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NEWS Cricket World Cup 2007>Michael Bevan – The Finisher in ODI Cricket 17th Jan 2007 23.17 IST By Manish Kumar So consistent was Michael Gwyl Bevan ’s ability to win games for Australia, that he was nicknamed ‘The Finisher’ in ODI Cricket. Bevan today announced his retirement from the game after failing to make it to the World Cup squad.
Bevan said injuries and exclusion from the 30-member World Cup probables list had prompted the decision. Bevan made his ODI debut in 1994 and played in 232 matches, scoring 6912 runs at an average of 53.58. He also scored six centuries. Bevan earned the reputation of a perfect finisher in the shorter version of the game as he won many close matches for the Aussies with his temperament while coming in to bat at number 6. But Bevan was dropped from the side in 2004 as selectors looked to pass over the baton to the new generation. Bevan represented South Australia, New South Wales and lately Tasmania in domestic cricket and ended his career with 19,147 first-class runs at 57.32 with 68 centuries. Bevan is one of only three players with 30 ODI innings or more to maintain a batting average above 50. Critics have claimed this was an inflated average due to a high level of not outs, a result of batting in the lower-middle order. However, Bevan's best performance was as a number four. Of the players to have played 30 or more ODI innings, he is one of only three (with Kevin Pietersen and Michael Hussey ) whose batting average never dropped below 40. This, coupled with the high price he put on his wicket, resulted in many not-out innings. Nonetheless, Bevan proved a reliable anchor at the bottom of the middle order, and he would often patiently guide Australia to victory following a rare top-order collapse - leading to him being nicknamed ‘The Finisher’. One of Bevan’s most famous ‘anchor’ innings was in the New Years Day one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground against the West Indies in 1996. With the Australians at one stage 38/6 chasing 173, his unbeaten 150-minute 78 got the Australians over the line on the last ball of the innings. Despite his ODI success, Bevan's Test career, however, was not nearly as successful - thought to be susceptible to short-pitched deliveries, he never really succeeded in the longer form of the game, and he wore the baggy green in just 18 matches, averaging 29. It must be noted that Bevan’s problems with short pitched bowling are more myth than reality – he continued to perform consistently in ODIs, despite a rule change which allowed short pitch bowling in ODIs. Bevan also scored heavily in domestic first-class cricket for New South Wales during this time averaging almost 60 with the bat. Bevan performed well during his limited time as a bowler in Test matches, with his bowling style of unorthodox left-arm spin. He is the only bowler of this type to have taken ten wickets in a Test match, which he did against the West Indies touring side in 1996. Also View In-Depth Coverage: Cricket World Cup 2007 Team Page: Australia Team Page: West Indies | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
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