Published By: Sayan Guha

Most Runs in an Over: When Batters Take on an Aussie Bowler in an ODI Ft. Rohit Sharma

From Heinrich Klaasen to Rohit Sharma, how batters have made Aussie bowlers look like they’re bowling with a tennis ball

The game of cricket can be brutal, particularly for bowlers. You might be the hero one moment and then be remembered for all the wrong reasons in history. Ask Mitchell Starc, please. During the fourth ODI match against England, Starc accidentally set a record by giving up the most runs in an over by an Australian bowler in ODI history.

Mitchell Starc’s Lord’s nightmare

The crowd was excited as Australia and England faced off in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) in a five-match series on a typical English day at Lord’s. With a 2-1 advantage, the Australians were ready to win the series. The last over of England’s innings eventually arrived, and wow, what a rollercoaster!

In that over, Liam Livingstone, with his raw strength, four times drove the ball high into the stands. Starc was in complete disbelief at his luck—or lack thereof. He let up 28 runs in six balls by the time it was over. With England reaching a massive 312 all out, Starc’s stats suffered greatly: 0/70 in eight overs as Australia lost the match by 186 runs (126 all out). England levelled the series in style, and now all eyes are on the last ODI at Bristol.

Starc’s misfortune surpassed Xavier Doherty’s previous Australian record of 26 runs conceded in a single over. And with that, he became a member of a club that no bowler wants to join. But he isn’t alone. Let’s look at past situations when Australian bowlers had an equally awful day.

Xavier Doherty vs. Rohit Sharma: The Bengaluru blazing

If Starc’s 28-run over was horrible, Xavier Doherty’s experience against Rohit Sharma in Bengaluru in 2013 was as dreadful. It was the usual high-scoring match between India and Australia, but Doherty certainly regrets he called in ill that day.

In the 46th over of India’s innings, Rohit, who was already on fire, chose to go all out. The pattern was something like this: 6, 4, 0, 6, 4, 6. By the end of the over, Doherty had conceded 26 runs. Rohit concluded with a staggering 209 runs, as India set an impressive target of 384. Despite a brave effort, Australia lost by 57 runs.

Cameron Green’s expensive lesson at Indore

Fast forward to 2023, and another Australian, Cameron Green, finds himself in the firing line—again, against India. This time in Indore, Green handed over to Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul. Green conceded 26 runs in the 44th over as the ball went all over the ground and India posted a huge 399/5.

Suryakumar was not in the mood for mercy, blasting four straight sixes with the over reading: 6, 6, 6, 6, 1, 1. Green’s final stats were 2 for 103 from ten overs, and Australia’s chase was nothing short of disastrous, losing by 99 runs under the DLS method.

Adam Zampa’s Centurion struggle

If you believe that just fast bowlers have been targeted, think again. Adam Zampa, Australia’s premier leg-spinner, experienced his own day of terror in Centurion, 2023. South Africans David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen were in the mood to party, and poor Zampa became an unwanted visitor.

In the 48th over, Zampa was smashed: 4, 2-wide, 6, 1, 1, 6, 6. He ended up allowing 26 runs, and his final numbers were 0/113 from 10 overs. South Africa scored a mammoth 416 runs, but Australia buckled under strain, losing by 164.