Mr Dependable Michael Bevan inducted to Cricket Australia”s Hall of Fame

Melbourne, Feb 3 (PTI) Former batter Michael Bevan, widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI finishers who displayed impeccable game awareness and mastered difficult run chases with minimal risk, has been inducted to Cricket Australia’s Hall of Fame.

The 54-year-old, who was a part of Australia’s 1999 and 2003 World Cup-winning teams, made 6912 ODI runs at a brilliant average of 53.58 in 232 games, batting in middle-order, mostly at number six.

During his career that ran from 1994 to 2004, Bevan exemplified maximum returns at minimum risk, and was a genius in keeping the required rate during chases in check by picking singles and twos that would often lull the opposition and ultimately steer Australia over the line.

“Congratulations to former Australian player Michael Bevan on his induction to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame,” Cricket Australia posted on X.

Speaking to ‘cricket.com.au’, the imposing left-hander, who has also dabbled in coaching, said his ODI success was down to a deep understanding of the format.

“When I reflect on my one-day career, and get an understanding of why I performed like I did, how I was able to manage the innings, or the run rate…I think that was sort of natural to me,” he said.

“Minimising risk, understanding which bowlers to target, what types of shots to play in certain situations, and the ability to understand when to put your foot down, and when to take the foot off the accelerator as well…(were) the principles that I used,” he added the owner of 67 unbeaten ODI knocks who struck 46 half-centuries and six hundreds in the format.

He could never really replicate that success in Tests and Bevan said he accepted that the traditional form was not really meant for him quite early. Bevan played only 18 Tests. He made his debut in 1994 and played the five-day game only till 1998.

“I wasn’t ready to play Test cricket. I had my own demons,” he said.

His long-time captain Steve Waugh was a huge fan of his work ethic in the nets and in his book, he mentioned that Bevan “would literally invent strokes to fuel his search for greatness and his desire to attain new levels of excellence.”

Bevan could maneuver Australia out of trouble with his tenacity and the ability to find the gaps in the tightest fields to keep the scoreboard ticking and eventually chase down targets for victories by the thinnest of margins.

“…I felt with the one-day game, I always did what I did – I had the ability to win close games, and that was always there. It wasn’t something that I learned or had to go through, it was really just intrinsic, which is kind of a bit weird,” he said of his career.

“…I was just matched with the finishing role and the number six in one-day cricket. I’m not going to say ‘it felt easy’, because it didn’t, but I felt aligned with being the reliable, dependable person in a pressure situation,” he added.