Top 10 Best Associate Players in One Day Internationals

Top 10 Best Associate Players in One Day Internationals: Associate players get to show their excellence only few times in a year due to less number of matches. But some of the best players have made their name in the opportunities that they got. Some of the players were influential in getting their teams highlighted in the big arena, thanks to their performances. Here are 10 such players who made a name for themselves despite playing for Associate nations. 10. Gavin Hamilton (Scotland 1999-2010) (Photo Source: PA Photos) Probably the best ever associate player in the 1990s, Gavin Hamilton was good enough to single handedly took Scotland into the 1999 World cup. Hamilton did pretty well in the tournament, good enough to get selected in the English team for the South African series that followed the World cup in 1999. But he had possibly the worst start to his international career, he made 0 in both the innings he played and was never selected in any other international match. Still he served well for the country making 1231 runs in 38 ODIs for Scotland with 2 centuries. He retired in 2011 after making sure that Scotland qualified for the 2015 World Cup. 9. Bas Zuiderent (Netherlands 1996-2011) (Photo Source: ICC) The pillar of the Dutch team during their formative years, Zuiderent was the member of 1996 World Cup playing team. Zuiderent scored 54 runs against England in the 1996 World cup as a 18 year old debutant. He is also considered as the most technically proficient batsman in Netherlands team and 1 of the only 2 players to play in every World cup match for Netherlands. He also played county cricket for Essex from 1999-2005, lifting the championship in 2003. He was the top scorer in the ICC trophy 2005 which secured Netherlands place for 2011 tournament. He played his last international match for Netherlands in 2011 World cup against India. 8. Thomas Odoyo (Kenya 1996) (Photo Source: Associated Press) The Kenyan all-rounder made his debut against India in 1996 World Cup. Since then he has been an invaluable member of the Kenyan outfit. Odoyo is also the first player from a non-test playing nation to score the double of 1500 runs and 100 wickets in One Day matches. Thomas Odoyo was also a part of the Kenya’s very successful 2003 ICC World Cup campaign where they reached the Semi-finals. He was also the recipient of the inaugural ICC Associate ODI Player of the Year in 2007. 7. Maurice Odumbe (Kenya 1996-2003) (Photo Source:Reuters) Maurice Odumbe made his debut for Kenya in 1990 and was truly an international class player for them. Odumbe was a genuine all-rounder who could bowl off spin and was an aggressive middle order batsman. He was he man of the match in Kenya’s famous victory over West Indies in 1996 World cup for his 3-19. Odumbe was also the star of Kenya’s World Cup 2003 campaign, where they reached the semifinals. Odumbe averaged 42 with bat and took 9 wickets in the tournament. But an ICC investigation in 2004 found him guilty of fixing matches and he was slapped with a 5 year ban in 2005. 6. Niall O’Brien (Ireland 2006-2015) (Photo Source: AFP) The Irish wicketkeeper has been a part of Ireland team since 2006. O’ Brien was the hero of Ireland’s win over Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. He scored the highest and match winning score of 72 runs. O’Brien has been a very integral part of Ireland’s team in recent times. His swift keeping along with the stubbornness batting has got Ireland out of mess many times. He is also used as a pinch hitter or when a wicket falls early, O’Brien has been the man for Ireland in crisis. 5. Collins Obuya (Kenya 2011-2014) (Photo Source: AFP) Formerly a leg spinner and now a top order batsman Collins Obuya is still famous for his match winning 5-24 against Sri Lanka in the 2003 World Cup. This led to Kenya beating Sri Lanka and qualifying for a semifinal berth against India. Obuya picked up 13 wickets in Kenya’s World cup journey. In 2007, he started struggling with his bowling and despite help from Terry Jenner in Australia, gave up on his bowling. He now plays for Kenya as a specialist batsman and a very good player. 4. Nawroz Mangal (Afghanistan 2009-2015) (Photo Source: AFP) Nawroz Mangal is the captain of Afghanistan cricket team and has led them to tremendous success in recent times. Be it the 2010 World T20 trophy or gaining the ODI status by winning the 2009 World Cup qualifiers and now they will play in the 2015 World cup in Australia and New Zealand. Mangal is a solid middle order batsman who lends the much needed solidarity to a team filled with stroke makers. Nawroz Mangal got his introduction to cricket in Pakistan, where he used to stay in refugee camps. Afghanistan’s coach Taj Malik spotted him and groomed him further into a proper cricketer. And now Mangal will lead Afghanistan in the 2015 World Cup. 3. Ryan Ten Doeschate (Netherlands 2006-2011) (Photo Source: AFP) Regarded as the best Associate batsman of all time, Ten Doeschate or Tendo has the highest average in One Day cricket for a player from non-Test playing nation and second highest average in One Day Internationals. Ten Doeschate is a big hitting batsman and a medium pace bowling all-rounder. He is known for his ig hitting and has played T20 cricket all around the world. Be it IPL, Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League or any league. Doeschate retired from One Day Internationals after the 2011 World Cup where he scored 2 centuries including an almost match winning 119 against England. He cited loss of interest in playing for Netherlands as the reason of his retirement. He has also played county cricket with distinction for teams like Essex in England, Tasmania in Australia and Western Province in South Africa. He is considered as the best batsman never to play Test cricket along with number 2 on this list. 2. Steve Tikolo (Kenya 1996-2014) (Photo Source: ICC) Steve Tikolo is widely regarded as he best player never to play test cricket because he played for an associate nation Kenya. But he had the talent and ability to take on the biggest and best players in his time. His contributions to Kenyan cricket are immense and he was responsible for the demand to give Kenya test cricket status in 2003. Tikolo is a top order batsman and a gentle off spin bowler. Along with Maurice Odumbe, he laid the foundation for Kenya to become a giant killer in One day cricket. He is a attacking batsman who is technically perfect and can also hit big shots if necessary. Tikolo captained Kenya in the 1999 and the 2003 World cups where Kenya reached semifinals. Tikolo was also part of the 1996 World cup team that beat West Indies in Pune, he top scored with 29 for Kenya. With the downfall of Kenyan Cricket Association and recent withdrawal of ODI status from Kenya, Tikolo never actually got a chance to prove his talent in a big way. But he did prove himself in every other way possible with every chance he got to play at the highest level during his career. 1. Wiiliam Porterfield (Ireland 2006-2015) (Photo Source: Associated Press) Currently the best associate player, the Irish captain William Porterfield is an attacking opening batsman of great repute. He has been part of the ever rising Ireland cricket scene and could very well become Ireland’s first test captain. Porterfield plays First Class cricket for Gloucestershire and Warwickshire in English County cricket and has played an important role in Ireland’s famous wins over Bangladesh and Pakistan in 2007 World Cup and over England in 2011 World cup. Though his previous teammates Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce tried their hand playing for England and Morgan is now the English captain, Porterfield has remained the face of Irish cricket for better part of last decade.