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Role of pinch hitter in Cricket and finest pinch hitters list

In cricket pinch hitter term is used for the batsman promoted up the batting order in order to score quick runs. Here we take a look at the role of pinch hitter in cricket and who are the finest pinch hitters in history.

AC
Last updated: 21.05.2022
Role of pinch hitter in Cricket and finest pinch hitters list

In cricket pinch hitter term is used for the batsman promoted up the batting order in order to score quick runs. As he can play some aggressive shorts hits some long sixes and make some quick runs but there is a risk also that batsman may get out earlier. it is generally considered that top order batsman is not pinch hitter a lower-order batsman such as a bowler is sometimes promoted. There is less importance placed on his wicket, so he can play with more freedom. This is an important tactic in One Day International cricket, with its occurrence in Test cricket far less regular.

This pinch hitter term firstly used in 1992 world cup when New Zealand send their fast bowler at 4 and he played a very fast knock in that match. This was among other innovative tactics New Zealand employed successfully during the round-robin stage to reach the knockout stage. It has since been used throughout limited overs cricket, with the aggressive batsmen known as "pinch-hitters."

However, "pinch hitter" usually refers to an aggressive batsman moved up the batting order from his usual place, used in situations where scoring runs quickly becomes more important than keeping wickets in hand. pinch hitters are known for their big hitting and high strike rates. However, they sometimes lack the technique of higher-class batsmen and therefore often go out for low scores through their excessive attacking. This is not the same as a "nightwatchman" used in Test and first-class matches.

There are so many pinch hitters in world cricket but we are going to talk about only some of them.


1. Kris Srikanth


Anachronistically aggressive, dispatching the great and good of fast bowling in such an insouciant manner it’s a wonder that none of them plopped a fist through his open-grilled helmet. Look up either of his Test tons (don’t tell me you don’t have the time). In scoring 116 against the Aussies at the SCG in 1986 he made opening partner Sunil Gavaskar look like just ‘some bloke’ at the other end.


2. Mark Greatbatch


Greatbatch was plucked from relative middle-order obscurity by his old mate and then Kiwi captain Martin Crowe during New Zealand’s run to the 1992 World Cup semi-finals. After regular opener John Wright pulled up lame on the eve of their third match.


3. Sanath Jayasuriya


Originally thought of as more of a bowler, the Sri Lankan’s judder-man off-breaks did eventually earn him 440 international wickets. But when you see the name Sanath Jayasuriya, it’s batting pyrotechnics you think of. With his top-order assaults more destructive than a tickled tiger in a tea chest, the dashing left-hander lit the touch paper on Sri Lanka’s innings time and again.


4. Sunil Narine


There comes a tipping point when new trends become old hat and a ‘newer’ way prevails: hair metal swept aside by grunge’s tide of baggy plaid; Gillian McBeath’s Tupperware dung-and-diet quackery buried by Joe Wicks’ cheeky chippie Insta-verse wherein press ups are “nawwwty” and broccoli is “midget trees”. Alas, with fielding restriction tweaks and the advent of T20, pinch hitters as we originally knew them dwindled.


5. Shahid Afridi


Shahid Afridi was a very dangerous pinch hitter when he was in his peak form, he hit many runs and it doesn't matter who is the bowler he scores fifty only in twelve balls and lots of record on his name, one of successful players of Pakistan.

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