Cricket is an exciting and popular bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of eleven players on a field. It consists of batting, bowling and fielding with the aim to score runs by striking the ball bowled at one of the wickets with a bat before running between them. The team that scores the most runs wins. Both sides have different strategies when it comes to attacking or defending their wicket while they try to outwit each other in order to secure victory. With its long history, cricket has been part of many cultures around world for centuries – making it an iconic game loved by fans everywhere.
1. Virat Kohli
India national cricket team
Career
- India (2008–present)
Virat Kohli is one of the most successful batsmen in Test cricket, with an impressive record dating back to his debut in 2011. He has also been a key figure for India in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and is currently their leading run-scorer across all formats.
The 34-year-old was married to actress Anushka Sharma in December 2018 and they have two children together. Kohli was born into a middle-class family from New Delhi and attended Chingola College before moving on to play cricket at the Under-19 level for Rajasthan Royals.
In 2008 he made his international debut for India and since then has cemented himself as one of the world's best batsmen, winning numerous awards along the way including three World Cup titles (2010, 2016, 2019).
Virat Kohli is an aggressive batsman and a fine fielder. He made his Test debut in 2006 and has since played 104 matches for India.
Kohli's ODI record is 265 runs at an average of 50.45 with 4,008 runs scored from 115 innings including 135 T20Is In FC he has 115 wickets at an average of 53 and 35 in the 50s or 100s His best score is 254 not out which came against Zimbabwe in 2010.
2. Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh national cricket team
Shakib is a left-handed batsman and bowler who has represented Bangladesh in Test, ODI and T20Is.
Shakib made his Test debut against India in 2007 and has since played 81 matches, scoring over 6000 runs with five centuries including two world record scorers against Sri Lanka (200 not out) and England (300 not out).
In ODIs, he has scored over 4000 runs with 10 hundred while also taking more than 100 wickets. He was selected as the ICC Player of the Year for the 2016/17 seasons.
At the age of 35, Shakib announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket after playing 22 Tests, 183 ODIs and 49 T20s for Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladeshi cricketer.
Shakib was born on November 3rd, 1988 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. He made his first-class debut for Khulna Division in 2004 at the age of 18 years old and has since gone on to represent Worcestershire, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Barbados Tridents in international cricket.
In 2011 he became the fastest bowler in history to take 300 wickets in Tests when he took 4/158 against Sri Lanka at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium; this feat also saw him become only the third player – after Jim Laker and Muttiah Muralitharan – to take 500 Test wickets as well as 400 ODI wickets simultaneously.
His most recent achievements include being named ICC Cricketer of the Year for 2016 and winning two T20I World Cup titles with Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively in 2018 and 2019.
Shakib currently holds the record for most Twenty20 International centuries (8), is joint second all-time with AB de Villiers on runs scored from T20Is (2,243), and fourth overall behind Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Brian Lara with 6166 runs from 149 matches innings played across all formats of the game.
3. Kane Williamson
New Zealand national cricket team
Career
- 2007/08–present: Northern Districts
- 2011–2012: Gloucestershire
- 2013–2018: Yorkshire
- 2015–2022: Sunrisers Hyderabad
- 2017: Barbados Tridents
Kane Williamson is a top-order batter for New Zealand and has played for the team since 2010. He made his Test debut in November 2010 against India and has gone on to play 242 Tests, scoring 38 centuries with three double-hundreds.
Williamson also represented New Zealand in One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 2010 to the present, amassing 161 caps in all which include two World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019.
With an average of over 50 runs per innings, Kane Williamson is one of the most successful batsmen for New Zealand during the modern era.
Kane Williamson is a New Zealand cricketer who has played for Northern Districts, Gloucestershire, and Yorkshire. He made his Test debut in 2007 against India and has since played 90 matches, scoring 158 runs with an average of 53.83.
In ODIs, he has scored 87 runs with an average of 47.68 while in T20Is he has scored 157 runs at an average of 33.29, including two centuries and 17 fifty-plus scores to date.
Williamson was named the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2017 after leading New Zealand to their first-ever World Cup victory that year and also winning the CPL T20 title with Barbados Tridents that season as captain/coach).
Kane Williamson is contracted to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad until 2022.
Also Played For: new zealand cricket
4. Rohit Sharma
India national cricket team
Career
- India (2007–present)
Rohit Sharma is a talented batsman and bowler who has played for India since 2007. He made his Test debut in 2013 against the West Indies and has since gone on to play 79 matches, scoring 8 centuries and taking 153 wickets.
Rohit was named the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2016 after he scored 2181 runs at an average of 43.87 with six doubles and two triples in 21 matches that year.
In 2018, Rohit helped India win their first-ever World Cup title by leading the team with 3408 runs at an average of 59.84 across all formats - including 10 hundred - en route to winning 11 out of 14 games played during that tournament.
He is married to Indian actress Anushka Sharma and they have one child together (a daughter). Rohit Sharma made his Test debut in 2007 against Ireland and has been a regular feature for Mumbai Indians since then.
He is considered one of the most consistent batsmen in world cricket, with an average of over 50 across all three formats of the game. In T20Is, Rohit Sharma has scored well above 30 batting at No.
Mumbai Indians and was part of India's victorious World T20 squad earlier this year.
Rohit Sharma also captained Maharashtra during their unsuccessful Ranji Trophy campaign last season but will now be looking to lead India’s limited-overs side as they bid for back-to-back titles next year.
5. Babar Azam
Pakistan national cricket team
Career
- 2010/11–2013/14 : Zarai Taraqiati Bank
- 2012/13–2014/15 : Islamabad Leopards
- 2014/15 : State Bank of Pakistan
- 2015/16–2017/18 : Sui Southern Gas Corporation
- 2016 : Islamabad United
- 2017–2022 : Karachi Kings
- 2017 : Guyana Amazon Warriors
- 2017 : Sylhet Sixers
- 2019–2020 : Somerset
- 2019/20–present : Central Punjab
- 2023–present Peshawar Zalmi
Babar Azam is a top-order batter in the Pakistani cricket team. He was born on October 15, 1994, and is from Lahore, Punjab. Babar Azam has played for Pakistan at the Under-19 level and made his international debut in 2016 against Sri Lanka.
In June 2018 he scored a maiden century in an ODI series against Zimbabwe which helped Pakistan win the series 2–1; it was also his country's first bilateral ODI victory over Zimbabwe since 2008.
In January 2019, he was named as one of thirty players to be part of the ICC World Twenty20 squad that will compete in England later that year; he made his T20I debut during the tournament, playing against Ireland.
On July 11th, 2020 Babar Azam became only the fifth player to score 1 000 runs and take 10 wickets in ODIs when he achieved this feat with innings of 116 off just 97 balls v WI at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Also Played For: pakistan t20, pakistan super league
6. Steve Smith
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2010–present)
Smith is a right-handed batsman and bowler who has represented Australia since 2010. He made his Test debut in 2010 against Pakistan and has played 41 matches, last appearing in the third test against South Africa in January 2023.
Smith averages 34.87 with the bat over 41 Tests and took nine wickets at an average of 33.29 including two five-wicket hauls; he also scored three centuries (against India, Sri Lanka and South Africa).
In ODIs, Smith has averaged 25 with the bat from 58 innings and taken 38 wickets at an average of 30.66 – again including two five-wicket hauls – while scoring four centuries (against Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand and Bangladesh).
A gifted left-arm spinner who first came to prominence as part of NSW's junior academy team that won the 2009–10 National Youth Championship title, Smith was called up for Australian ODI cricket following impressive domestic performances for NSW.
His List A debut came later that year when he replaced injured Nathan Bracken as Tasmania's second overseas player during their domestic one-day cup campaign. Smith ended up playing all six games for Tasmania that season taking 24 wickets at an average of 26.
After leaving school to focus on his international career full-time, Steve Smith was rewarded with selection in Australia’s Twenty20 International squad ahead of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.
Making his T20I debut in late November 2011 against the Netherlands, Smith went on to play 29 more matches before being omitted from the final 15-man squad for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Qualifiers due to concerns about burnout after consecutive long tours highlighted by back-to-back Ashes series wins where he played every match bar one.
Also Played For: sydney sixers
7. Joe Root
England cricket team
Career
- England (2012–present)
Joe Root is a top-order batsman for England and was named Man of the Match in his Test debut against India. He has been a regular in the test team since 2012, scoring over 2,000 runs in that time.
Root also enjoys batting at number 3 or 4 in the order and has had some success with both bat and ball throughout his career to date.
As well as playing international cricket for England, Joe Root is also a part of Yorkshire County Cricket Club where he began his professional career back in the 2009/10 season.
Joe Root is a powerful batsman who has excelled in all three formats of the game. He made his Test debut in 2009 and went on to score 10,629 runs at an average of 49.43 over 127 matches. In ODIs, he scored 6,207 runs at an average of 50.05, 158 times reaching the 100-run mark.
He also played 195 T20s for Yorkshire and Sydney Thunder and was successful with 16 hundred (including two double centuries) and 36 fifties during this period as well His most recent achievement came when he led.
England to victory over India in the 2019 ICC Champions Trophy final which secured their place in the 2020 Olympics football tournament.
8. David Warner
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2009–present)
David Warner is an Australian opening batsman and right-arm leg break bowler who has represented Australia in international cricket since 2009.
Warner made his Test debut against New Zealand on 1 December 2011 and scored 426 runs in 5 innings, including a century on 4 January 2023 against South Africa.
He also played 37 ODIs for Australia between 2009 and 2016, scoring 1450 runs with the highest score of 293 not out. In T20I cricket, Warner has been particularly successful for Australia, averaging 36 from 10 matches (with two centuries).
David was suspended for one year after being found guilty of ball tampering during the first test match between England and Australia at Lords in 2018 David Warner made his first-class cricket debut for New South Wales in 2006/07.
He played nine seasons (2006/07–2013/14) with Delhi Daredevils before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. David Warner has been a regular performer for both teams and has amassed over 10,000 runs and 400 wickets in all formats of the game.
He was part of the Australian team that won the 2016 ICC World Cup, making him one of only four players to have lifted both a Test and ODI trophy as captain.
David Warner is currently contracted to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad until 2022, after which he will move on to Sydney Thunder.
9. Ben Stokes
England cricket team
Career
- England (2011–present)
Ben Stokes is an all-rounder who has represented England since 2011. He made his Test debut in 2013 against Australia and has played in every match since then, including the last one against Pakistan which was held in December 2022.
Ben Stokes also plays for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic cricket league and he has been described as a "freakish athlete". In 2018, Ben Stokes was accused of assaulting another man outside a night club and this led to him being placed on trial.
The case ended with him receiving a suspended sentence and probationary supervision order. Outside of cricket, Ben Stokes is known for his charity work which includes raising money for disadvantaged children through sponsorship programs sponsored by Nike.
Benjamin Andrew Stokes was born on 4 June 1991 in Christchurch, New Zealand to Mandy (née Nicholls) and Steve Stokes.[1] His parents are originally from Durban, South Africa,[2][3] where his father had worked as a bouncer.
When he was just three years old, the family moved to England so that Steve could take up a coaching role at Durham University Cricket Club. At school, Ben played football[8], rugby union, badminton, basketball, table tennis,chess and athletics.
After leaving school he undertook an apprenticeship with Durham County Cricket Club before signing professional contracts with Hampshire County Cricket Association (Hampshire) Limited [15](07/03/2012)[16])and Middlesex County Cricket Club (09/08/2013).
Stoke made his first-class debut for Hampshire aged 18 years 158 days during the 2012 season.[19]"He batted left-handed but bowled right arm fast medium".
149–50 On 6 October 2017 it was announced that Stoke would join English champions Bristol Bears for the remainder of their Royal London One Day Cup campaign.
It later emerged that Stoke would play some Twenty20 matches for Bristol alongside county championship fixtures whilst still representing Hampshire due to regulations preventing cricketers from playing more than 12 first-class games per year."
Ben will finish off our current campaign while continuing development with Bristol Bears" - Phil Mead commenting on joining Bristol Bears.
10. Sikandar Raza
Zimbabwe national cricket team
Career
- Zimbabwe (2013–present)
Sikandar Raza is an all-rounder who has represented Zimbabwe in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in September 2013 and played his last match against Afghanistan three years later.
In ODIs, he has played 116 matches and scored 368 runs with a best of 56 not out against Bangladesh in May 2013.
He also boasts impressive figures across T20I formats - scoring 429 runs at a strike rate of 153 balls per 100 overs with two half-centuries to his name so far.
Sikandar Raza is a Bangladeshi cricketer who has played for Mashonaland Eagles and Southern Rocks in domestic T20 competitions. Sikandar made his first-class debut for Northerns in 2007, before moving to Mashonaland Eagles two years later.
In 2009/2011, he represented both teams in the annual Irani Cup tournament – an event that also featured players from Pakistan and India.
He made his international T20 debut for Bangladesh against India in May 2013 and went on to play 13 more matches over the following three years (all of which were victories). In 2018, Sikander signed with Montreal Tigers as their inaugural overseas player.
However, he only appeared in one match during that season's Canadian Premier League campaign (against Toronto).
Since 2019, Sikander has been playing for Chittagong Vikings in Division 1 of the country's professional cricket league system – although he missed most of 2020 due to national team commitments at the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament Qualifier stage.
Despite being relatively new to first-class competition himself (he turned 24 last November), Sikander boasts a rich list of honors.
So far, he's won five District Cricket Championships titles (with Northerns between 2007-2010), as well as four National Cricket League championships with Eastern Zone Team A (2013-2015).
11. Quinton de Kock
South Africa national cricket team
Career
- South Africa (2012–present)
Quinton de Kock is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman who has represented South Africa since 2012. De Kock made his Test debut in 2014 against Australia and has played regularly in the side ever since.
De Kock is known for his strong batting skills, which have been on display throughout his career both at the domestic level and internationally.
He was named man of the series against India in 2018, after captaining South Africa to victory in three Tests during that tour.
Outside of cricket, de Kock enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as playing golf - he has won several amateur tournaments over the years.
Quinton de Kock is a South African cricketer who has played for the Highveld Lions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in domestic cricket.
De Kock made his Test debut against India in November 2012 and went on to play 54 matches for the Proteas before retiring from international cricket in December 2018.
In the T20I format, he has been one of the leading run-makers for South Africa with 74 scores over 51 innings including six centuries and 20 half-centuries. He was part of the Cape Town Blitz side which won its first-ever T20 title during the 2019 season.
De Kock is also an allrounder who has taken 94 wickets at an average of 31 with best figures of 5/25 against New Zealand in 2017 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament final match.
12. Viv Richards
Career
- Right-arm slow seam
- Right-arm off-break
Viv Richards is one of the greatest batsmen in cricketing history. He has scored over 18,000 runs and taken more than 2,500 wickets in his illustrious career.
Viv Richards made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lord's in 1975 and continued to play for Jamaica until 1993. In total he played 104 Tests, scoring 46 centuries and taking 83 wickets.
After retiring from playing international cricket, Richards focused on coaching and managing teams both domestically and internationally including stints with Surrey (1996-1999), Northamptonshire (2000-2002), Worcestershire (2004-2005) and Somerset (2006-2007).
In 2005 Richards was awarded an OBE for services to the sport by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace following a successful spell as Director of Cricket for the West Indies Cricket Board which included leading them to their first-ever ICC World Cup victory in 2007.
On 1 July 2009, it was announced that Sir Viv would be joining Channel 4 television as a commentator alongside former England captain Michael Vaughan for coverage of all English domestic matches during the summer season starting from August 2009.
Following retirement from commentary after only two seasons, Sir Viv joined Sky Sports as a pundit covering some 50 live events annually across both golf and tennis including Wimbledon Championships.
13. Jonny Bairstow
England cricket team
Career
- England (2011–present)
Bairstow has been a regular in England's Test side since making his debut in 2012. Bairstow is known for his batting and keeping wicket, with an impressive record in limited-overs cricket.
He was born to David Bairstow and his sister Emily, who both played first-class cricket for Yorkshire.
On 25 August 2022, Bairstow will retire from all forms of international cricket after playing against South Africa at the Oval stadium in London Jonny Bairstow is a specialist batsman who has played for England since 2009.
He made his Test debut in 2009 and has gone on to play 95 matches, including 202 ODIs and 66 T20Is. His batting average of 37.04 is good, but he is most known for his fast bowling which has taken him to the top of the international rankings.
Jonny Bairstow also plays for Yorkshire in county cricket and was part of their successful 2017 campaign where they won the County Championship title.
Outside of cricket, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
14. Colin de Grandhomme
Auckland cricket team
Career
- 2004/05: Manicaland
- 2005/06: Midlands
- 2006/07–2017/18: Auckland
- 2012: Nagenahira Nagas
- 2017: Kolkata Knight Riders
- 2017–2018: Warwickshire
- 2018–2019: Royal Challengers Bangalore
- 2018: Jamaica Tallawahs
- 2018/19–present: Northern Districts
- 2019: St Lucia Zouks
- 2021: Hampshire
- 2021: Southern Brave
- 2022: Surrey
- 2022/23: Adelaide Strikers
- 2023: Lancashire
Colin de Grandhomme is an all-rounder who has played for New Zealand since 2012. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in 2016 and has notched up 270 caps to date.
Colin de Grandhomme's father, Laurence, also played for New Zealand and the pair have a close relationship. De Grandhomme is known for being a destructive hitter of the ball both batting and bowling right-handed.
Outside of cricket, he studies law at Victoria University in Wellington and regularly volunteers with several charity organizations Colin de Grandhomme made his One Day International (ODI) debut for the West Indies against South Africa in March 2012.
He last played an ODI match for the Windies against the Netherlands in April 2022. De Grandhomme is a left-handed batsman and he has represented Jamaica Tallawahs, Warwickshire, and Royal Challengers Bangalore in T20Is.
In November 2017, he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders as their overseas player for the 2018–19 season but injury ruled him out of most of that year's competitions including the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20).
He returned to play first-class cricket with Northern Districts during the 2019 season before linking up again with RCB for their inaugural Indian Premier League campaign in 2020/21.
15. Rishabh Pant
India national cricket team
Career
- India (2017–present)
Rishabh Pant is a wicketkeeper-batter who has played for India since 2017. He made his Test debut against England in 2018 and has been capped 291 times overall.
In ODIs, he has scored 224 runs from 21 matches so far, with his last ODI coming against West Indies in 2018. Rishabh Pant hails from Uttarakhand and began playing cricket at an early age.
His parents have both played cricket themselves and instilled a love of the sport in their son which helped him develop into one of the finest wicketkeepers-batsmen in international cricket today Rishabh Pant is an all-rounder and he has played Tests, ODIs and T20Is for India.
Rishabh Pant made his Test debut in 2015 against England and has since scored over 2,000 runs in the format. Pant was a key part of Delhi's victorious IPL campaign in 2018 and also starred for India A during the 2019 tour of Australia. He is known for his aggressive batting style which often results in him scoring big scores both at home and abroad.
Rishabh Pant will be crucial for India as they look to defend their world title this year in cricket's biggest event - the ICC World Cup.
16. Travis Head
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2016–present)
Travis Head made his Test debut for Australia in 2018 against Pakistan.
He has also played ODIs for Australia and was a part of the side that won the ICC World Cup in 2019.
Travis is predominantly a middle-order batsman but can bowl off break as well. In February 2021 he scored an unbeaten 149 against South Africa to help secure victory in the third and final test of their series at home.
At 29 years old, Travis is one of the younger players in Australian cricketing history and looks set to continue playing top-level cricket for many years to come Travis Head is a left-handed batsman who has played for South Australia, Adelaide Strikers and Royal Challengers Bangalore in first-class cricket.
He made his T20I debut against India in 2016 and went on to play five more matches before retiring from the format in 2022. Travis Head averages 44.55 with the bat in T20Is which is higher than the average of 40.51 he achieves in Tests and ODIs combined.
The left-hander was part of Sussex's side that won the County Championship title last season and he will look to add another trophy to his cabinet when they take on Worcestershire this weekend.
17. Jacques Kallis
South Africa national cricket team
Career
- South Africa (1995–2014)
Jacques Kallis is an all-rounder who represented South Africa from 1995 to 2014. He has played 265 Test matches and scored 381 runs with a best of 153 not out against England in December 1995.
Kallis also took 180 wickets, including 37 ten-wicket hauls, during his career at the international level.
In February 2018, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after 19 years of playing for South Africa Jacques Kallis is a South African cricketer who has played for Matches 166 in all three forms of the game.
Jacques was born on 9 January 1976 in Polokwane, Limpopo and made his debut for Western Province at the age of 18 years old. He went on to play 328 matches for the province before moving to international cricket with ODIs against England in 1996 and Sri Lanka in 2014.
In 2006, he signed with Welsh side Glamorgan where he stayed until 2007 when he joined Cape Cobras in South Africa's domesticT20 tournament competition -CT20- which proved to be successful as they won both the T20 Champions League and CT20 Cup during his time there.
In 2008, Jacques moved to Bangalore where he spent two seasons playing alongside contemporaries like Virender Sehwag and AB de Villiers before returning home to join Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) midway through the 2009 season.
Making him one of only a few players ever to have represented four different teams across three formats within six months.
At RCB, Jacques cemented himself as one of the finest batsmen around by averaging over 55 throughout 2010–11 while also picking up some vital wickets along the way including innings return figure of 5/41 against Chennai Super Kings which remains a record till date.
8 After spending just one season back at home with Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel (TT), it was announced that Jacques would once again join Sydney Thunder for their 2015 IPL campaign – helping them reach their first-ever final appearance.
9 With totals of 257 ODI runs from 424 matches played so far, Jacques is currently ranked 4th on ICC Cricket Awards' all-time list behind Sachin Tendulkar(397], Rahul Dravid(379]and Ricky Ponting(377]).
18. Rassie van der Dussen
South Africa national cricket team
Career
- South Africa (2018–present)
Van der Dussen made his Test debut for South Africa against England in December 2019. He has also played ODIs and T20Is for the national side. Van der Dussen is a top-order batsman and is known for his aggressive batting style.
He has been part of the South African team since 2018, and is expected to play an important role in their upcoming Tests and ODIs campaigns. Rassie van der Dussen is a South African cricketer who has played for MI Cape Town in the domestic T20 tournament.
Van der Dussen made his debut for Northerns in 2007/08 and went on to play 134 matches for them, scoring 843 runs at an average of 32.42 with 17 half-centuries and 47 centuries.
He transferred to North West in 2011/12 where he helped the team win two trophies - the Inter-Provincial Cup and the SuperSport 3-day Cup - before transferring back home to Gauteng in 2018 due to family reasons.
In 2019/20, Van Der Dussen joined Jozi Stars as their overseas player, helping them qualify for the semi-finals of the CSA T20 Challenge where they lost narrowly against Eagles International Cricket Club (ECC).
He returned to Cape Town midway through 2020/21 but announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the end of that season after playing 141 matches over 10 seasons with five different teams across all formats of the game.
19. Don Bradman
Career
- Australia (1928–1948)
Don Bradman is one of the greatest batsmen in history. He was born on 27 August 1908 in Cootamundra, New South Wales and died on 25 February 2001 at the age of 92.
Bradman played first-class cricket for NSW from 1928 to 1935 before moving to Australia's national team, the Commonwealth XI, where he achieved international success in 1938 and 1939.
In Tests, Bradman scored a record unbeaten total of 753 runs against England at The Oval in 1948 – still standing as the highest individual score ever compiled in Test cricket (and one of only two instances when an Australian has held both world records for longest test innings and match aggregate).
As captain of Australia from 1946 to 1951, he led his country to victory in four consecutive Ashes series; this remains a unique feat within the sport.
In 1973 he became only the second person after Don Revill to be named International Cricket Hall Of Fame inductee twice - alongside his induction into their original hall eleven years earlier (in 1971).
Bradman retired from all forms of competitive cricket following Australasia's defeat by West Indies at The Wanderers Stadium Sydney during World Cup 1985/86 season aged 70.
However, since 2007 he has competed sporadically across various tournaments with great success including winning Men’s Golden Glove Award 2016[2].
20. Mohammad Nabi
Afghanistan national cricket team
Career
- Afghanistan (2009–present)
Mohammad Nabi is an all-rounder who has played for both Afghanistan and the national side. He made his Test debut against India in 2018, scoring a fifty and taking two wickets.
Mohammad Nabi is set to make his final appearance for Afghanistan when they take on Bangladesh in 2019. Mohammad Nabi made his international debut for Pakistan in 2009 against Scotland.
Mohammad Nabi has played 54 ODIs and 10 T20Is for Pakistan. Mohammad Nabi is a left-handed batsman and bowls right-arm off-spin. In 2017, he signed with Sunrisers Hyderabad as their overseas player for the upcoming season.
He was born on 19 April 1989 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan to a Pakistani father and an Iranian mother.
Mohammedan Sporting Club picked him up from Quetta Gladiators during the 2016–17 season where he impressed batting at number seven and bowling medium-pace off-spinners around the wicket.
21. Aiden Markram
South Africa national cricket team
Aiden Markram is a world-renowned medical researcher who specializes in regenerative medicine. He has made significant contributions to the field of stem cell research and has pioneered new methods for treating diseases such as cancer.
In addition to his work in medical research, Markram also focuses on promoting social justice and human rights around the world. He was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2015 and was awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2018 for his work on creating new treatments for major diseases.
Aiden Markram is an incredibly inspirational figure whose work has had a profound impact on both the medical community and society at large Aiden Markram is a world-renowned scientist and physician who has made significant contributions to the field of neuroscience.
He is currently the Director of the Brain Research Institute in Switzerland, where he leads research into Alzheimer's disease, stroke rehabilitation, and concussion management.
His work has been featured in international media including The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Forbes, and he was named one of Europe's 50 most influential people by POLITICO magazine in 2018. Aiden Markram was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1971 to an Irish mother and a Swiss father.
He later moved to Canada with his family when he was just two years old. After completing his undergraduate studies at McGill University (Canada) in 1991, Aiden became a postgraduate student at Cambridge University (UK).
Where he completed his medical degree in 1995 - becoming only the second person ever to achieve this qualification from both Harvard Medical School (USA) and Cambridge University (UK).
Following residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School Joint Program for Neurodegenerative Disease Studies (USA), Aiden began working as a neuroradiologist at Basel Children's Hospital - first as an assistant professor then as head of the department from 2001 until 2009 before moving on to take up his current position at the Brain Research Institute.
22. Ricky Ponting
Tasmania cricket team
Career
- Australia (1995–2012)
Ricky Ponting was born in Launceston, Tasmania on December 19th 1974. He started playing cricket at an early age and became one of Australia's most successful batsmen.
Ricky Ponting achieved international recognition with the Australian side from 1995 to 2012 and holds many records including being the first player to score 10 000 runs for his country.
In February of 2012, it was announced that Ricky Ponting would retire from all forms of cricket after the tour of India later that year which he ended up captaining the Aussies to victory in their last series against India as captain.
Outside of cricket, Ricky is married to Bea and they have two children together; son Max and daughter Harper-Rose who both play cricket themselves.
After retiring from professional sports, he has continued working as a commentator for Fox Sports alongside former teammate Michael Clarke among other roles within the sporting industry.
23. Pat Cummins
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2011–present)
Cummins is a right-handed fast bowler who has played for Australia since 2011. Cummins made his Test debut against South Africa in November 2011 and has taken 423 wickets in total.
Cummins is known for his quick bowling and strong batting ability, which has helped him score many runs for Australia.
Cummins signed with the Adelaide Strikers for the 2018–19 Big Bash League season and is expected to have an impact on their team.
Cummins will be playing in the IPL 2019 tournament after being bought by Kings XI Punjab ahead of the event. Cummins was awarded Australian Cricket Captaincy in February 2020, but he resigned less than a year later citing personal reasons Cummins made his ODI debut against South Africa in October 2011.
He has scored 324 runs from 75 matches for the Australia national team, including 116 runs in 20 ICC T20Is. Cummins is a left-handed batsman and bowler who generally bowls offspinners or slow bowlers.
He played for Sydney Sixers in the Kolkata Knight Riders' inaugural season of the IPL before making a switch to Delhi Daredevils during the 2018/19 season.
Cummins has been selected for Australia's squad for their upcoming tour of England which starts on 22 November 2022.
24. Jason Holder
West Indies cricket team
Career
- West Indies (2013–present)
The holder is a right-handed all-rounder who has represented West Indies in Test and ODI cricket. Holder made his Test debut in 2014 against New Zealand and has since played 299 matches for the Caribbean side, including the latest against Australia which was held on 8 December 2022.
Holder also made his ODI debut in 2013 against Australia and boasts 166 caps to his name as of December 2022. Holder's bowling style revolves around fast-medium pace but he can also bat solidly at any position if required; this versatility makes him an important member of the team on both sides of the pitch.
The holder is currently 32 years old and will be looking to carry on representing West Indies into the future with plenty more opportunities to shine on the international stage Holder is a left-handed batsman who made his Test debut against New Zealand in January 2014.
Holder has played for Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Northamptonshire in the T20I format.
He was part of the Rajasthan Royals side that won the 2018 IPL title. Holder will make his first appearance for Barbados during their three-match ODI series against Ireland commencing on 21 August 2022.
25. Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan national cricket team
Career
- 2008–2015 : Peshawar Panthers
- 2011–2018/19 : Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited
- 2016–2017 : Lahore Qalandars
- 2017 : Sylhet Sixers
- 2018-2020 : Karachi Kings
- 2018 : Punjab
- 2019/20–present : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 2021–present : Multan Sultans
- 2022 : Sussex
- 2023 : Comilla Victorians
Mohammad Rizwan made his Test debut in 2016 against New Zealand. He has played ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan since 2015. Rizwan is a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper, who can also bowl medium-pace deliveries from the right-arm side of the bat.
In February 2021, he was named to Pakistan's squad for their tour of England. Mohammad Rizwan is likely to be part of Pakistan’s 2022.
World Cup squad, as he continues to build on a strong Test record with impressive performances in limited-overs cricket too Mohammad Rizwan is a left-handed batsman who has represented both Peshawar Panthers and Lahore Qalandars in domestic cricket.
He made his international debut for Pakistan against England in November 2022, scoring 27 runs from 21 balls.
Mohammad Rizwan's successful career highlights include winning the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as captain of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as being named in the squad for the 2019 World Cup.
In September 2020, he was banned from all forms of international cricket after testing positive for a drug offense.
Since returning to competitive cricket later that year, Mohammad Rizwan has helped KPK win two more trophies – the Inter-State Twenty20 Tournament and the President's Gold Cup – before appearing in Sussex's T20 Blast side earlier this month (November 20th).
26. Brian Lara
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Career
- West Indies (1990–2007)
Brian Lara is one of the most successful cricketing players of all time, with Test batting and bowling records that are unrivaled. Lara started his international career in 1990 and was a key member of the West Indies teams that won two Cricket World Cups (1995 and 2003).
He retired from international cricket in 2007, after playing 199 Tests, scoring 7200 runs at an average of 50.16, with 38 centuries and 18 double hundreds. After retiring from professional cricket, Brian Lara has worked as a television commentator for various tournaments around the world including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and English County Championship.
In 2012 he was named Trinidad & Tobago's Sportsman of The Year award recipient by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for his contribution to sports in Trinidad & Tobago over several decades. (source: "Cricket Legends — A Biography" by John Wisden).
27. Imam-ul-Haq
Pakistan national cricket team
Career
- 2012/13 : Lahore Shalimar
- 2014/15–2015/16 : Khan Research Laboratories
- 2016/17–2017/18 : Habib Bank Limited
- 2019–2022 : Peshawar Zalmi
- 2019–present : Balochistan
- 2022 : Somerset
Imam-ul-Haq is a Pakistani batsman who has played for Pakistan since 2017. Imam-ul-Haq was born in Multan, Punjab, in 1995 and is the nephew of former Test captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Imam-ul Haq made his Test debut against Ireland on 11 May 2018 and scored 231 runs across three innings.
Imam played his last Test match against New Zealand on 2 January 2023 and finished with 1,533 ODI runnings including 215 appearances for Pakistan from 18 October 2017 to 18 August 2022 Imam-ul-Haq made his T20I debut for Balochistan in 2019 against England.
The left-handed batsman has played 54 matches across all formats of the game and scored 1,417 runs with a batting average of 39.36.
In addition to his prowess with the bat, Imam also bowls left-arm orthodox and took 0 wickets in 20 matches during his maiden season for Balochistan.
He is currently contracted to play for Peshawar Zalmi until 2022, after which he will move on to Somerset in England's second-tier league system.
28. Dawid Malan
England cricket team
Career
- England (2017–present)
Dawid Malan is an English batsman who made his Test debut in 2017. He has played for England since then and was part of the side that won the Ashes in 2018.
Dawid Malan is a left-handed top-order batsman and bowls Right-arm leg break. Dawid Malan's brother, Charl, also plays cricket for England and they have been teammates on several occasions.
In 2021, he will be 35 years old which makes him one of the older players in international cricket at this moment in time Dawid Malan made his first-class debut for Middlesex in 2005 and has since played for a number of teams in England, most notably Boland.
He made his ODI debut against Ireland on 3 May 2019 and is also eligible to play T20Is. Malan is currently contracted to Yorkshire until 2021 and will be part of their 2020/21 campaign.
Dawid has been prolific with the bat over the years, scoring 2,851 runs at an average of 35.14 across all formats - including two centuries - which makes him one of the leading batsmen in English domestic cricket today.
Blessed with strong batting skills on both sides of the wicket, Dawid's ability to score off any type or length of ball could prove crucial for whichever team he plays for next season.
29. Kyle Mayers
West Indies cricket team
Career
- West Indies (2020–present)
Kyle Mayers is a left-handed allrounder who played for West Indies in Tests and ODIs between 2020 and 2022. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh in February 2021, before playing his last fixture against Australia six months later.
In total, he scored 324 runs at an average of 25.78, with three half-centuries to his name - including an inning of 127 not out against India in December 2022 which helped the Windies to a victory.
As a bowler, Kyle claimed 47 wickets at an average of 23.11 - including five ten-wicket hauls during his time with the national side Kyle Mayers is a fast bowler who has been playing for Barbados since 2011.
In 2018, he was part of the Windward Islands team that won the Regional T20 Tournament in the West Indies. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in August 2022 and took 2 wickets in 73 overs. Kyle also played 45 ODIs for Barbados and scored 73 runs with a batting average of 28.47, including 4 half-centuries.
His best performance came when he took 3 wickets for 120 runs against Ireland in October 2022 to help his side win the game by 36 runs.
Kyle is currently contracted to play for Barbados until 2020 and will be looking to improve on his performances this year as they compete in Division 1 of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
30. Sachin Tendulkar
Mumbai cricket team
Career
- Little MasterMaster Blaster
Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He has over 3,500 career runs and holds many records including being the first player to score 100 centuries.
Sachin Tendulkar was born on 24 April 1973 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. His father Ramesh played cricket for India while his mother Anjali worked as a bank officer.
Sachin made his debut for Mumbai Indians in 1994 at the age of 17 years old and went on to play for various teams around the world including England, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka before retiring from international cricket in 2013 after playing 192 Tests and 538 ODIs.
In 2007 he became only the third person (after Sir Donald Bradman and Bobby Simpson) to score 200 Test centuries with 101 against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club setting a new record attendance at an international cricket ground with 36,,000 people present.
After retirement from playing professionally, Sachin began working as a television commentator but left that role after less than two years due to differences with Indian broadcasters Star Sports.
Currently, he is working as an ambassador for Nike Cricket[5] which sponsors him along with other celebrities such as Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni who are also ambassadors for this sportswear company.
31. Ravichandran Ashwin
India national cricket team
Career
- India (2010–present)
Ravichandran Ashwin has been a consistent performer for India, with his all-around skills putting him in high demand from both the national team and domestic sides.
He made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011 and went on to play 271 matches, including the 22 last matches of 2022 against Bangladesh.
Ashwin was also an integral part of India's World Cup victory in 2017 where he took 4 wickets at an average of 33.66 across the tournament which included best figures of 5/56 against England in the semi-final stage; this performance helped propel India to their first ever ICC world cup win.
In ODIs, Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 185 wickets at an average just below 30 making him one of the most successful bowlers for India during international cricketing tournaments.
He is known for being able to take quick wickets as well as make life difficult for batsmen with his off-spin bowling - something that often confuses batsmen leading to them playing poorly and giving away runs easily.
Ravichandran Ashwin ranks number 6th highest earnings cricketer among Indian athletes according to Forbes 2018 list earning Rs 151 crore rupees ($24 million) over the past year alone.
32. Mitchell Starc
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2010–present)
Mitchell Starc is a left-handed bowler who represented Australia in international cricket. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in December 2011 and has since played 52 Tests, taking 546 wickets at an average of 28.68.
In the Twenty20 format, he has also been successful, bagging 306 wickets for Australia at an impressive average of 23.92 over 54 matches. Mitchell and his brother Brandon both play for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Mitchell Starc is an Australian cricketer who made his Test debut in November 2012 against Pakistan. He has since scored over 2,700 runs in Tests and taken 13 wickets at a bowling average of 22.74, making him one of the most successful fast bowlers in international cricket.
Mitchell Starc also plays Twenty20 Internationals for Australia and has been very successful with them, taking 94 wickets at an average of 20.77 across 59 matches to date.
He was named Player-of-the-Year by Cricket Australia in 2017 and is well on course to win it again this year after spearheading the side's attack during their ongoing tour of India so far.
33. Zeeshan Maqsood
Oman national cricket team
Career
- Oman (2012–present)
Zeeshan Maqsood is a left-handed opening batsman who has played for Oman since 2012. He made his ODI debut against Namibia in April 2019 and scored 11 runs in the match, which Oman lost by 79 runs.
In T20Is, he has been more successful, scoring 10 runs in his debut game against Afghanistan and 21 runs in his last game against Canada. Zeeshan Maqsood was born on 24 October 1987 in Chichawatni, Punjab, Pakistan.
He started playing cricket at an early age and represented several provincial sides before making it to the national side of Oman. Zeeshan Maqsood's father also played first-class cricket for Sindh as well as representing Oman at the regional level Zeeshan Maqsood is a left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper who made his debut for Kabul Eagles in 2017.
In his first season, he scored 782 runs at an average of 28.96 with two centuries and five half-centuries. He also took 40 wickets at 24.29, conceding only 465 runs in the process, which earned him the Afghan Premier League's Player of the Year award in 2018.
The following year saw Zeeshan score 1,169 runs at an average of 32.47 with four more centuries and 10 fifties while taking 51 wickets at 21.61 - again winning the PPL's bowling award as well as being named player of the tournament by both ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz respectively.
As a fielder, he has taken 15 catches without being stumped so far in his career - making him one of Afghanistan's most reliable catchers ever.
34. Marnus Labuschagne
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2018–present)
Labuschagne is a talented all-rounder who has represented Australia since 2018. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in October 2018 and has since scored 455 runs at an average of 36.33.
Labuschagne is also a competent bowler, having taken 10 wickets at an average of 32.13 across five Tests so far.
The 28-year-old will be key to Australia's hopes when they take on England in the 2019 Ashes series later this year Marnus Labuschagne made his international debut for South Africa against India in January 2020 at the age of just 229.
The opener made an instant impact, scoring 114 runs from 227 balls as the Proteas clinched a Duckworth-Lewis victory by five wickets. He also scored 71 not out in the ODI series win over England before being rested for their final game of the tour - which they lost by four runs.
In T20Is, Marnus has been prolific with 102 caps to his name and is currently Queensland's leading run scorer with 706 runs at an average of 36.83 from 55 matches including seven 50s and two 100s - both against Pakistan in April 2022.
With Glamorgan, he joins Nottinghamshire (2015), Hampshire (2017), and Essex (2018) as one-day international cricketers who have represented Australia on more than one occasion having played 26 ODIs apiece.
35. Rashid Khan
Afghanistan national cricket team
Career
- Afghanistan (2015–present)
Rashid Khan is a young all-rounder who has been playing for Afghanistan since 2015. He made his Test debut in 2018 against India and has also played ODIs against Zimbabwe.
Rashid is known for his accuracy with the ball both batting and bowling, which makes him a valuable asset to any team he plays for. Rashid Khan is an all-rounder who has excelled in both the ODI and T20I formats.
He made his international debut for Pakistan in 2015 and has since been a regular player for their team. In 2018, he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory in the IPL final and was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).
Rashid also plays for Kent County Cricket Club in England's Premier League and has represented Pakistan at several global tournaments, including the ICC World Cup 2019 where they reached the semi-finals.
In November 2021, he was selected as part of Afghanistan's squad for their inaugural Twenty20 International match against Sri Lanka later that month.
36. Muttiah Muralitharan
Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club
Career
- Sri Lanka (1992–2011)
Muttiah Muralitharan is considered one of the greatest bowlers in cricket. He has taken more than 200 wickets in Test matches, and over 3000 overall. Muttiah Muralitharan was born on April 17, 1972, in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
At the age of 50 years old, Muttiah Muralitharan still bowls with great pace and accuracy. In 1992, Muttiah Muralitharan made his Test debut for Sri Lanka against Australia. Throughout his career as a bowler for Sri Lanka (1992–2011), he won numerous awards including the ICC Player of the Year Award twice (in 2001 and 2002).
On February 25th, 2013, Muttiyaarran was awarded The CEAT Cricket Ratings Awards Lifetime Achievement Award at an event held at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel. After retiring from international cricket in 2011, Muttilharan started coaching younger bowlers and also participates actively in charity work throughout Sri Lanka.
37. Mitchell Santner
New Zealand national cricket team
Career
- 2011/12–present: Northern Districts
- 2016–2017: Worcestershire
- 2019–present: Chennai Super Kings
- 2020: Barbados Tridents
Mitchell Santner made his Test debut in November 2015 against Australia. He has played 67 Tests and 38 ODIs for New Zealand. Mitchell Santner is an all-rounder who bowls left-arm orthodox and bats left-handed.
He was the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in the 2017–18 Plunket Shield season, with 29 dismissals in seven matches.
In September 2018, he was named as one of the fifteen players to receive a central contract from NZ Cricket for the 2018–19 domestic season Mitchell Santner made his debut for New Zealand in the Twenty20 International cricket format against England in June 2015.
Santner has since gone on to play 84 matches and 78 ODIs for the Kiwis, with 56 T20I appearances to his name so far. The left-arm fast bowler has taken 4,037 wickets across all formats of the game and is currently ranked second on New Zealand's all-time list behind only Daniel Vettori.
He was part of the Chennai Super Kings side which won their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2018 and also played a key role as they reached the final of that tournament last year before losing out to Mumbai Indians.
In international cricket, Santner has represented both Northern Districts and Worcestershire domestically over recent years but will represent Chennai Super Kings from 2020 onwards after signing a three-year contract extension earlier this year.
38. Chris Woakes
England cricket team
Career
- England (2011–present)
Woakes started his cricketing career with Warwickshire before joining England's Test squad in 2013. He has since made over 100 appearances for England and is considered an all-rounder, playing both batting and bowling right-handed.
Woakes was a part of the team that won the Ashes in 2017 and he is currently awaiting selection for the 2022 World Cup. Woakes is a left-arm orthodox spinner who made his Test debut for England against India in November 2006.
He has since played 107 Tests, 161 ODIs and 188 T20Is for England and averaged 27.91 with 1,675 runs scored and 33.34 with 2,056 batting at an average of 23.36 respectively.
Woakes was part of the English side that won the ICC World Cup in 2019 after beating Australia by four wickets in the final match held at Lord's Cricket Ground on 15 July 2019.
In addition to playing cricket he also plays football for Birmingham City where he currently captains their reserve team Woakes married his long-term girlfriend Rebekah Nicholson on 10th December 2018.
39. Glenn Maxwell
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2012–present)
Glenn Maxwell is a right-handed all-round batsman who has played for Australia since 2012. Glenn Maxwell was born in Kew, Victoria on October 14, 1988, and made his Test debut for Australia against India in March 2013.
In 2017, he scored centuries against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to help lead Australia to the final of the Asia Cup. He signed with Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 2019 season.
After leaving Australian team Melbourne Stars at the end of the 2018/19 season where he had captained them in their maiden appearance in first-class cricket's top division. Glenn Maxwell is a right-hander and bats left-handed.
Glenn Maxwell was born on 25 August 1992 in Melbourne, Victoria to parents Lesley and Bruce Maxwell. At the age of 16 years, 11 months and 26 days old he made his first-class debut for Victoria.
Tasmania at the MCG in 2010/11 season He played 47 matches for Victorian during this period scoring 827 runs batting average of 36.80 with 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries In 2011, he transferred.
Delhi Daredevils where he would play until 2018 when they were relegated to the T20I league He joined Melbourne Stars in 2019 who are currently competing in Big Bash League (BBL) where he has scored 572 runs from 10 innings averaging 34.33 with 1 century and 2 fifties In November 2016.
It was announced that Glenn had signed a three-year contract with Rajasthan Royals as their overseas player for BBL|07 season onwards 8, however, due to an injury sustained by Alex Hales earlier in the same month. Glenn did not make his international debut yet but debuted later on as replacement captain.
Royal Challengers Bangalore's match against Chennai Super Kings ended up winning RCB their 4th BBL title; becoming the only player (apart from Sachin Tendulkar) to win Champions Trophy - Domestic tournaments.
Twenty-20s trophy twice consecutively while playing for a different team(RCB 2015 & KXIP 2017)9.
He also became the only Australian cricketer apart from Steve Waugh & Ricky Ponting who have won both Test Match Cricket World Cup & ODI Series titles10.
40. Sean Williams
Zimbabwe national cricket team
Career
- Zimbabwe (2005–present)
Sean Williams was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on 26 September 1986. Sean is an all-rounder and has played for Zimbabwe since 2005. He made his Test debut against the West Indies in March 2013 and last played a Test match against Afghanistan in March 2021.
Sean's father, Collin Williams, also played for Zimbabwe as a left-handed batsman and bowler. Sean has two brothers - Matthew and Michael - both of whom are cricket players too. In addition to playing cricket, Sean enjoys golfing and cycling - he even competed at the 2015 World Championships in Qatar.
Outside of cricket, Sean works as an accountant with Ernst & Young LLP (a multinational accounting firm). He lives with his wife Alina and their daughter Ayla together in Harare, Zimbabwe. Sean Williams made his debut for Matabeleland Tuskers in the 2004-05 season.
Sean has played 139 ODIs and 63 T20Is for Zimbabwe, scoring 1,326 runs at an average of 44.40 with 4 100s/the 50s to his name.
He was part of the Western Warriors side that won the Ford Trophy in 2009 and also represented them in two IPL seasons (2013–14 and 2014). In December 2018 he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after playing 66 matches for Zimbabwe over 16 years.
41. Shaheen Afridi
Pakistan national cricket team
Career
- Pakistan (1975–present)
Shaheen Afridi is a Pakistani bowler who has played for Pakistan since the age of 15.
She made her international debut in 2017 and has since played in all six World Cups, taking 36 wickets at an average of 23.59 with a best performance of 7/24 against England in 2018.
In 2019 she took 2 wickets from 3 balls against Bangladesh to help Pakistan to their first World Cup final appearance in 18 years.
Shaheen Afridi was born on 6 April 2000, making her 22 years old as of the 2019 World Cup finals which she helped Pakistan reach by taking 2 wickets from 3 balls against Bangladesh Shaheen Afridi made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1975.
He played his last test match 16 years later, against Sri Lanka. In ODIs, Afridi has played 218 matches and scored 7 centuries with a highest score of 222 not out against Afghanistan in 1987.
In T20Is, he has appeared 78 times and scored 383 runs at an average of 36 with 3 half-centuries and a single century to his name - the 100th international ton for Pakistan cricket.
Shaheen retired from all forms of the game after the World Cup 2019 final victory over England where he captained Pakistan to their first-ever ICC global title.
42. Jasprit Bumrah
India national cricket team
Career
- India (2016–present)
Jasprit Bumrah is a right-handed bowler who has played for India since 2016. He took wickets with both his fast bowling and batting, helping India to win the 2017 ICC World Cup.
In 2019, he was named the Indian Cricketer of the Year. Jasprit's wife Sanjana Ganesan is also an international cricketer and they have two young children together. Bumrah made his Test debut against South Africa in January 2018.
He has since played three more Tests and is currently on international duty with India in the ongoing series against England. In ODIs, Bumrah has had a much better time to date - he's scored 45 runs from 70 matches at an average of 6.42 while taking four wickets at an economy rate of 4.00 per over.
His best performance came during India's successful campaign to win the T20I World Cup earlier this year; he took five wickets in five matches as part of the Mumbai Indians' run to the final victory over Australia.
43. Kumar Sangakkara
Nondescripts Cricket Club
Career
- 1997–2014 : Nondescripts
- 2007–2014 : Kandurata
- 2007 : Warwickshire
- 2008–2010 : Kings XI Punjab
- 2011–2012 : Deccan Chargers
- 2013 : Sunrisers Hyderabad
- 2013–2017 : Jamaica Tallawahs
- 2014 : Durham
- 2014 : Udarata Rulers
- 2015–2017 : Surrey
- 2015–2017 : Dhaka Dynamites
- 2016 : Quetta Gladiators
- 2017 : Karachi Kings
- 2018 : Multan Sultans
- 2020 : MCC
Kumar Sangakkara is one of the most successful batsmen in Test cricket and was a key player for Sri Lanka during their time as one of the world's leading teams.
He has also been very successful in One Day Internationals, making 105 appearances for his country.
Sangakkara began his career with modest scores but gradually worked his way up to become one of the best wicket-keepers around, thanks to his strong batting skills.
He retired from international cricket after Sri Lanka lost to India in 2015, though he continues to play domestic cricket for the Sri Lankan side Galle Cricket Club. His brother Thisara is also a professional cricketer who plays first-class and List-A matches around the world.
Kumar Sangakkara married Priyanka Weerasinghe in 2010 and they have two children together – Arjun and Kalyani – both of whom are active participants in sport themselves.
44. Hardik Pandya
India national cricket team
Career
- Krunal Pandya (brother)
- Nataša Stanković (wife)
Hardik Pandya is an all-rounder who has played for India in both Tests and ODIs. He was a part of the Rising Pune Supergiant side that won the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Hardik Pandya made his Test debut against South Africa in January 2018, scoring 50 runs in the drawn match. In March, he became only the second player to score two centuries on his ODI debut, after AB de Villiers.
He also became one of three players ever to open with fifty or more runs on their first five ODI innings when he scored 73 against England at Trent Bridge in May 2018.
His siblings include Krunal Pandya, who plays for the Mumbai Indians cricket team and Nataša Stanković who is a Slovenian tennis player; they are also married to each other Hardik Pandya is an all-rounder who has played for both Test and One Day International teams.
Hardik Pandya made his Test debut in 2017 against Sri Lanka, and since then he has amassed 532 runs at an average of 33.76.
Hardik Pandya is also a useful T20I player, with 58 appearances to his name so far and an average of 20.48 including the final match of the 2019 World Cup which India won.
Hardik Pandya's career highlight may well be scoring 183 not out against Australia in January 2016 - this was only the second time that India had reached 200+ in Tests.
He will be hoping to build on this success when he returns to international cricket later this year in England.
45. Usman Khawaja
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2011–present)
Usman Khawaja is a left-handed batsman who has played for Australia since 2011. He made his Test debut in January 2011 against England and recently retired from international cricket after playing his last test match in March 2023 against South Africa.
Khawaja mainly plays as a top-order batter but can also bowl right arm medium pace. He was born on 18 December 1986 in Islamabad, Pakistan, and is of Pakistani descent.
In addition to playing cricket for Australia, Usman Khawaja has also represented the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and captained them to their first title win in the 2018 season.
Usman Khawaja married Fiza Khan on 24 November 2017 at Lahore's Jati Umra mosque after dating for two years prior to that date.
ODI debut (cap 199) Last ODI 6 July 2019 v South Africa T20I debut (cap 80) Domestic team information: Sydney Thunder, Queensland since 2012/13 season Career stats: Test matches: 63 | ODIs: 142 | FCs: 13 | LBWs: 5 | Wickets taken: 236.
46. AB de Villiers
Titans
Career
- South Africa (2004–2018)
AB de Villiers is one of the most decorated cricketers in world cricket, with over 3000 runs and 350 wickets to his name. De Villiers made his Test debut for South Africa against England in 2004 and has gone on to become one of the leading batsmen in the game.
He was also a key part of South Africa's successful World Cup campaigns in 2007 and 2015, as well as their ICC Champions Trophy triumph two years ago. De Villiers retired from international cricket at the end of March 2018 after playing 107 Tests, 294 ODIs, and 23 T20s for South Africa.
Outside of cricket, he is known for being an ambassador for various charities including UNICEF and cancer research charity Stand Up To Cancer (SUCC). AB de Villiers lives with their wife Sandile Dlamini-Zuma and their three children – Rishabh, Aiden, and Ishaan – in the Johannesburg suburb.
47. Mehidy Hasan
Bangladesh national cricket team
Career
- Bangladesh (2016–present)
Mehidy Hasan is an all-rounder who has represented Bangladesh in both Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket. Mehidy made his Test debut against England on 20 October 2016 and has since played six more Tests, the last of which was against India in December 2022.
In ODIs, Mehidy's first match came just over a year later on 25 March 2017 against Sri Lanka; he went on to play 43 matches for Bangladesh in that format.
Outside of cricket, Mehidy is studying at Chittagong University after completing school education at Dhaka College Boarding School.[2] Mehidy Hasan made his Test debut for Bangladesh against India in December 2022.
He has played 50 ODIs and 16 T20Is for the country so far. Mehidy is a left-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off the break and can take wickets with both hands.
In November 2019, he was named in the squad for the tour of Zimbabwe but did not play any matches as he was ruled out due to an injury sustained during the World Cup Qualifier earlier that month.
With 36 Tests under his belt, Mehidy is one of Bangladesh’s most experienced players and will be crucial as they look to build on their recent successes including their first-ever win over England in June 2019.
48. Aaron Finch
Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Career
- Australia (2011-present)
Finch is an opening batter for Australia and has made Test debut in 2018. Finch was born in Colac, Victoria on 17 November 1986. He made his international debut for Australia in 2011 and played Tests until December 2018.
Finch's batting style revolves around attacking the strike early on with a mix of drives and cutters to get himself into scoring positions as quickly as possible - something which has helped him score centuries against both England and India previously.
His bowling style is slow left-arm orthodox which he uses to take wickets at a relatively low rate, averaging 32 per Test over his career so far (although he claimed 5/77 against Pakistan in his latest outing). Finch is a left-handed batsman who has played for Victoria since 2007.
He made his ODI debut in 2013 and scored his first ODI century against Sri Lanka later that year. Finch was named the Australian Cricketer of the Year in 2015, and won the ICC World T20 title with Australia that same year.
In 2019, he signed with Surrey as their new captain, replacing Adam Zampa following Australia's loss to England at the 2019 Cricket World Cup final.
Finch is married to model Jesinta Campbell and they have two children together: daughter Ava Elizabeth (born 2016) and son Ace Lennox (born 2018). Aaron Finch plays for Victoria in both Twenty20s and ODIs.
49. Kagiso Rabada
South Africa national cricket team
Career
- South Africa (2014–present)
Kagiso Rabada is a left-handed bowler and South Africa international who made his Test debut in 2015 against India. He has since played 47 Tests, taking 233 wickets at an average of 29.41 with a best performance of 8/73 against Australia in January 2023.
Rabada also represented South Africa in the 2016 Champions Trophy, where he took 5 wickets from 3 matches including 2 dismissals in the final which helped Cape Town to victory over holders England.
In September 2018, Kagiso Rabada was banned for two years by Cricket Australia after testing positive for amphetamines following the first test between South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier that month Kagiso Rabada made his Test debut for South Africa against Bangladesh in July of 2015.
After making a promising start to his international career, Kagiso Rabada was banned from cricket after testing positive for cocaine during the 2017-2018 season.
Kagiso Rabada has since returned to play domestic cricket with the Punjab Kings and is looking forward to representing his country again soon.
In T20Is, Kagiso Rabada has scored 62 runs at an average of 21 while taking 0 wickets in seven matches played thus far.
He will look to carry this form into upcoming ICC World Twenty20 tournaments where he is expected to feature for South Africa as well as their qualifying group opponents Netherlands and Australia respectively.
50. Dimuth Karunaratne
Sri Lanka national cricket team
Career
- Sri Lanka (2011–present)
Dimuth Karunaratne made his Test debut in November 2012 against New Zealand and has since represented Sri Lanka on many occasions. Dimuth Karunaratne is a left-handed opening batsman and bowls right-arm medium pace.
He was born in 1988 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Dimuth Karunaratne's international career began with an appearance for the Under 19s at the 2005 World Cup before making his full debut for Sri Lanka later that year during their tour of New Zealand.
In Tests, DimuthKarunaratne has amassed over 1000 runs at an average of 44 including two centuries, both scored against England in the 2018/19 season which helped Sri Lanka to reach the 2019 Cricket World Cup Finals as one of the best teams not to make it to the ultimate tournament until now.
Dimuth Karunaratne is a Sri Lankan cricketer who made his Test debut in 2011. Dimuth was born on 9 July 1991 and made his ODI debut in 2011 against England. Dimuth has played 82 Tests and 187 ODIs for Sri Lanka, scoring 148 runs with 4405 balls bowled and averaging 34.14 with 6/27 scores from the top scorer's list.
He also took 2 wickets at an average of 21 bowling figures each while playing 308 matches between 2008-21 to make him one of the most successful bowlers for Sri Lanka cricket team during that period.
51. Garfield Sobers
West Indies cricket team
Career
- Left-arm fast medium
- Slow left-arm orthodox
- Left-arm unorthodox spin
Garfield Sobers was an all-rounder who represented both Barbados and West Indies in international cricket. He was known for his batting and bowling abilities, with a particular flair for spin bowling.
Sobers played in several World Cups, as well as the first-ever Cricket World Cup final in 1975 which he lost to Australia. He retired from professional cricket in 1984 after scoring over 34000 runs and taking over 1000 wickets during his career.
Garfield Sobers is one of only five players to have scored 10,000 runs and taken 1000 wickets in Test matches alone - the other four are Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara and Allan Donald.
In 1981 he became the first player to be knighted by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to sport Garfield Sobers was a West Indies cricket superstar in the 1950s and 1960s.
He made his Test debut against England in 1954 and went on to play 383 matches for the side - including 95 Tests as captain.
Sobers is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen ever to play the game, with an incredible batting average of 57.78 and more than 2,700 runs scored from 433 innings. He also took part in 329 ODIs during his career, scoring 116 runs at an excellent average of 38.32 - although he did not score a century in any format.
Garfield Sobers retired from international cricket following Trinidad's victory over England in 1974; he later served as chairman of selectors for Barbados before passing away aged 70 years old in 1997.
Final Words
Cricket is an exciting and popular bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of eleven players. The best cricket players of all time include legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara.
These stars have helped to make the game one of the most popular sports on Earth.
