20 Greatest ODIs (by ESPNCricinfo)

[Teja.]

So far, there are 6 Indian matches, 5 Australia matches, 4 WI matches and 3 England matches. They are all over the place. I wouldn't be surprised if Cricinfo was pretty biased towards India due to the $$$ but it seems lazy to say it in this context. The Kohli match and desert storm are iconic games. The India-Pak match was important because it was the first time India toured Pakistan after 15 years and it was a 349v340 match which came down to 8 runs in the final over. It was a classic match, especially back in 2004 when scores like that were extremely rare, let alone chases. I don't know whether they fit in a top 20 or 40 or 50 list. That would depend on the criteria. It appears like they are selecting the games which are remembered historically as opposed to the most balanced and evenly fought. Either way, all the 12 entries so far are great IMO.

I think the Tendulkar 200 has no place here. The innings was great but the pitch was extremely flat, the ground was tiny, the match was meaningless and wasn't close to a contest. I would definitely have India vs Pak in the 2003 World Cup though. Great ****ing game and the most batshit outrageous innings I've ever seen from Tendulkar.

 

[The Sean]

Only seven entries left, so some very famous matches/performances are going to miss out entirely.

 

[Teja.]

There are some amazing career performances from the 2003 WC like Bond's 6-23, Nehra's 6-23 and Symonds 143 vs Pak which were sadly overshadowed by the winners just destroying the opponents in the second innings to prevent the match from being particularly great. At least we got Warne in Mohali representing a great bowling performance.

 

[Burgey]

There are some amazing career performances from the 2003 WC like Bond's 6-23, Nehra's 6-23 and Symonds 143 vs Pak which were sadly overshadowed by the winners just destroying the opponents in the second innings to prevent the match from being particularly great. At least we got Warne in Mohali representing a great bowling performance.

Bichel had an an insane few games in 2003 as well. 7/20 and 30 something in a last wicket partnership of 70 odd vs England was a ridiculous performance tbh

 

[OverratedSanity]

At number 8 we have the 1995 semi between Windies and Australia. McGrath and Warne bowling them to a very unlikely victory.

A decent match, but Top 20 of all time? I have rather more recollection of the other semi....

Whats the argument against this game? It's easily one of the best odis of all time and a worthy entry here. High stakes, thrilling finish, great performances, it had everything.

 

[Teja.]

@Molehill I have a radically different perspective to you so interested to know what are some examples of great games in your opinion.

 

[subshakerz]

India v Pakistan Miandad last-ball six today at number nine.

I love how they mention in the article that the game itself wasn't that great.

 

[Molehill]

Whats the argument against this game? It's easily one of the best odis of all time and a worthy entry here. High stakes, thrilling finish, great performances, it had everything.

Yeah, it makes a lot more sense to have it here than some of the others. Although interesting that again it is not one that was mentioned earlier in the thread when we were trying to predict which ones would feature.

 

[Teja.]

Almost hope they include the other desert storm innings game for the lulz here.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Almost hope they include the other desert storm innings game for the lulz here.

The Kanitkar final is probably going to miss out which is a bit of a shame. Best ever India vs Pakistan odi imo.

 

[Molehill]

@Molehill I have a radically different perspective to you so interested to know what are some examples of great games in your opinion.

I don't think we have a massively different view. My slight frustration is the shoehorning of certain ODI's into this list because they featured Indian players doing great things. The Kohli knock against Sri Lanka in a thoroughly pointless match being the most obvious. The India/England tie in Bangalore was a decent game, but Top 20 all time? The Kevin O Brien knock from the same tournament should be ahead of that (and I'm saying that as an Englishman).

It will be interesting to look at the finished list and then work out which ones they've left out. I'm starting to wonder if Bichel all but singlehandedly beating England in the 2003 World Cup is going to make it, and in my mind, it definitely should.

 

[subshakerz]

I can say so far at least three matches definitely don't belong on the list:

- India Zimbabwe 83
- England India 2011
- ABD hundred match

The rest can be justified somewhat. The Kohli knock match is borderline because I do feel that scoreline was somewhat astonishing and it was the announcing of Kohli as a special bat.

 

[ankitj]

I can say so far at least three matches definitely don't belong on the list:

- India Zimbabwe 83
- England India 2011
- ABD hundred match

The rest can be justified somewhat. The Kohli knock match is borderline because I do feel that scoreline was somewhat astonishing and it was the announcing of Kohli as a special bat.

I think India Zimbabwe 83 definitely belongs. I agree on other 2. I think India Pakistan Karachi 2004 doesn't belong too.

I fundamentally disagree that a great match is a close match. A close match doesn't automatically mean we witnessed great quality or great character. Statistically, a certain % of matches will be close even if both teams and all 22 players played dull cricket.

 

[Teja.]

I don't think we have a massively different view. My slight frustration is the shoehorning of certain ODI's into this list because they featured Indian players doing great things. The Kohli knock against Sri Lanka in a thoroughly pointless match being the most obvious. The India/England tie in Bangalore was a decent game, but Top 20 all time? The Kevin O Brien knock from the same tournament should be ahead of that (and I'm saying that as an Englishman).

It will be interesting to look at the finished list and then work out which ones they've left out. I'm starting to wonder if Bichel all but singlehandedly beating England in the 2003 World Cup is going to make it, and in my mind, it definitely should.

Fair enough. I vehemently disagree about the Kohli innings. I say this as someone who finds Kohli a overrated ODI and Test batsman as people here can attest to. I think it's one of the greatest non-WC chases IMO but you have made your points earlier and I can understand the POV that games like that and the ABdv game don't belong.

I agree that the India/England match is not quite top 20 level and the KOB match was definitely superior but I suspect it might be higher on the list.

I don't really think Indian matches are being shoehorned in because India is not particularly overrepresented and there's a maximum or only one or two matches involving India which are a bit questionable IMO but so are other games like the ABDv game.

 

[The Sean]

Really interesting, the more I think about it, what is going to miss out. There are seven entries remaining:

2019 Final
1999 Semi
438 v 434
1983 Final

You can lock those four in and take them to the bank. So that leaves just three spots. In World Cup Finals alone, I think the '87, '92, 96 and '11 matches were all iconic/significant for their own reasons, but they can't all make it. And could well all miss out. I was sure that Viv's 189* would be on the list (and it still could be, but we're running out of time!) for the sheer unprecedented dominance of that innings. I don't think Tendulkar's 200 has any business being this high now, but I simply can't imagine that they will possibly leave it out. I mentioned earlier the classic Lamb v Reid final over, but surely its moment has passed and it won't be in the top seven. There are two more India v Pakistan classics which have been flagged as well, not to mention Ireland v England and KOB's extraordinary performance. Plus I'm sure a few others.

tl;dr - lots into seven doesn't go.

 

[subshakerz]

I think India Zimbabwe 83 definitely belongs. I agree on other 2. I think India Pakistan Karachi 2004 doesn't belong too.

I fundamentally disagree that a great match is a close match. A close match doesn't automatically mean we witnessed great quality or great character. Statistically, a certain % of matches will be close even if both teams and all 22 players played dull cricket.

A game with a minnow and with one special inning which nobody saw. I can understand the 83 final but not this game.

India Pakistan Karachi 2004 was a close game full of memorable performances with a historic backdrop and a packed crowd. It belongs IMO.

 

[subshakerz]

Really interesting, the more I think about it, what is going to miss out. There are seven entries remaining:

2019 Final
1999 Semi
438 v 434
1983 Final

You can lock those four in and take them to the bank. So that leaves just three spots. In World Cup Finals alone, I think the '87, '92, 96 and '11 matches were all iconic/significant for their own reasons, but they can't all make it. And could well all miss out. I was sure that Viv's 189* would be on the list (and it still could be, but we're running out of time!) for the sheer unprecedented dominance of that innings. I don't think Tendulkar's 200 has any business being this high now, but I simply can't imagine that they will possibly leave it out. I mentioned earlier the classic Lamb v Reid final over, but surely its moment has passed and it won't be in the top seven. There are two more India v Pakistan classics which have been flagged as well, not to mention Ireland v England and KOB's extraordinary performance. Plus I'm sure a few others.

tl;dr - lots into seven doesn't go.

Outside of these four, you have the 2003 India Pakistan game, 1992 Pak NZ semi and 2002 NatWest Final are all very hard to leave out.

Too many India games though.

 

[Molehill]

Fair enough. I vehemently disagree about the Kohli innings. I say this as someone who finds Kohli a overrated ODI and Test batsman as people here can attest to. I think it's one of the greatest non-WC chases IMO but you have made your points earlier and I can understand the POV that games like that and the ABdv game don't belong.

The Kohli innings is a great knock, but it's made this list simply because it's Kohli. As @The Sean mentions, does this mean we won't get Viv's 189, a two time World Cup Winner playing his most memorable innings? Or even his 138* in an actual World Cup Final?

The best ODI I ever saw was the Nat West Final in 2002, now that would be an Indian game (and another England defeat) I could accept being there.

 

[Molehill]

Really interesting, the more I think about it, what is going to miss out. There are seven entries remaining:

2019 Final
1999 Semi
438 v 434
1983 Final

You can lock those four in and take them to the bank. So that leaves just three spots. In World Cup Finals alone, I think the '87, '92, 96 and '11 matches were all iconic/significant for their own reasons, but they can't all make it. And could well all miss out. I was sure that Viv's 189* would be on the list (and it still could be, but we're running out of time!) for the sheer unprecedented dominance of that innings. I don't think Tendulkar's 200 has any business being this high now, but I simply can't imagine that they will possibly leave it out. I mentioned earlier the classic Lamb v Reid final over, but surely its moment has passed and it won't be in the top seven. There are two more India v Pakistan classics which have been flagged as well, not to mention Ireland v England and KOB's extraordinary performance. Plus I'm sure a few others.

tl;dr - lots into seven doesn't go.

I'm not convinced the 1983 Final is a lock in. There were plenty of nods given to it in the Kapil entry in that the win wouldn't have happened without that knock. I wonder if that's '83 covered?

 

[subshakerz]

I'm not convinced the 1983 Final is a lock in. There were plenty of nods given to it in the Kapil entry in that the win wouldn't have happened without that knock. I wonder if that's '83 covered?

The 83 final should be a lockin but it feels overkill now that the Kapil match got it.