Isn’t it an undisputed fact that there’s always a touch of extra elegance with left-hand batters and especially when they play their drives? Cricket has been blessed with many such and today being the left-handers day, we bring to you 5 left-handed batters from 5 different nations who’ve topped the runs chart. We will look at one left-handed batter from each of the countries.
1. Amy Satterthwaite
New Zealand middle-order batter, Amy Satterthwaite has been a rock for her side in the middle order and has guided her team to many victories. The 35-year-old has scored 4639 runs in 138 ODI innings at an average of 38.33 and much more importantly at a strike rate of 75.44. She’s got to as many as 27 fifties and 7 centuries in the format. Amy, in her 100 T20I appearances has scored 1784 runs at an average of 21.49 and a strike rate of 97.64.
2. Smriti Mandhana
Indian opener, Smriti Mandhana has provided sides with many great starts and is maybe on the top of the list as the most elegant left-handed batter, the drives over cover and down the ground could be on loop all day and you’ll not be bored. Smriti Mandhana has got to 2892 runs in 74 ODI innings at an average of 42.52 and a strike rate of 84.24, she’s scored as many as 23 half-centuries and 5 centuries in the format. In T20I cricket, Mandhana has got to 2192 runs in 90 innings at an average of 26.40 and a strike rate of 121.98. Smriti in Test match cricket too has dropped her elegance with the highest score of 127 in 7 innings which sees a total of 325 runs.
3. Bismah Maroof
Pakistani skipper, Bismah Maroof is one among those finest who in 115 innings has got to 2891 runs in the ODI format at an average of 29.20 and a strike rate of 57.44. A surprising fact is that a player of this big stature hasn’t got to an ODI ton. Yes, that’s very true with her personal best being 99, the all-important 1 was missed and has 16 fifties in the 50-over format. The 31-year-old in the T20I format has scored 2388 runs in 111 appearances at an average of 27.44 and a strike rate of 91.11. In the format, she’s got the highest score of 70* and has 11 fifties to her name.
4. Rachael Haynes
Australian opener, Rachael Haynes is one among those adaptable cricketers who ease the pressure off the team. Rachael Haynes has got 2585 runs in the ODI format in 71 appearances. Haynes has got a strike rate of 77.95 and an average of 39.76 in the format with 19 fifties, a couple of tons and the highest score of 130. In 11 Test innings Haynes has got to 383 runs at an average of 34.81 and the highest score of 98. In the shortest, T20I format, she’s got to 850 runs in 56 innings at an average of 26.56 and strike rate of 117.72. With the best of 69*, she’s got 3 fifties to her name in the format.
5. Chamari Athapaththu
Sri Lankan skipper, Chamari Athapaththu could arguably be the most attacking left-handed opener. Chamari in the ODI format in 90 innings has scored 2840 runs at an average of 31.91 and strike rate of 68.89. She’s got to 14 fifties and 6 centuries in the format with the highest score of 178*. In the T20I format, Chamari Athapaththu has scored 2079 runs in 96 innings, she averages 22.11 and scores at a strike rate of 103.27 in the format. She’s got 5 fifties and a ton in T20I cricket with her highest score being 113. She’s also picked up 27 wickets with best figures of 3/31 in the ODI’s and 31 wickets with best figures of 3/17 in the T20I format.
(stats as on 13th August 2022)