The opening is a position in the batting line-up that requires specialisation. However, the roles differ slightly in the ODIs and the Tests. While in ODIs, it’s more of a combination of a conservative and an attacking approach, in Tests, it’s more of seeing off the new ball. At the same time, a few teams employ tactics of having a regular opener in the middle-order in Tests so that they can face the second new ball. On that note, in this article, we take a look at five successful ODI openers who hardly opened in Test cricket.
1) Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
Stats Opening the batting in ODIs: Innings – 259 || Runs – 9200 || Average – 36.51
Stats Opening the batting in Tests: Innings – 1 || Runs – 20 || Average – 20
In the current era, it is Adam Gilchrist who happens to be the ideal template of a limited-overs opener. Especially in ODIs, Gilly has scored 9595 ODI runs for Australia, out of which 9200 have come while opening the batting.
Being such an experienced opener, it is interesting that the legend has hardly opened in Tests. In fact, he only has one Test innings as an opener, against New Zealand way back in 2001. That said, at No.7, the southpaw has played 100 Test innings and has scored several match-winning knocks from that position.
2) Sourav Ganguly (India)
Stats Opening the batting in ODIs: Innings – 236 || Runs – 9146 || Average – 41.57
Stats Opening the batting in Tests: Innings – 1 || Runs – 11 || Average – 11
As much as the fiery character that he was in ODI cricket, Sourav Ganguly also had a terrific Test career. He scored 7212 runs in 113 matches and is one of the Top 10 highest Test run-getters for India.
However, unlike ODI’s where he opened the batting, Dada made the No.5 position his own in Tests. The former India captain also played at No.6, based on the team combination. Ganguly’s presence in the middle-order added a variety of a left-hander amidst Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
3) Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Stats Opening the batting in ODIs: Innings – 340 || Runs – 15130 || Average – 48.30
Stats Opening the batting in Tests: Innings – 1 || Runs – 15 || Average – 15
Although he has also played at No.4 in ODIs, it is as an opener that Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar dominated world cricket. Along with Sourav Ganguly and later Virender Sehwag, Sachin has been part of quite a few memorable games at the top of the order.
However, in Tests, Tendulkar hardly played at anywhere else than the No.4 position. Barring one game against New Zealand in 1999 at Ahmedabad, the Mumbai cricketer never opened the batting for India in Tests. Hence, he is also a part of this list.
4) Hashim Amla (South Africa)
Stats Opening the batting in ODIs: Innings – 175 || Runs – 8083 || Average – 49.90
Stats Opening the batting in Tests: Innings – 2 || Runs – 105 || Average – 52.50
Many cricketers played at quite a few positions before cementing their spot as an opener in ODI cricket. However, for Hashim Amla, right from the start of his career, he has played as an opener, barring just three encounters when he played at No.3.
Similarly, in Tests, the South African has hardly moved aside his No.3 position. It is an important slot in a Test batting order, and naturally, being one of the most technically proficient batsmen in the team, Amla scored 7993 runs at the position.
5) Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
Stats Opening the batting in ODIs: Innings – 121 || Runs – 5271 || Average – 45.83
Stats Opening the batting in Tests: Innings – 4 || Runs – 141 || Average – 35.25
Former South African captain Quinton de Kock is one of the successful ODI openers who hardly opened in Test cricket. While QDK is one of the top 10 highest ODI run-getters for his nation, he is slowly making the moves in the five-day format. However, in Tests, the southpaw plays in the lower middle-order.
It is interesting that despite being a regular opener in the limited-overs, the wicket-keeper batsman has hardly opened in Tests. A player who is in the mould of Adam Gilchrist, it is also because QDK is a keeper that it would be hard to expect him to open the batting soon after the fielding innings gets over.
