The 1990s were the golden age of cricket across the world. This was the time when every team across the world had a lot of great cricketers be it batters or bowlers. It was not only restricted to India, England and Australia. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Kenya also had players that ruled the 1990s. Be it Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Wasim Akram, Ricky Ponting, Allan Donald, Andy Flower, Brian Lara, all these players are some of the greatest of all time.
Let’s look at the Top 10 Greatest Cricketers of the 1990s
1) Sachin Tendulkar – India
The greatest player of the 1990s is none other than Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin Tendulkar established himself as the best in the world during the 1990s. He played both Test Cricket and ODI Cricket regularly. He played 228 ODI Matches in the 1990s which means almost 23 ODI Matches every year. He scored 8571 runs in these 10 years at an average of 43.07. He is 1700 runs ahead of the next best batter. He hit 24 Hundreds in the 1990s. In Test Cricket he played 69 Matches. He made 5626 runs at an average of 58. He made 22 hundreds in Test Cricket. Therefore he hit 48 international hundreds in a decade. He made over 14000 runs. Read here about Records Held by Sachin Tendulkar
2) Wasim Akram – Pakistan
The best bowler that played in the 1990s was Wasim Akram. Pakistan had an excellent team and he was the best player in the team. Wasim Akram played 62 Test Matches and he took 289 wickets. He had a bowling average of 21.45. Wasim Akram took 17 Five Wicket Hauls in the 1990s. He also played 195 ODIs for Pakistan in the decade. He took 279 Wickets at an average of 23.40. In international cricket he took 568 international wickets in the 1990s. He was also an important member of the 1992 World Cup winning team of Pakistan.
3) Shane Warne – Australia
The greatest leg spinner of all time Shane Warne has to be in the Top 3 of this list. He is the bowler who made spin bowling cool and he ruled especially in Test Cricket. He played 80 Test Matches in the 1990s. He took a massive 351 wickets at an average of 25.66. He has taken 16 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket In the decade. He has taken 42 wickets more than the second place bowler. Shane Warne was also very successful in ODI Cricket. He played 133 ODIs for Australia and he took 212 Wickets. Shane Warne has taken a total of 563 wickets in international cricket in the 1990s. Read here about Best Bowling Performances of Shane Warne
4) Mark Waugh – Australia
Mark Waugh is among the Top 3 Highest run getters in both Test and ODI Cricket in the 1990s. Mark Waugh has had an extraordinary 1990s. He played 99 Test Matches for Australia in a decade. He scored 6371 runs at an average of 41.64 with 17 hundreds in Test Cricket. He has also played 191 ODIs for Australia. Mark Waugh has made 6839 runs at an average of 39.87 with 5 hundreds. He made a total of more than 13000 international runs in the 1990s. He was also a part of the World Cup winning team of 1999. Here you can find Best Innings of Mark Waugh
5) Anil Kumble – India
The best all format bowler that India has ever seen. Anil Kumble has taken the most wickets for India in both Test and ODI Cricket. He played 58 Test Matches In the 1990s. He took 264 Wickets at an average of 27.80. He took 15 Five Wicket Hauls and he took all 10 Wickets in an innings against Pakistan. He also played 184 ODIs for India. He took 244 Wickets at an average of 28.11. Anil Kumble took a total of 508 international wickets in the decade.
6) Waqar Younis – Pakistan
This list would not be complete without the name of Waqar Younis. Waqar Younis formed a truly incredible fast bowling partnership with Wasim Akram and they won a lot of matches for Pakistan. He played 56 Test Matches for Pakistan in the 1990s. He took 273 Wickets at a great average of 21.71. He took an incredible 21 Five Wicket Hauls in the decade. Waqar Younis also played 163 ODIs. In these Matches he took 275 Wickets at an average of 23.07. He took 9 Five Wicket Hauls. Waqar Younis took 548 international wickets in the decade. He took 30 Five Wicket Hauls In both formats. Check here Best Waqar Younis bowling performances
7) Brian Lara – West Indies
One of the most charismatic batters to have ever played the sport of cricket. He was someone who was one of the best batters in the world in the 1990s. He played 65 Test Matches for West Indies. He scored 5573 runs at an average of 51.60. He made 13 hundreds with a highest score of 375 in the decade. Brian Lara also played 162 ODI Matches. He made 6166 runs at an average of 42.81. He hit 13 hundreds in ODI Cricket in the 1990s. Brian Lara made more than 11500 runs and 26 Hundreds in the 1990s.
8) Aravinda De Silva – Sri Lanka
The best batter for Sri Lanka in the 1990s and one of the best In the world. Aravinda De Silva is one of those Sri Lankan batters who did very well in both Test and ODI Cricket. He played 62 Test Matches for Sri Lanka in the decade. He scored 4448 runs at an average of 46.82. He made 14 hundreds in Test Cricket. Aravinda De Silva played 196 ODIs for Sri Lanka in the 1990s. He made 6441 runs. He made 11 hundreds in ODI Cricket. Aravinda De Silva made 25 hundreds and close to 11000 international Runs.
9) Allan Donald – South Africa
Allan Donald was the fast bowler in the 1990s who gave South Africa a wicket taker and all the batters around the world were afraid of him. He played 59 Test Matches in the decade. Allan Donald took 284 Wickets at a very good average of 21.83. He took 19 Five Wicket Hauls. He played 121 ODIs for South Africa in the 1990s. Allan Donald took 206 Wickets at an average of 21.04. He got 9 Five Wicket Hauls in ODI Cricket. Allan Donald took 490 international Wickets and 28 Five Wicket Hauls in international cricket.
10) Inzamam Ul Haq – Pakistan
The Player to complete this list is one of the most prolific batters to ever play for Pakistan. Inzamam Ul Haq was the star of the 1990s. He played 58 Test Matches for Pakistan in the decade. He scored 3717 runs at an average of 43.22. He made 8 hundreds in Test Cricket. Inzamam Ul Haq played 200 ODIs in the decade. He scored 6475 runs at an average of 39.48. He hit 6 hundreds in ODI Cricket. Inzamam Ul Haq made a total of more than 10,000 international runs and 14 hundreds in international cricket in the 1990s.
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