Top 10 New Zealand ODI openers of all time

The oldest record of cricket being played at Wellington in New Zealand dates back to December 1842.

The Black Caps, however, played their first ODI on 11 February 1973 against Pakistan in Christchurch.

On 4 April 1996, the Kiwis achieved a unique world record. Owing to their four-run victory against the West Indies, the entire New Zealand team was adjudged Man of the Match.

The number five team in the ICC ODI Rankings, who are yet to win a World Cup, reached the final of ICC's quadrennial mega event for the first time in 2015.

Now, let's have a look at the 10 best ODI openers produced by New Zealand during their 43-year-long history of fifty-over cricket.

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#10 Lou Vincent

The flamboyant right-handed batsman Lou Vincent, opened the innings in 40 ODIs for New Zealand, scoring 1,182 runs at an average of 30.30 between 2002 and 2007.

The man, who slipped into the opener's shoes after Nathan Astle's retirement, hit three tons and five fifties in a career that was cut short by Black Caps' rotation policy.

Vincent's claim to fame was the innings of 172, his highest ODI score, against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2005.

#9 Glenn Turner

A natural stroke-maker, Glenn Turner, opened New Zealand's innings in 30 ODIs between 1973 and 1983, scoring 1,197 runs at an average of 49.87.

Turner, who was the first batsman to score an ODI 150 and face over 200 deliveries, hit three tons and seven fifties as an opener.

Turner's 171 not out against East Africa in the 1975 World Cup was the longest individual innings in the ODI history at that time.

#8 Tom Latham

The son of former New Zealand cricketer Rod Latham, Tom Latham, who became the first Black Caps batsman in 43 years to carry his bat in an ODI in 2016, made his debut in 2012 against Zimbabwe.

Until now, Latham has opened the innings in 37 ODIs, scoring 1,254 runs at an average of 38.00, including three centuries and eight half-centuries.

Latham, who was assigned the Kiwis' wicket-keeping duties in January 2017, brought up his highest ODI score of 137 against Bangladesh in 2016 at Christchurch.

#7 Bryan Young

Bryan Young, an occasional wicket-keeper and lower-order batsman in his domestic career, reinvented himself to play at the top of the order, prior to his international debut in 1990.

Between 1993 and 1999, Young opened the innings for the Kiwis in 63 ODIs scoring 1,463 runs at an average of 24.38.

Young, who could not score an ODI hundred in his career that spanned over nine years, brought up his highest score of 74 in the fifty-over format against South Africa in 1993 at Hobart.

#6 Bruce Edgar

Bruce Edgar, an accountant by profession, opened the innings in 62 ODIs for New Zealand between 1978 and 1986, scoring 1,781 runs at an average of 31.24.

Edgar, who became the first cricketer to be unbeaten on 99 in an ODI innings, scored a century and 10 fifties in his career as an opener in the limited-over format.

Edgar's only ODI ton and his highest score of 102* in the format, came in 1981 against Australia at Melbourne.

#5 Stephen Fleming

Widely hailed as one of the best skippers of recent times, Stephen Fleming led his team to ICC Knock Out Trophy win in 2000, New Zealand's only major success to date.

New Zealand's most-capped ODI captain, opened the innings for the Kiwis in 107 matches between 1994 and 2007, scoring 3,280 runs at an average of 33.81.

The first batsman to score nervous 90 on ODI debut, brought up his highest score of 134* in the fifty-over format in 2003 against South Africa at Johannesburg.

#4 Brendon McCullum

The explosive wicket-keeper-batsman, Brendon McCullum, became the first Kiwi skipper to lead New Zealand in a World Cup final in 2015.

Between 2002 and 2016, the right-handed batsman opened the innings in 111 ODIs for the Black Caps, scoring 3,363 runs at an average of 32.97.

McCullum, who scored the fastest World Cup fifty off 18 balls in 2015 against England, brought up his highest ODI score of 166 as an opener in 2008 against Ireland at Aberdeen.

#3 John Wright

Nicknamed 'Shake' John Wright was a left-handed top-order batsman, who opened the innings in 136 ODIs for New Zealand between 1978 and 1992.

The former Team India coach, scored 3,604 runs as a Kiwi opener at an average of 26.89, including a hundred and 23 fifties.

Wright's only ODI ton and the highest score of 101 in the limited-over format came in 1991 against Sri Lanka at Hamilton.

#2 Martin Guptill

A naturally gifted stroke-maker, Martin Guptill was the highest run-scorer in ODIs in the year 2015, amassing 1,489 runs in 32 matches.

Guptill, who holds the record for fastest ODI fifty by a New Zealander off 17-balls, has scored 4,928 runs as an opening Kiwi batsman, since making his debut in 2009 against the West Indies.

Guptill, who is the only batsman to register three 180-plus scores in his ODI career, remained unbeaten on 237, the highest individual score as an opener, against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup at Wellington.

#1 Nathan Astle

The free-spirited, aggressive right-handed batsman, Nathan Astle has been the most successful ODI opener to play for New Zealand in last 43 years.

Between 1995 and 2007, Astle opened the innings for the Black Caps in 191 ODIs and scored 6,176 runs at an average of 34.89, including 14 tons and 37 fifties.

Astle brought up his highest score of 145* as an opener in the fifty-over format in 2004 against the USA at the Oval in London.