and a strike-rate of 74.16 which also include 46 fifties and six centuries with the highest score reading 108.

#7 Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Wasim Akram of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of Matthew Hayden of Australia
The Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram

Unequivocally, Wasim Akram, The Sultan of Swing, has been the best swing bowler in the history of cricket. With the acute skill of dancing the ball in the air, Wasim Akram often created havoc among the opposition batsmen with the stature of Sachin, Dravid, Ponting, Hayden.

Akram featured in 386 ODI matches for Pakistan and confiscated a mammoth of 502 wickets at an average of 23.53 and an economy of 3.9 with the best bowling figures being 5 for 15.

In addition to that, he also contributed a bit in the batting as well. In his ODI career, he scored 3717 runs at an average of 16.52 and a strike-rate of 88.33 which also include six fifties with the highest score being 86.

#8 Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

New Zealand v Scotland - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
The Kiwi Spinner

Daniel Vettori, the left-arm orthodox bowler, remains one of the best spinners in the history of New Zealand cricket. With accuracy on his side, he often the deceived the batsmen with a flighted delivery combined with added pace variation.

Vettori was one of the toughest spinners to play, especially in 50-over cricket where the pressure of dot balls constantly mounts on the batsman.

Vettori played 295 ODI matches and scalped 305 wickets at an average of 31.72 and an economy of 4.13 with the best bowling figures calling 5 for 7.

#9 Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

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Mitchell Johnson terrified batsmen with his offence

Mitchell Johnson happened to be a terrorizing bowler who ran through the toughest batting lineups with ease. An ability to create that extra bounce and raw pace made him one of the most successful left-handed bowlers in the modern day cricket.

Johnson starred in 153 ODIs for Australia and grabbed 239 wickets at an average of 25.26 and an economy of 4.84 with the best bowling figures of 6 for 31.

#10 Zaheer Khan (India)

India Nets Session
One of India's most consistent bowlers, Zaheer Khan

Often being designated as the Sachin Tendulkar of Indian bowling, Zaheer Khan proved to be the best left-handed bowler in the history of Indian cricket.

Having mastered the art of reverse swing, Zaheer spearheaded the Indian bowling line-up in many of the ICC events. Besides, the veteran jointly holds the record for most wickets (44) by an Indian in World Cups with Javagal Srinath.

Having represented India in 200 ODIs, Zaheer took 282 wickets at an average of 29.44 and an economy of 4.93 with the best bowling figures reading 5 for 42.

#11 Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)

New Zealand v Sri Lanka - 4th ODI
Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas, with minimal pace on his side, made the international circuit as one of the best left-handed bowlers who could beat the batsmen with his variations and those customary cutters that were part and parcel of his arsenal.

Having played in the era of Wasim Akram and Glenn McGrath, Vaas carved out a forte for himself that was equally effective as compared to best ones in the market.

Vaas played 322 ODIs for Srilanka and grabbed 400 wickets at an average of 27.54 and an economy of 4.19 with the best bowling figures being 8 for 19.

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Edited by Anirban Banerjee