11 greatest big-match cricketers of all time

What makes a big match cricketer tick? Is there really a formula? When Marlon Samuels played a secondT20 World Cup-winning knock in 2016 for his team (the first being his spectacular innings in the 2012 T20 World Cup Final), he demonstrated how some players just turn up on the big day.

These are probably the players whose unique gifts are triggered by a high-pressure environment. These are the players who love the big stage. They perform when it counts, and can shoulder the burden of massive expectations.

Here we have tried to compile a list of some big match players who have done it for their teams over and over again.

10. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar has a 50+ score once in every two World Cup matches.

Contrary to what most people believe, Sachin Tendulkar has more runs in tournament finals than any other batsman. He also has more runs than any other batsman at the World Cups. For those who believe this is primarily because of his longevity, his averages do all the talking.

Sachin racked up 1851 runs in 39 innings in tournament finals at an impressive average of 54.44 (fourth-highest average for all batsmen with more than 500 runs in finals) and a strike-rate of 87.68 (seventh-highest) with 16 50+ scores (6 centuries and ten half-centuries).

The next highest number of centuries in tournament finals is 3, shared by a bunch of other legends. Sachin also has 2278 runs at an average of 56.95 in 45 World Cup matches, more than 500 ahead of the next batsman, Ricky Ponting, who had the opportunity to play for a much stronger team in his 46 appearances.

The most incredible stat though is the number of 50+ scores Sachin has in World Cup matches – 21 (6 centuries and 15 half-centuries) in 44 innings, almost one every two games. The next highest is Sangakkara’s distant 12, with five centuries.

These numbers prove without doubt, how often Sachin contributed in matches that mattered, most memorable ones being against Australia in Sharjah, 1998 and the semi-final and quarter-final against Pakistan and Australia respectively in 2011 ODI World Cup.

9. Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath was known for his consistent line and length.

Statistically, the greatest and most consistent fast bowler of all-time, Glenn McGrath was capable of bettering even his measly numbers when he played the big matches. McGrath holds the record for most wickets in tournament finals – 55 in 27 innings at an average of 16.43 and an economy of 3.92, with four four-plus wicket hauls.

He also holds the record for most wickets at the World Cup – 71 in 39 innings at 18.19 with an economy of 3.96. For such spectacular numbers, he won the Man of the Series during Australia’s victorious campaign in 2007 ODI World Cup.

It is hard to see how these numbers can be bettered given even the great Muralitharan fell short of McGrath’s mark by three wickets. Of all bowlers with at least 30 wickets in tournament finals, only Joel Garner and Mitchell Starc have a better bowling average than McGrath – 14.36 and 14.81 respectively.

8. Shane Warne

Shane Warne wheels off in celebration during the 1999 World Cup final

4/29 in 10 overs in the 1999 ODI World Cup semi-final and 4/33 in 9 overs in the final that year ensured Shane Warne had a unique distinction – that of winning Man of the Match for both semi-final and final of the World Cup, something only Aravinda de Silva had managed previously.

However, Warne’s greatness wasn't limited to just those two big matches. He was a man who loved the big stage and performed consistently. He has 40 wickets in tournament finals from only 25 games at 24.60.

Warne played just two World Cups strangely, but in 17 matches, he picked up 32 wickets at 19.5 with an economy of 3.83, making him a seminal force in Australia’s victorious campaign in 1999 when they weren’t the tournament favourites by any stretch of imagination.

7. Sir Vivian Richards

Sir Vivian Richards played a crucial role in West Indies' 1979 World Cup win.

Vivian Richards was at least two decades ahead of his time. The original Master Blaster scored a sensational, Man-of-the-Match-winning 157-ball 138 to help West Indies win the 1979 ODI World Cup final. Richards scored 836 runs in 17 innings in tournament finals at an average of 55.73 (third behind Michael Bevan and Gary Kirsten).

He also scored 1013 runs in just 21 World Cup matches at an average of 63.31 (second highest for anyone with more than 1000 runs in World Cups behind AB de Villiers) with three centuries and five half-centuries. He managed these runs at a trailblazing strike-rate of 85, a rarity during his times.

6. Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas has 49 World Cup wickets in 31 matches.

Vaas just beats Joel Garner to take this spot. He has the fourth-highest number of wickets in World Cups – 49 from 31 games at 21.22 with an economy of 3.97. Vaas also has 44 wickets from 31 tournament finals at 25.5, fifth highest amongst all bowlers.

Vaas was a member of the 1996 World Cup-winning team and was Sri Lanka’s spearhead during their renaissance in world cricket under Arjuna Ranatunga; the left-arm pacer had a long career that allowed him to participate even in the 2007 World Cup.

5. Brett Lee

Brett Lee's searing pace made him a valuable asset to the Australian team.

The man who will always be remembered for the 100mph delivery was also a spectacular big match player. Whether it was his 3/35 against Sri Lanka in the 2003 semi-final or 5/42 against New Zealand in a crunch match in the same World Cup, Brett Lee always turned up when it mattered.

It is no wonder that he managed 35 wickets at the World Cup in just 17 matches at 17.97 and an economy of 4.57. Lee also has 50 wickets in all tournament finals in just 26 games at an average of 20.38 and an economy of 4.35. That wicket tally puts him second only behind McGrath.

4. Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka's go-to man at the top of the order for years.

Sanath Jayasuriya was Ranatunga’s rook, the man whose strong forearms re-scripted the history of Sri Lankan cricket. Man of the Series of the 1996 World Cup, Jayasuriya contributed with both bat and ball, blasting his way to glory in many a big match.

Jayasuriya has 1613 runs in all tournament finals at 42.44 and a strike-rate of 98.35, a run-tally second only to Sachin Tendulkar, with 15 fifty-plus scores. He also amassed 1165 runs in 37 World Cup innings at a strike-rate of 91.

To add to that, Jayasuriya also picked up 23 wickets at an economy of 5 in 39 Tournament Finals. Most importantly, he was an impact player who almost always won his team the match when he clicked.

3. Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram was one half of Pakistan's Sultans of Swing, along with Waqar Younis.

The man who could make the cricket ball talk, and one-half of Pakistan’s famous Sultans of Swing, Wasim Akram was the Rock of Gibraltar for Pakistan bowling. Akram has 55 wickets in 36 World Cup matches, fourth-highest on the all-time list.

He picked up these wickets at 23.83 and an economy of 4.04. Akram was named Man of the Match of the 1992 World Cup final for his match-turning 3-49 against England in addition to a cameo with the bat. The left-arm pacer also has 49 wickets in 36 tournament finals, third behind Lee and McGrath. His economy of 3.77 is lower than both of them, and is second lowest amongst all bowlers with 30 or more wickets in tournament finals.

2. Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga

Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga

It is hard to call Muttiah Muralitharan a big match player, for he always performed and rarely had a bad day. However, it would be unfair to leave him out of this list too. Muralitharan has 49 wickets (joint third-highest) in tournament finals at an average of 25.28 and 68 wickets (second-highest) in World Cups at 19.63 with an economy of 3.88.

It is harder still to leave Malinga out despite his non-appearance on the list of bowlers with more than 20 wickets in tournament finals. However, Malinga more than makes up for it with his performances in the World Cups. He has 43 wickets in 22 matches at 21.11 in the ODI World Cups and 38 wickets at 20 in 31 games at the T20 World Cups (second only to Shahid Afridi who has 39 wickets). That is why this spot is shared by the two team-mates, Murali and Malinga.

1. Michael Bevan

Michael Bevan is considered one of the best ODI finishers of all time.

The man who holds fort for the highest batting average of 73 for all batsmen with more than 500 runs in ODI Tournament finals, Michael Bevan, until the arrival of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, was considered the world’s greatest ODI finisher.

Playing some crucial knocks down the order, Bevan managed to pull Australia from the jaws of defeat several times as seen in his eight not-outs in tournament finals. Bevan scored 537 runs in World Cup games at an average of 44.75 in 18 innings. His most memorable knock came in Australia’s 2-wicket victory over England when he scored 74* adding 73 for the ninth wicket with Andy Bichel.