Top 5 cricket teams with the best opening pairs in limited overs cricket history

#2 Australia

Hayden and Gilchrist are arguably one of the most destructive opening pairs in ODI

In the early 90s, the Australians had Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh who became their settled opening pair.

While Taylor was more of the gritty and determined bloke, Waugh was an elegant stroke maker with a touch of class and panache in his strokeplay.

Waugh’s flamboyant batting looked effortless as he was blessed with sublime timing and nimble footwork.

Towards the end of the 90s, the hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist joined Waugh at the top of the innings.

Gilchrist was a tormentor with his belligerent hitting and played the perfect foil to his more elegant partner. 'Gilli' produced some whirlwind cameos which provided the Aussies with the much-required impetus up front.

Australia’s long period of dominance in One Day cricket has been courtesy of a spree of solid opening pairs.

Australia who had a bit of a downfall in the 80s owing to the mass exodus of some stalwarts were given a second lease of life with the dependable opening pair of Geoff Marsh and David Boon.

The Marsh-Boon pair were consistent run-getters for the Aussies in the 80s and helped their cause in getting back to the top of ODI cricket as a formidable side.

In Australian cricket's Golden Era, Gilchrist was partnered by the big and bury Matthew Hayden who was a bludgeoner of the red cherry.

'Haydos' with his imposing figure who could decimate the best of bowling attacks with his brutal assault.

Gilli and Haydos formed arguably one of the most destructive opening pairs in ODIs and became an integral part of the champion Australian side which dominated cricket all through the first decade of the 2000s.

After Gilchrist and Hayden bid adieu to international cricket, the Aussies continued to boast of a string of specialist openers in the form of David Warner, Aaron Finch and Shane Watson who provided the much-required stability up the order.