New Zealand has produced some incredible players in the 50-over format and has had great success in this format in recent years. They are two-time consecutive runners-up in the ODI (One-Day International) World Cup and have progressed immensely as a team in recent years. Today we look at some of New Zealand’s players with the highest number of unbeaten knocks in ODI cricket. The list is flooded with all-rounders who have had a crucial role in the team’s progress.
1. Chris Harris:
Chris Harris was one of New Zealand’s premier all-rounders in the 1990s. He was a left-handed batter and used to bowl right-arm medium from Christchurch, Canterbury. Harris scored over 4000 runs and took 203 wickets in 250 ODIs. During his ODI career, he remained not out a staggering 62 times and helped New Zealand finish some incredible games.
2. Daniel Vettori:
Daniel Vettori, a New Zealand legend and one of their best all-rounders, is the next to feature on the list. He was a left-arm orthodox bowler and a handy lower-order batter from Auckland. He took 305 wickets in 295 ODIs and scored more than 2000 runs. In 183 innings, he remained unbeaten 55 times, helping New Zealand get over the line multiple times.
3. Ross Taylor:
Third on the list is Ross Taylor, New Zealand’s highest run scorer in One-Day Internationals. Taylor was a right-handed middle-order batter from Wellington. He was the backbone of New Zealand’s batting line-up and a crucial senior player in the side. From 2006 to 2022, he featured in 236 ODIs and remained not out 39 times in 220 innings.
4. Kyle Mills:
Kyle Mills was a right-arm fast bowler from Auckland. In 2001, he played his debut ODI against Pakistan at Sharjah. Mills played 170 ODIs during his international career and remained unbeaten 34 times in 101 innings. He retired in 2015 after playing his last ODI against Pakistan at Wellington.
5. Adam Parore:
Number five on the list is Adam Parore, a right-handed wicketkeeper batter born in Auckland. Parore was one of New Zealand’s fittest players and made his ODI debut in 1992 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. He played some excellent knocks during his ODI career and remained unbeaten 32 times in 161 innings.
6. Brendon McCullum:
Next on the list is Brendon McCullum, one of the most entertaining batters of all time. McCullum was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter and a former New Zealand captain. He made his ODI debut in 2002 against Australia in Sydney. He remained not out 28 times in 228 innings and pulled off some great innings during his career. In 2016, he retired from ODI cricket.
7. James Franklin:
James Franklin is a former Kiwi all-rounder from Wellington. He was a left-handed batter and a left-arm quick bowler. From 2001 to 2013, Franklin played 110 ODIs, scoring more than 1200 runs and picking up 21 wickets. In 80 innings, he remained unbeaten till the end, 27 times.
8. Chris Cairns:
Next to feature on the list is another all-rounder, Chris Cairns. Cairns played as a right-handed batter and used to bowl right-arm medium fast. He became one of New Zealand’s finest all-rounders in the 90s. In 215 ODIs, he scored close to 5000 runs, remaining not out 25 times, and also picked up 201 wickets at an average of 32.80.
9. Mitchell Santner:
Mitchell Santner is a current member of the New Zealand team and plays as a bowling all-rounder. So far, in 81 ODIs, he has taken 84 wickets and scored close to 1000 runs. He has pulled off some great finishes with his bat and has been to the end of the innings 25 times.
10. Scott Styris:
Scott Styris, an all-rounder born in Queensland, Australia, is the next to feature on the list. Styris was a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium-bowler. He made his ODI debut in 1999 and played his last match in 2011. In 161 out of 180 games, he remained unbeaten 23 times and also helped his team win several games.
