10 Of the fastest runners in world cricket right now

Running between wickets holds the key to building an innings in any format of the game, irrespective of how good a hitter one is. Converting singles into twos and twos into threes not only frustrate the opponents but also gives time for a batsman to settle. Though fours and sixes can win games, singles and twos set the platform for it.

Rotating strike takes pressure off the batsman and keeps ticking the scoreboard without any sort of risks. Over the years, cricket has produced some fittest and fastest players. The importance of running quick between the wickets has always been a key element in the game. Though some players chose to ignore it, the ones who preached it have shown us how it can win games.

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#10 Jonny Bairstow

England v India - 1st ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

Though his inclusion on the list might raise many eyebrows, the 29-year-old has shown in the past 12 months that he is one of fastest runners between the wickets. He runs really quick and his turns at the crease are simply spectacular. The split second he saves when making a turn gives him ample time to convert 1’s into 2’s and 2’s into 3’s. He judges them really well and does that on a consistent basis.

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#9 Glenn Maxwell

Australia v England - T20 Game 1

One factor that most of us do not associate with Glenn Maxwell is his running between the wickets. Fours and sixes only will come to our mind when we talk about Maxwell and we often tend to ignore how good a runner he is. The 29-year-old is a supremely fit athlete who can run extremely quick between the wickets and also when he fielding on the boundary.

#8 Dwayne Bravo

West Indies v England - 2nd ODI

The West Indian is one of the quickest cricketers in the world in every aspect of the game. Though we may not witness it when he is running between the wickets, we can always see it when he is fielding. More often than not, he stops a batsman from converting singles into twos. He creates a doubt in batsmen mind and often catches them short when they try to take him on.

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#7 Brendon McCullum

Island of Origin T20

Naturally an aggressive cricketer, McCullum is always known for his exuberance and athleticism. A keeper by trade, McCullum gave up his role because of the heavy workload. A gifted stroke maker, McCullum is exceedingly quick between the wickets. He is also a live wire on the field and effects some extraordinary runouts.

#6 Steve Smith

Australia v England - Game 3

Though he has tarnished his reputation because of the recent ball-tampering saga, there was never a doubt about his cricketing abilities. The former Australian skipper is one of best when it comes to stealing runs and has an uncanny knack of getting ones and twos. He is always a fielder to watch out for because of his pace and quick reactions.

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#5 Hardik Pandya

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day Two

He is one of the very few players who can even think about going head to head with Dhoni in a 100m race. BCCI published a video in its twitter page which showed Dhoni and Pandya competing in a quick 100-meter race. Though Dhoni won the race, it was only by the smallest of margins. Arguably India’s best fielder in limited-overs cricket, Pandya is also super quick between the wickets.

#4 David Warner

Australia v England - Game 4

Though he can hit a lot of sixes and fours, David Warner is one of those big hitters who always focus on getting single and twos. He is extremely quick between the wickets and also when he is on the field. He judges a run really well and makes it unbelievably quick. Fielding on the huge outfields in Australia, it is always an amazing sight when he stops the batsmen from taking an extra run.

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#3 AB de Villiers

England v South Africa - 3rd NatWest T20 International

One of the many things this man can do better than most cricketers. Came into the international scene as a wicketkeeper, AB de Villiers gave up that job to Quinton de Kock to focus on his batting. He then transformed into one of the best outfielders in the world with some brilliant catches and runouts. He is super quick when it comes to running between the wickets and also makes it look so easy.

#2 MS Dhoni

England v India - 3rd ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

It is always a close call between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli, but Dhoni comes second because of Kohli’s sheer brilliance. Arguably the fastest runner between the wickets for the most part of the past 10 years, Dhoni has won a lot of games for India with his ability to rotate strike and score crucial singles and twos. Despite his tremendous power and strength, Dhoni always relies a lot on singles and twos.

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#1 Virat Kohli

England v India: Specsavers 5th Test - Day One

This man needs no introduction. Arguably the greatest cricketer in the world at the moment, Kohli is a supremely fit Athlete. Though he possesses almost every attacking shot in the book, he always loves to play risk-free cricket. He is one of those players who play a very less number of dot balls and takes a lot of singles and twos. He is unbelievably quick between the wickets and fastest in the world right now.