Michael Bevan, the legendary finisher, has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, even though he didn’t fully meet the criteria set by the governing committee. The rules were slightly adjusted to let Bevan be included.
Michael Bevan Inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
Michael Bevan is considered one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. Throughout his career, he played a key role in leading Australia to many important victories, even when the team was in difficult situations.
The left-handed Bevan was a fantastic white-ball cricketer, playing crucial roles in Australia’s historic wins in two ODI World Cups. He batted in the middle and lower order in a lineup that is still considered one of the best ever in white-ball cricket.
Michael Bevan played a starring role in Australia’s ODI World Cup title wins in 1999 and 2003. Despite his world-class career, he wasn’t inducted into the Hall of Fame until now.
He was eligible for induction for 15 years, but his limited Test career held him back. The Hall of Fame committee had penalized him for playing only 18 Tests, which was considered too few.
However, Bevan’s outstanding white-ball records led the committee to adjust the rules and reconsider the selection criteria. Hall of Fame chairman Peter King emphasized that the committee now wants to recognize players who have excelled in white-ball cricket as well.
“It was Michael’s exceptional playing record and public standing that pushed the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee to review its selection criteria,” King stated.
“To ensure players who excelled in one-day or Twenty20 Internationals were equally recognised as those who shone in the Test format. Michael (Bevan) without a doubt revolutionised white-ball cricket and became a household name for his masterful batting, amazing athleticism and ability to chase down runs,” he added.
Cricket Australia’s chief executive, Nick Hockley, described Michael Bevan as a fan favorite for his contributions to white-ball cricket. Hockley also highlighted Bevan’s impressive run-scoring record in first-class cricket, noting his consistent performances across formats.
“He (Michael Bevan) was a favourite among fans with his incredible temperament and ability to deliver in pressure situations. He is a two-time World Cup winner and finished his career with one of best records in 50-over cricket,” Hockley said.
“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,” he added.
Bevan’s Iconic Matches and Match-Winning Performances
Michael Bevan played 18 Tests and 232 ODIs for Australia. While he wasn’t as successful in the Test format, he became a legendary figure in ODIs. He scored 6,912 runs at an average of 53.58 and a strike rate of 74.16 in ODIs.
Bevan recorded 6 centuries and 46 fifties in his ODI career. One of his most memorable moments was when he struck four runs off the last ball to help Australia secure a one-wicket win over the West Indies in Sydney in 1996.
In addition to that iconic knock, Bevan played an unbeaten 74 against England in the 2003 ODI World Cup, guiding Australia to a narrow win with just two balls remaining. Bevan was an integral part of Australia’s World Cup-winning teams in 1999 and 2003, playing key roles in both title wins.
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