Top 10 opening pairs of ODI cricket.

Partnerships in cricket are of utmost importance and speaking of opening partnership, it is the base of an innings. The opening partnership determines the team's score and eventually the result.  So here are the top 10 ODI Opening partnerships :

1. Sachin-Sourav (India)

Tendulkar-Sourav these two words easily describe the significance of the Indian Cricket as they are the legends of this game. These two players opened for India  from 1996-2007. They also hold the maximum number of runs from openers in ODI 6609 runs while the highest partnership being 258 vs Kenya. They both opened first time on 23rd Jan 1997 as Sachin believed that a left-right combination would be lethal. But their first partnership didn't yield desired results as Sachin was out for 0. But that was history,they managed to put on big partnership afterwards as they have 26 century stands to their name.

2. Gilchrist-Hayden (Australia)

Maybe the most destructive opening pairs to have played in the history of cricket, Gilchrist and Hayden invoked a feeling of fear and destruction in the mind of bowlers who were to bowl to them. They had similar qualities like aggression,killer attitude and they believed to put pressure on the bowler from the very first ball. This fearless batting style of both these invincibles helped Australia to get some firecracker starts at the top. They have 5372 runs as openers together and 16 century stands.

3. Greenidge-Haynes (West Indies)

These two phenomenal batsmen opened the innings for West Indies when they were known as "The Giants of the Game" from 1979-1991. Greenidge and Haynes punished the bowlers at their will as they have 5150 runs with 15 century stands. They averaged 53.

4. Sehwag-Tendulkar (India)

Sehwag and Tendulkar made a good opening pair and were responsible for the dream starts which India got in the ICC world cups in 2003 and 2011. They played 102 innings together with 3919 runs with 12 century stands to their name. Sehwag a naturally aggressive player and Sachin an innings builder this combination reaped benefits for India from 2002-2012.

5. Gilchrist-Mark Waugh (Australia)

Gilly finds himself again in this list but with a different partner this time that is with Mark Waugh one of the finest players of Australia. Waugh and Gilly opened 93 innings together from 1998-2002 scoring 3853 runs with 8 century stands. Had they continued opening together they would certainly be at the top.

6. David Boon-Geoff Marsh (Australia)

These two great batsmen of their era opened together for the Australians and scored 3523 runs in 88 innings with an average of just over 40. They had 7 century stands registered to their name with the highest being 212.

7. Atapattu-Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

The batting of Sri Lankan team was in a state of transition in 1995-96 and these two opening pairs made the most of this transition and cemented their position as openers from 1997-2007. They opened 79 innings together scoring almost 3400 runs with a good average of 44. They stitched some important partnership for Sri Lanka in the course of time. They have 8 century stands to their name.

8. Jayasuriya-Kaluwitharana (Sri Lanka)

Another opening partnership of Sri Lanka finds its place in this list. Jayasuriya with RS Kalawitharana. They also opened for Sri Lanka from 1996-2004 having played 105 innings together scoring 3230 runs with their highest being 129. Kalawitharana took the opening position from Atapattu during this period. Jayasuriya and Kalawitharana have 6 century stands together.

9. Dilshan-Tharanga (Sri Lanka)

Hattrick of Sri Lankan opening pairs in this list now with the inclusion of Dilshan and Upul Tharanga. They have opened for Sri Lankan team from 2009-2014 having played 71 innings together. They have scored 3159 runs with an average of 45. They have 9 century stands together. They also opened for their team in 2011 world cup and achieved good starts.

10. Herschelle Gibbs-Graeme Smith (South Africa)

Probably the best opening pair of South African team, these two great players opened from 2002-2009 having opened 74 innings together scoring 3007 runs with an average of around 41. They have 8 century stands together. The best South African openers one can say.