Australia has been one of the cricketing nations that have produced the finest teams in ODI cricket in the recent past. Ever since the 1980s and 1990s, Australia have become a dominant force in World Cricket and have been at their best against the opposition. But there have been some players from the opposition who have just raised their game to another level while facing the mighty Aussies and have performed extremely well against them. Here are five such world-class cricketers who have scored 2000 runs in ODIs against Australia.
1. Desmond Haynes
Demond Haynes was one of the finest batsmen of his generation and formed a formidable opening partnership with Gordon Greenidge for the West Indies. He always brought his best game to the table against Australia and scored 2262 runs in 64 ODIs against them, included 6 hundreds at a great average of 40.39 with the highest score of 148.
He used to like to face the Australian bowlers a lot and that is what brought the best out of both him and the West Indies against Australia.
2. Sir Vivian Richards
Sir Vivian Richards is still considered as the finest batsmen to come out from the Caribbean and grace international cricket. He has had success against almost all countries and thus success against Australia was no different. He scored 2187 runs from 54 ODIs against Australia at a brilliant average of 50.86.
He was one of the main reasons why the West Indies always managed to dominate the Aussies and have the wood over them in ODI cricket. Smashing the bowlers to all parts of the ground, Sir Richards used to instil fear in the minds of the bowlers.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is arguably one of the best batsmen to have ever played the game of cricket. Generally, a world-class player tends to do well against a world-class opposition like Australia and so did Sachin Tendulkar, stepping up his game always against one of the strongest ODI sides to represent Australia.
He scored a staggering 3077 runs against Australia from 71 ODIs including 9 hundreds with the highest score of an unbeaten 175*. Always stepping up against Australia, Tendulkar was one of the main reasons why India became a dominant force in ODI cricket especially.
4. Rohit Sharma
One of the most dangerous white-ball openers the game has ever seen, Rohit Sharma always brought his best game when it came to facing Australia. Perhaps no other Indian batsmen might have had the kind of impact Rohit has had while facing the mighty Aussies.
In the 40 ODIs that he has played against Australia, Rohit has scored 2208 runs at an unbelievable average of 61.33. India are surely missing him badly in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.
5. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is arguably India’s best batsman across all three formats in the modern era. Along with Rohit, even Kohli has had success over Aussies and they are one of his favourite opposition. Playing against Aussies brings out his aggression and takes his game to the next level. He crossed the 2000-run mark against Australia in ODis in the ongoing ODI series and currently has 2020 runs from 42 ODIs at a brilliant average of 54.59 against them.
Both Virat and Rohit continue to be Australia’s nemesis whenever they face them and they are one of the main reasons why India have dominated Australia more often than not in recent times.
