Cricket News: Batter with the best strike rate in death overs
In T20I cricket, which is all about going hammer and tongs for the batters, it is especially pertinent to look at who exactly is effective in the death overs phase of the game
Tim David: best strike rate in death oversThe death overs is a name given to overs 16-20 in the match, usually because that is when batters go for broke, and bowlers’ spirits can often be crushed.
But not all death-overs batters are created equally; some are much better at doing the job in the last five overs than others.
Here we look at four batters with the best strike rates in all T20 cricket – domestic matches, franchise games, or even internationals – since the start of the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Tim David – The Singapore-born Australian all-rounder was bought for big bucks by Mumbai Indians in the 2022 auction and more than justified his presence in the team with some massive hitting in the death. His strike rate at the end since the IPL 2022 is a staggering 226.72.
David’s approach to batting in the death is simple – if it is in his arc, he will smash it out of the park. He isn’t unconventional in his approach but can use his big stature and bulky build to leather the ball anywhere he pleases.
James Neesham – The Kiwi all-rounder being on this list is a bit of a surprise, given he’s always flattered to deceive in the IPL. However, his value has often been seen outside the Indian league, and his death strike rate stands at 220.45.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An incredible addition to the Zalmi Family 💛<br><br>Kiwi All-Rounder <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyNeesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JimmyNeesh</a> joins the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowStorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowStorm</a>⚡️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HBLPSL8?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HBLPSL8</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZalmiPicks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZalmiPicks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZKingdom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZKingdom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Zalmi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zalmi</a> <a href="https://t.co/bA9jPzvR11">pic.twitter.com/bA9jPzvR11</a></p>— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeshawarZalmi/status/1603426898641666050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Neesham doesn’t rely solely on power – although he packs a punch for someone not built like a heavyweight – as his timing and smart hitting are also vital. Nevertheless, whatever he does at death works like a charm, as he is highly effective.
Dinesh Karthik – The man who had an IPL 2022 so good he got recalled to the Indian team because of it, Karthik became known for his ability to turn matches on its head, which is reflected in his death overs strike rate of 210.91.
Karthik’s approach doesn’t rely on power but instead on timing the ball well. Many of his shots are not powerful as such, but he backs himself to clear the boundary and isn’t afraid to sometimes try something different to get those quick runs.
Shimron Hetmyer – The West Indian is a slightly surprising inclusion on this list, given he bats higher up the order than the other three. However, it is a testament to his ability to bat deep and then explode towards the end of the game, as his strike rate is a respectable 205.66 in the death.
Hetmyer, like most West Indian batters, relies on his power to clear the ropes and doesn’t too often go for conventional strokes. The fact that he backs himself to remove the boundary more often than not helps to keep opposition bowlers on their toes right until the end of the game.