NEW DELHI: Michael Bevan, the legendary ODI batsman for Australia, was elected into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame after the requirements for membership in the esteemed club were modified.
According to Cricket Australia (CA), the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee and the Melbourne Cricket Club, which is the manager of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), reviewed the criteria to make sure that all game formats that were available in their respective eras were given equal recognition.
There are now two categories under the revised criteria that allow candidates to be admitted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame: the player category and the general category. After Michael Clarke and Christina Matthews, Bevan is now the third player this season to be inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, making him the 66th player overall.
“It was Michael’s exceptional playing record and public standing that pushed the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee to review its selection criteria to ensure players who excelled in One-Day or Twenty20 Internationals were equally recognised as those who shone in the Test format.
“Michael without a doubt revolutionised white ball cricket and became a household name for his masterful batting, amazing athleticism and ability to chase down runs. In the late 90s and early 2000s, the name Bevan and One-Day Internationals were synonymous with one another.
“Michael’s stunning performances forced fans to either flock to a stadium or turn on their televisions, which was the impact he had on the game of cricket in Australia and globally,” said Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman.
From 1999 to 2002, Bevan held the top spot in the men’s ODI batting rankings for 1259 days in a row. In his 232 ODIs, he amassed 6912 runs at 53.58, including 48 fifties and six hundreds. He played for Australia, who won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1999 and 2003.
In men’s ODI cricket, he had the third-highest batting average at the time of his retirement. Bevan averaged 45.97 while taking 36 wickets.
“Michael Bevan is an icon and a pioneer in one-day cricket where he was regarded as the original finisher. He was a favourite among fans with his incredible temperament and ability to deliver in pressure situations, producing numerous memorable victories for Australia.
“He is a two-time World Cup winner and finished his career with one of the best records in 50-over cricket. He was also one of the most prolific run-scorers in the Sheffield Shield during what was one of the strongest eras in Australian cricket.”
“Michael is widely regarded as one of the greatest one-day players of all time and it’s fantastic to recognise his contribution to the game with his inclusion in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame,” added Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia CEO.
Bevan played 237 first-class matches while representing Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Yorkshire, Sussex, Leicestershire, and Kent. He amassed 19,147 runs at 57.32, including 68 hundreds and 81 fifties, with a best score of 216.
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