5 cricketers who have performed better in the T20 format

T20I cricket has not taken too long to become the most popular format of the game. Not only is it a huge hit among the fans, but also among most cricketers, who love playing this format of the game.In terms of performance, there are players who have looked the part across all formats of the game including T20 cricket, a great example being India’s Virat Kohli. On the other hand, there have been international cricketers who have performed better in the T20 version of the sport.Let’s take a look at 5 cricketers who performed better in T20I cricket:

#5 Graeme Cremer - Zimbabwe

Cremer has been Zimbabwe’s ace spinner in limited overs cricket

Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer has been a potent weapon in the Zimbabwe ranks, especially in the shorter formats of the game. However, his record in the T20 format has been way too impressive compared to his exploits in the 50-over game.

In 61 ODI games, Cremer has 74 wickets in his kitty at a decent average of slightly over 31. T20I cricket seems to bring the best out of the leggie as his bowling average drops down to 16.59 for his 32 wickets in 24 matches.

#4 Johan Botha - South Africa

Johan Botha was much more impressive as a T20I bowler

Former South African spin-bowling all-rounder Johan Botha has played all three formats of the game for his country. However, his record in the T20I format is a proof that he thrived more in the shortest format as compared to the other two, particularly as a bowler.

Botha picked up 72 wickets in 78 ODI matches at a pretty high average of a little above 40. However, the off spinner's average comes down drastically to 22.24 in the 40 T20Is that he played for the Proteas grabbing 37 wickets.

#3 Malcolm Waller - Zimbabwe

Waller has been one of Zimbabwe’s stars in the T20 format

Zimbabwe’s Malcolm Waller may have begun his career as a part of the ODI team, but he plays his cricket at a completely different level in T20Is. There is a huge gulf between Waller’s average in 50-over cricket compared to his T20I average.

Having represented Zimbabwe in 56 ODIs, the right-handed batsman averages a lowly 18.28 with 896 runs in his kitty. In his T20I career, however, Malcolm Waller’s average climbs up quite a few notches to reach 29.18 as he has scored 467 runs in 22 matches.

#2 Nathan McCullum - New Zealand

Nathan McCullum is New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is

Brendon McCullum’s elder brother Nathan is an off-spinner who has represented New Zealand in ODI as well as T20I cricket. However, his performance in the shortest format has been much more impressive compared to ODI cricket.

Nathan McCullum has played 84 ODIs and picked 63 wickets at an extremely high average of just under 47. On the other hand, though, the older McCullum has picked up 55 wickets in 61 T20Is, the most by a New Zealand bowler, and also boasts of a far better average of 22.85.

#1 Alex Hales - England

Hales’ exploits in T20 cricket helped him get into England’s Test and ODI teams

Perhaps the greatest example of a player doing far better in T20 cricket compared to other formats is England batsman Alex Hales. In just 37 T20Is so far, Hales already has 1111 runs under his belt at an average of 34.71.

However, in ODI cricket, he has scored only 579 runs in 25 matches and his batting average is way lower at just a shade over 25. Hales’ Test career has only just begun and he has not had an auspicious start averaging 17 in 4 Tests thus far.