Top 5 ODI finishers from England

We often see that matches in limited-overs cricket go right down to the wire. And thus, the job of a No. 5 or a No. 6 batsman becomes very critical since he is the one who is at the crease during the closing stages of the innings.

England, who played the first-ever One-Day International, have seen quite a few players don the finisher’s hat.

Hence, let’s take a look at the top 5 ODI finishers (who mostly batted at No. 5 and No. 6) to have played for England.

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#5 Ravi Bopara

Ravi Bopara was one of the few Indian-origins to have played international cricket for England. He was a limited-overs specialist. A wristy batsman, Bopara could bat anywhere in the line-up and could also bowl medium-pace. He fit pretty well into the all-rounder's slot in the England ODI team.

Bopara made his debut in Australia in 2007 just before the World Cup. However, it was the World Cup in the West Indies where he performed very well. He scored 165 runs and impressed everyone with his temperament.

Batting mostly at No. 5, 6 and 7, Bopara was very good at manoeuvring the field and finding the gaps. One of his defining innings came against India at Lord’s (in 2011) when he walked in to bat at 61/3 with England chasing 281. He made 96 and when he was dismissed he took England to the brink, but rain played spoilsport as the game was tied via Duckworth-Lewis.

Bopara’s only ODI ton also came at No. 6 and when England were in trouble. They were chasing 270 against Ireland at Dublin (in 2013) and were reduced to 48/4 when Bopara walked in. He joined hands with Eoin Morgan (124) and changed the course of the run-chase as he struck a superb 75-ball 101. His unbeaten ton took England to victory in the lone ODI.

#4 Jos Buttler

If there is one player who can match AB de Villiers with the 360-degree shots, he is none other than Jos Buttler.

Buttler has been one of the reasons for England’s turnaround in limited-overs cricket post the 2015 World Cup.

The way he has been batting lower down the order for England has been just brilliant. He helps his team finish with a big flourish after a solid start. He can also help the team rebuild if they lose quick wickets and can then unleash his shots. Thus, he is one of the best finishers at the moment in world cricket.

He made his ODI debut in February 2012 and was a bit scratchy at the start of his career. But since 2014, he has hit his straps. Jos Buttler also has the record of the fastest hundred by an England player in ODIs. Also, his recent innings of 100 not out against Australia at the SCG (Sydney) showed how good he is in ODI cricket (this was after England were in trouble at the half-way stage).

Also, all his 5 ODI centuries have come at a strike-rate of over 100. In fact, he has the best strike-rate among batsmen who’ve played over 100 ODIs (and fourth overall). Buttler has scored 2651 runs in 102 ODIs (86 innings) at an average of 38.42 and a strike-rate of 117.87.

#3 Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff is probably one of the best all-rounders of the 21st century to have played the game. Very few players possessed the skill Flintoff had. He had the ability to turn the game on its head with both bat and ball.

Flintoff usually controlled the middle-overs of the game very well. He then finished big and often helped England get big runs at the death. At No. 5, Flintoff’s record is simply brilliant. He played 48 innings at that position and scored 1749 runs at an average of 46.03 and a strike-rate of 94.34.

Also, all 3 of his ODI hundreds have come at No. 5 which is a testament to the fact how much he loved playing at that spot.

Flintoff played for almost 10 years and was brilliant for England throughout his career. Even though his overall numbers (career stats) might not look great, but the impact Lancashire all-rounder had was superb.

#2 Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is one of the few players who have scored an ODI hundred playing for two countries. He started his career playing for Ireland but soon moved to England (in 2009).

Morgan who is currently the leading run-scorer for England in ODI cricket was the only player to be dismissed for 99 on debut (it was playing for Ireland). In 2009, it was the Champions Trophy that turned Morgan’s career around. He struck a couple of vital fifties to help England qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. And he hasn’t looked back since.

At No. 5, he has scored 2719 runs which is the second-most for England at that spot. His inventive and unorthodox batting has been brilliant to watch. Also, he has led England superbly over the last two and half years (post the 2015 World Cup).

Overall, he has amassed 5864 runs in 193 ODIs at an average of 37.83.

#1 Paul Collingwood

It was a tough call to choose the #1 England finisher in ODI cricket history with Morgan and Collingwood having similar numbers at No. 5 and No. 6. But with close to 4000 runs at No. 5 and No. 6, Collingwood is certainly one of the best ODI finishers for England.

Paul Collingwood made his debut in 2001 against Pakistan at Edgbaston during the Natwest Tri-series (involving England, Pakistan and Australia). And it was a horrible debut series for Collingwood as he scored only 9 runs in 4 innings. However, some good outings in the next few series’ helped him earn a permanent spot in the England ODI team. He also had a very good 2003 World Cup where he scored 137 runs at an average of 45.67 batting at No. 6.

At No. 5, the Durham all-rounder has scored 2727 runs in 80 innings at an average of 43.29. Also, 4 out of his 5 ODI tons have come at that No. 5. Overall, he played 197 ODIs and scored 5092 runs (third-most by an England player in ODIs).