20 Greatest ODIs (by ESPNCricinfo)

[Nintendo]

It kind of is justified - the problem is that there's quite a few innings of this calibre in the history of ODI's (Viv, Symonds, Robin Smith, Buttler (times at least 3) come instantly to mind). So why was the Kapil one chosen? I think we all know....

Because kapils was in a WC knock-out game that changed the trajectory of Indian cricket? FFS it's not like they put the 2011 WC final in here cause ganguly made a decent 50. Fyi, im not saying there is no indian bias, there's probably some involved here, you get that when that's your major market. It's just frustrating seeing people play this up for no good reason.

Edit: not familiar with the robin Smith knock, but the symomds knock your talking about I assume is the one vs Pakistan? Symonds didn't break the record for highest ODI A score walking in at 4 for **** all in a must win WC game. Buttlers only knock of that level, AFAIR, is in the 2019 final, and if that isn't in the top 5 I'll be just as pissed as you.

 

[OverratedSanity]

It kind of is justified - the problem is that there's quite a few innings of this calibre in the history of ODI's (Viv, Symonds, Robin Smith, Buttler (times at least 3) come instantly to mind). So why was the Kapil one chosen? I think we all know....

None of those were in world cups. None of those were in a do or die game. None of those sparked a comeback from 17-5 on the way to the wc win. Of all the ones to have a ****ing whine about I'm astonished you two have chosen this one. One subshakerz I can handle, two is beyond my capacity of handling dumb opinions.

People exposing their jealousy of India, bcci and ipl /ravishastri. It deserved two spots on the list, one for India's innings, one for Zimbabwe's. Peace out. Jai hind.

 

[Nintendo]

None of those were in world cups. None of those were in a do or die game. None of those sparked a comeback from 17-5 on the way to the wc win. Of all the ones to have a ****ing whine about I'm astonished you two have chosen this one. One subshakerz I can handle, two is beyond my capacity of handling dumb opinions.

People exposing their jealousy of India, bcci and ipl /ravishastri. It deserved two spots on the list, one for India's innings, one for Zimbabwe's. Peace out. Jai hind.

Genuinely. I don't see these two repeatedly throwing fits and implying some kind of SA bias because a random jamODI where the windies got embarrassed by SA made the top 20 ODI games of all time because of one ab de Villiers innings.

 

[Burgey]

I loved that Robin Smith innings vs Australia. Especially the part where that it was mowed down by six wickets with an over and a half to spare. A microcosm of his career.

 

[Marius]

Genuinely. I don't see these two repeatedly throwing fits and implying some kind of SA bias because a random jamODI where the windies got embarrassed by SA made the top 20 ODI games of all time because of one ab de Villiers innings.

I think that only made it because Firdose picked it and she is incapable of thinking deeply about anything.

I was at that game, the SA innings was great, three tons, but it was boring after that. Not a great ODI by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[The Sean]

FFS it's not like they put the 2011 WC final in here cause ganguly made a decent 50.

They haven't put it in yet...

 

[The Sean]

Seriously though, yeah there's been overkill on India matches and a couple of their entries probably shouldn't be there. But Kapil's match isn't one of them.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

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.

You shouldn't talk about countries you know nothing about , the amount of talent that came through Rhodesia/Zimbabwe back in the day was freaking insane , Colin Bland , Mike Procter , Paddy Clift ,Brian Davison , Duncan Fletcher , Dave Houghton , Graeme Hick etc etc

By no means were they a minnow , a lack of opportunity (Zimbabwe only become a Test nation in 1992) , political instability, and the opportunities that existed in South Africa and abroad (Mostly England) to play cricket has meant that Zimbabwe hasn't hit the heights it should have achieved not because they are an insignificant team.

 

[Molehill]

None of those were in world cups. None of those were in a do or die game. None of those sparked a comeback from 17-5 on the way to the wc win. Of all the ones to have a ****ing whine about I'm astonished you two have chosen this one. One subshakerz I can handle, two is beyond my capacity of handling dumb opinions.

People exposing their jealousy of India, bcci and ipl /ravishastri. It deserved two spots on the list, one for India's innings, one for Zimbabwe's. Peace out. Jai hind.

Yeah, I can actually justify this one (although worth pointing out that no one here mentioned it before it appeared on the list) - the problem is that already included were pointless knocks like Kohli in a JAMODI. I think that's more where the issue lies and has created the annoyance.

 

[Molehill]

I loved that Robin Smith innings vs Australia. Especially the part where that it was mowed down by six wickets with an over and a half to spare. A microcosm of his career.

Yeah, I thought it was going to be like the Viv innings where a batsman single handedly wins the game for his team - but it proved to be a comfortable chase.

 

[Jumno]

Viv world cup final innings

 

[OverratedSanity]

Viv world cup final innings

Arguably not even the best innings played a west indian in that game

 

[The Sean]

With each entry, the inclusion of De Villiers' (albeit extraordinary) knock gets more baffling. I assumed - as many of us did - that including that innings set a precedent for the inevitable listing of other even more celebrated individual performances (regardless of the quality of the overall match) such as Viv's 189 and Sachin's 200.

But surely even those two innings have to miss out entirely now that we're into the top five? In which case, the De Villiers entry makes even less sense now than it did at the time.

 

[subshakerz]

Yeah, I can actually justify this one (although worth pointing out that no one here mentioned it before it appeared on the list) - the problem is that already included were pointless knocks like Kohli in a JAMODI. I think that's more where the issue lies and has created the annoyance.

Bingo. Nobody here had that in mind as a great game worthy of top 20 selection. Yet suddenly they are all defensive and 'jai hind' when it gets pointed out in the context of pro-India bias that is obvious.

 

[subshakerz]

With each entry, the inclusion of De Villiers' (albeit extraordinary) knock gets more baffling. I assumed - as many of us did - that including that innings set a precedent for the inevitable listing of other even more celebrated individual performances (regardless of the quality of the overall match) such as Viv's 189 and Sachin's 200.

But surely even those two innings have to miss out now that we're into the top five? In which case, leaving them out entirely means that the De Villiers entry makes even less sense than it did at the time.

It makes perfect sense they included ABD game to justify the Kapil game.

 

[Silver Silva]

With each entry, the inclusion of De Villiers' (albeit extraordinary) knock gets more baffling. I assumed - as many of us did - that including that innings set a precedent for the inevitable listing of other even more celebrated individual performances (regardless of the quality of the overall match) such as Viv's 189 and Sachin's 200.

But surely even those two innings have to miss out now that we're into the top five? In which case, leaving them out entirely means that the De Villiers entry makes even less sense than it did at the time.

I feel Sri Lanka winning the 96 final should have a place here

 

[Molehill]

With each entry, the inclusion of De Villiers' (albeit extraordinary) knock gets more baffling. I assumed - as many of us did - that including that innings set a precedent for the inevitable listing of other even more celebrated individual performances (regardless of the quality of the overall match) such as Viv's 189 and Sachin's 200.

But surely even those two innings have to miss out now that we're into the top five? In which case, leaving them out entirely means that the De Villiers entry makes even less sense than it did at the time.

It has about as much right to be in there as England's 498 against the Netherlands.

 

[The Sean]

So I am thinking that they'll keep the three day gap to number five on Saturday - and then count down the top five day by day to finish on the eve of the World Cup?

 

[The Sean]

I feel Sri Lanka winning the 96 final should have a place here

I assumed it would get a place, and it may well still do. Basically, there are three we know are locked in which means there are two spots still up for grabs in the top five.

 

[Silver Silva]

I assumed it would get a place, and it may well still do. Basically, there are three we know are locked in which means there are two spots still up for grabs in the top five.

What about matches that recognize innovation ?

Martin Crowe introducing the pinch hitter at the 1992 World Cup against SA and opening the bowling with a spinner I think it was Patel his last name ..That sort out of the box thinking shaped ODI cricket a lot.