10 fastest runners and strike rotators between the wickets in cricket history

Over the years it has become well established that limited overs cricket is not all about playing big shots. Rotating the strike and the ability to run well between the wickets has become an indispensable art in modern day cricket.Let us look at the top 10 players who have been masters of rotating the strike and running between the wickets well.Note: This list is not in any order, it picks out those who were the fastest runners as well as those who scored a lot of runs from singles and doubles.

#1 Jonty Rhodes

Jonty Rhodes dives headlong onto the stumps to complete a run

Not only was Jonty Rhodes one of the finest athletes who re-defined the art of fielding, he was but also a dangerous batsman. Slightly unorthodox with the bat at times, Rhodes played countless crucial innings during his time guiding his team to victory.

But it should not be forgotten that Rhodes was an excellent strike rotator as well. One of the fittest cricketers during his time, Rhodes was always keen to take his singles and was exceptional when it came to running between the wickets.

#2 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum’s running between the wickets adds a dimension to his attacking cricket

Brendon McCullum is widely praised for having infused an aggressive spirit in the Kiwis and helping them play an attacking brand of cricket. Giving the charge to the faster bowlers and going after them as if there is no tomorrow is a sight we have come to associate with McCullum over the years.

But his pace and agility also makes him one of the fastest runners between the wickets. He is always keen to take the extra run and combines brilliant running with his deadly strokes, which makes him such a dangerous limited overs batsman.

#3 Mohammad Kaif

Kaif knew how to build his innings and good running between the wickets had always been the hallmark of his batsmanship

Mohammad Kaif is remembered for the superhuman innings he played at Lord's when he guided the team to victory chasing 326 in the 2002 NatWest series final. A player who understood and played within his limitations, Kaif was more of a plodder than a free-flowing limited overs player.

But he was lightning fast and ran hard between the wickets at every given opportunity. Kaif knew how to build his innings and good running between the wickets had always been the hallmark of his batsmanship.

#4 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers’ superhuman prowess is on show when he is running between the wickets too

Known for his superhuman batting abilities, the question often comes up if there is anything that AB de Villiers cannot do. Because of his remarkable ability to improvise and accelerate, it is often overlooked that AB de Villiers is also a fine runner between the wickets.

As a matter of fact, he does love to rotate the strike early in his innings -unless he comes in at the dying stages - and banks on his singles to get himself going. He is one of the fastest runners between the wicket in the world today.

#5 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni likes to keep the score moving before launching on his onslaught

When MS Dhoni first burst on to the scene, no one would have thought that he would one day become one of the best strike rotators. But added responsibility made Dhoni adopt a more conservative approach over time.

One of the best modern day finishers, Dhoni now mostly rotates the strike when he comes in to bat and loves to build his innings slowly. His strength and fitness also makes him one of the fastest runners between the wickets. He loves to pace his innings accurately in run-chases and waits till the end to launch the ultimate onslaught.

#6 JP Duminy

JP Duminy has become South Africa’s specialist ‘finisher’ by virtue of his quick running

Despite the presence of AB de Villiers, JP Duminy has turned himself into the specialist finisher for South Africa in limited overs cricket. Known for his calm and laid back temperament, Duminy beautifully punctuates his big shots with the singles.

An efficient strike-rotator, he knows how to keep the scoreboard ticking with his tireless running. He has played quite a few memorable innings for South Africa when he has led the team to victory and lived up to his finisher's tag.

#7 Robin Singh

Robin Singh played several energy-sapping matchwinning knocks for India

Back in the 90s when India did not have MS Dhoni, India's most successful finisher was Robin Singh. Singh played quite a few memorable innings along with Ajay Jadeja to guide the team to victory under testing conditions in ODIs.

A quintessentially hard-working cricketer, Robin Singh was a brilliant runner between the wickets. He rotated the strike brilliantly, ran hard and played the odd heave towards the leg-side. All the running often left him sapped of energy and very often he looked jaded out by the time he led the team to victory.

#8 Michael Bevan

Michael Bevan was one of the first specialists in finishing the inning

Long before almost every team had a successful limited-overs finisher, Michael Bevan was arguably the first specialist in the field. He made a name for himself for his batting heroics coming in lower down the order as he guided the Aussies to victory consistency in challenging situations.

Bevan was, however, not the typical modern day finisher looking to blast everything. He had a calm head on his shoulders and had the ability to rotate the strike well. He depended on his singles heavily as he would nudge the ball into gaps and run. His shrewd cricketing brain made him one of the best modern day finishers.

#9 Mahela Jayawardena

Mahela Jayawardena’s singles-heavy partnerships with Kumar Sangakkara earned many Sri Lankan victories

One of the greatest Sri Lankan batsmen to have ever played the game, Mahela Jayawardena will undoubtedly remain one of the legendary names to have ever played the game. One of the most reliable and consistent batsmen, he stitched together many important partnerships with Kumar Sangakkara in the middle overs.

The efficient rotation of strike has been the hallmark of those partnerships over the years. Jayawardena was a tireless runner and he depended on the rotation of strike to keep the scoreboard ticking during the middle overs. His classic sense of timing and placement not only earned him boundaries, but also the singles as he had a penchant for finding the gaps in the outfield.

#10 Ricky Ponting

A clever runner, a brilliant batsman and a great captain, Ponting was the complete package that drove the Aussie juggernaut during its golden era

Considered to be one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game, Ponting's style of batting exuded class, flair and aggression. At his flamboyant best, Ponting was unstoppable and often decimated the opposition. His century against India in the 2003 world cup final was an exhibition in ruthlessness.

A hard-working batsman with a classic touch, Ponting was also a good strike-rotator and an agile runner. He knew how to knock it around when he had just come into bat and depended on singles early on in the innings to calmly set the foundation. A brilliant fielder who often manned the point region, he was never short on agility and fitness.

His gift of timing and placement also helped him to hit the ball into gaps in the outfield and look for the singles. A clever runner, a brilliant batsman and a great captain, Ponting was the complete package that drove the Aussie juggernaut during its golden era.