20 Greatest ODIs (by ESPNCricinfo)

[TheJediBrah]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ralia-vs-pakistan-3rd-odi-727923/match-report my nomination for #1.

Are fixed games allowed?

 

[The Sean]

We're at that inevitable point of any countdown where the number of entries we're all sure should be included is far higher than the number of spots remaining.

 

[OverratedSanity]

We can all atleast agree that the devilliers fastest hundred game sticks out the most so far as a really strange pick. Regardless of how you feel about the others they were atleast actual contests instead of just exhibitions.

 

[Ali TT]

Agreeing and building upon your point:

We can all at least agree that the Kohli and de Villiers innings in some JAMODIs that had no relevance to any cricket fans outside India and SA stick out the most so far as really strange picks. Regardless of how you feel about the others they were at least actual contests instead of just exhibitions.

 

[Ali TT]

I strongly disagreed with the premise earlier in the thread that the 2019 final was not a great game until the finish but wanted to re-validate my thinking. I'd watched the super over a million times, many not even deliberately, and all the late Stokes stuff is obviously imprinted but I dug out the extended highlights on Sky Sports and it was like reliving it all over again. From the first to the last neither side could really get on top for long periods. Yes it was a poor batting deck but 240 plays 240 has always (IMO) made for good one day cricket and this game had real ebb and flow.

Maybe the last 10 overs plus super overs are what takes it to #1 but I think the idea that it was all about the finish is completely wrong.

Incidentally I just read the chapter about it in Geoff Lemon's The Comeback Summer this morning and he certainly agrees. So take that, losers!

I don't really recall any remarkable individual efforts that stood out in the first 3 quarters of the match. Kane played some gritty knocks earlier in the tournament to help NZ win equally lose-scoring matches but their top score in the final was 55. Both sides bowling was characterised by controlling the scoring through back-of-a-length nibbly seam, there was no explosive spell from anyone.

I guess like any final the tension was that claustrophobic, attritional type that exists in such high pressure occasions rather than caused by dramatic battles between bat and ball.

 

[Molehill]

Agreeing and building upon your point:

We can all at least agree that the Kohli and de Villiers innings in some JAMODIs that had no relevance to any cricket fans outside India and SA stick out the most so far as really strange picks. Regardless of how you feel about the others they were at least actual contests instead of just exhibitions.

To be honest, most so far would be better included in the 20 best individual performances in ODI's (and some of those included still shouldn't be there either).

 

[Molehill]

I don't really recall any remarkable individual efforts that stood out in the first 3 quarters of the match. Kane played some gritty knocks earlier in the tournament to help NZ win equally lose-scoring matches but their top score in the final was 55. Both sides bowling was characterised by controlling the scoring through back-of-a-length nibbly seam, there was no explosive spell from anyone.

I guess like any final the tension was that claustrophobic, attritional type that exists in such high pressure occasions rather than caused by dramatic battles between bat and ball.

CdG 1-25 from 10 overs summed up the first 3/4 of the match for me. That is not entertainment.

 

[subshakerz]

I don't really recall any remarkable individual efforts that stood out in the first 3 quarters of the match. Kane played some gritty knocks earlier in the tournament to help NZ win equally lose-scoring matches but their top score in the final was 55. Both sides bowling was characterised by controlling the scoring through back-of-a-length nibbly seam, there was no explosive spell from anyone.

I guess like any final the tension was that claustrophobic, attritional type that exists in such high pressure occasions rather than caused by dramatic battles between bat and ball.

Yeah it was very standard fare especially compared to the 99 semi first three quarters, by which time Pollock had five wickets, Donald had four, Waugh and Bevan had fifties, and then Warne had produced one of the most memorable spells ever.

 

[GIMH]

A great ODI for me is about ebb and flow, neither side getting on top, or who is on top swinging back and forth. Throw in the high tension (England being favourites but serial failures, NZ the underdogs who shocked India) and I find the idea even 0.01% of it was not insanely good (and horrible!) hard to fathom, but each to their own (I don't mean that - if you disagree with me then you're wrong)

 

[subshakerz]

A great ODI for me is about ebb and flow, neither side getting on top, or who is on top swinging back and forth. Throw in the high tension (England being favourites but serial failures, NZ the underdogs who shocked India) and I find the idea even 0.01% of it was not insanely good (and horrible!) hard to fathom, but each to their own (I don't mean that - if you disagree with me then you're wrong)

No, don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad cricket or not entertaining. But it was a slow burn build up.

 

[Daemon]

imo a great ODI needs to have all or a healthy combination of being closely contested, a close finish, importance, drama, quality cricket and excellent individual performances.

The 2019 WC Final ticked all those boxes and was the closest of all finishes. Best one I've ever seen.

 

[subshakerz]

imo a great ODI needs to have all or a healthy combination of being closely contested, a close finish, importance, drama, quality cricket and excellent individual performances.

The 2019 WC Final ticked all those boxes and was the closest of all finishes. Best one I've ever seen.

Which ones aside from Stokes were standpoint in 2019?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Which ones aside from Stokes were standpoint in 2019?

Butler's innings was a class knock, and I still think it was better than Stokes. Woakes bowled a great spell too.

 

[Nintendo]

Lord colin scoring more runs off his pads/body than his bat is a top 10 all time innings and noene can convince me otherwise.

 

[Socerer 01]

Butler's innings was a class knock, and I still think it was better than Stokes. Woakes bowled a great spell too.

the last time i said this i got ridiculed ffs

 

[GIMH]

I mean, Buttler batted much more fluently so can understand the point - he was the only guy who looked like he could play on that deck at times

But Stokes being there at the end is why we are world champs (note the wording bitches) and elevates the innings over Buttler’s for that reason

 

[Molehill]

A great ODI for me is about ebb and flow, neither side getting on top, or who is on top swinging back and forth. Throw in the high tension (England being favourites but serial failures, NZ the underdogs who shocked India) and I find the idea even 0.01% of it was not insanely good (and horrible!) hard to fathom, but each to their own (I don't mean that - if you disagree with me then you're wrong)

Don't think anyone is denying the tension - my family still laugh at the way I was jumping around the house completely unable to eat my dinner (very unusual for me), most tense I've ever been in a sporting context.

Butler's innings was a class knock, and I still think it was better than Stokes. Woakes bowled a great spell too.

Undoubtedly, he was the only one who made batting look easy on that pitch as his run a ball knock suggests.

 

[Daemon]

Butler's innings was a class knock, and I still think it was better than Stokes. Woakes bowled a great spell too.

Ferguson was good too. I remember he got the breakthrough at the end that started the flurry of wickets. It looked like England wouldn't make it when he got Buttler out.

 

[Ali TT]

I would say that the 2019 final was a game in which the circumstances got to many of the players and dictated how they played more than the players dictating the circumstances until in part Buttler and then Stokes. The superover was a microcosm of the match with mistakes and great cricket happening concurrently every moment.

I'm not saying it's a terrible game, but explaining the fine margins that mean I might rank it the second or third best of all time. Also the last section was genuinely crazy, like nothing before in ODI cricket let alone the WC final, and by that alone I'd accept could justify this being #1 if that is end result of this list.

Also, given Cricinfo seem to be constructing the list based upon individual performances, Stokes's knock would make this #1 anyhow.

 

[subshakerz]

I would say that the 2019 final was a game in which the circumstances got to many of the players and dictated how they played more than the players dictating the circumstances until in part Buttler and then Stokes. The superover was a microcosm of the match with mistakes and great cricket happening concurrently every moment.

I'm not saying it's a terrible game, but explaining the fine margins that mean I might rank it the second or third best of all time. Also the last section was genuinely crazy, like nothing before in ODI cricket let alone the WC final, and by that alone I'd accept could justify this being #1 if that is end result of this list.

Also, given Cricinfo seem to be constructing the list based upon individual performances, Stokes's knock would make this #1 anyhow.

Yeah I guess this is the same reason I rate the 99 Semi higher. It was a super tight game driven by high quality cricket from legends from both sides. Warne probably delivered the greatest spell ever in a ODI knockout. Klusener seemed unstoppable. Pollock and Donald also bowling awesomely.