Michael Bevan to me has to be THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in one dayers. True, he had limitations as far as skills and technique is concerned but he has won Australia games countless times from totally unwinning situations. I remember a game where Aus was chasing some 250 + score and Aus was 80 odd for 6 down against SA or NZ I don't remember..but he scored a century ( probably undefeated) and won the game for Aussies. He has done this so many times that u can say almost all his innings are the ones where he has won games for Australia from hopeless situations. I think it was in early 90s when he hit last ball for 4 to win against then strong West Indies bowling attack and that's when people took notice of him.

They say Hussey is next Bevan, I beg to differ coz Hussey is not facing Wasim Akram, Coutney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Allan Donald on those fast pitches and Muralitharan and Kumble on minefields as often as Bevan did. All these players were at their peak when he played. Murali and Kumble still play but conditions are far easier for batsmen nowadays than in 90s.

To me, Bevan was the best ODI player to have ever played the game in terms of winning matches on his own. Truly a superb player.

If ur life depended on one innings..u will turn to Steve Waugh in Tests and no one but Bevan in one dayers. Full stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But my thread was not about match winning abilities or averages..It's about the most skillful batsman, one who revolutionised the game and one who changed the game for ever. And there comes names like Lara, Tendulkar, Viv.