Charting the History of the Highest Individual ODI Innings Score Ever
In this era of all-singing and all-dancing Twenty20 cricket, the one-day format has lost a little of its sparkle, but it has still produced many spectacular moments over the years.
And the following 10 players have each contributed to that by, at one point or another, owning the highest score ever in the history of the format.
Read on as we follow the progression of the record over its 43-year existence. (the progression of the highest individual Test score is here)
*Statistics courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo unless specified otherwise.
1. John Edrich
1 of 10
Score: 82 off 119 balls
When: 5 January 1971
Where: MCG, Melbourne
The first-ever ODI came about by accident. In the midst of an unspectacular Ashes tour, heavy rain forced the abandonment of the Melbourne Test without a ball being bowled.
Facing a huge financial loss, the authorities hastily arranged a game consisting of 40 eight-ball overs per side, which proved popular with over 46,000 people attending.
Despite being on the losing side, England's John Edrich stroked 82 of 119 balls to register the highest score of the match and consequently ODI history...for the time being.
The left-hander scored nearly 40,000 runs in an illustrious career which ended in 1978 and included 12 centuries in Test cricket.
Fact: At one stage during a particularly fruitful 1965 season, Edrich scored 139, 121*, 205*, 55, 96, 188, 92, 105 and 310* in nine successive innings.
2. Dennis Amiss
2 of 10
Score: 103 off 134 balls
When: 1972
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester.
The record was broken in the very next ODI by Dennis Amiss who also registered the format's first-ever century.
In a 55-over game against familiar opponents Australia, the Warwickshire stalwart helped England to a six-wicket victory with a controlled debut innings that included nine boundaries.
The opening batsman was more renowned for his first-class performances and chalked up over 40,000 first-class runs in a 27-year career.
Fact: Amiss helped to populise helmets for batsmen in cricket, but judging from this image, it is safe to say they have evolved considerably over the years.
3. Roy Fredericks
3 of 10
Score: 105 off 122 balls
When: 1973
Where: The Oval, London
West Indian opener Roy Fredericks became the first man to take the record outside of England with a fluent match-winning ton against the hosts.
Chasing 189 for victory, the Caribbean Islanders raced to their target with 12.4 overs to spare to win not only the game but to also clinch their first-ever ODI series with England.
The 5'6" left-hander was renowned for his scoring rate in an era when crease occupation was still the norm and once smashed a 71-ball century against Australia at the WACA.
Fact: Fredericks moved into politics after his career and became a junior minister in the Guyanese governing party.
4. David Lloyd
4 of 10
Score: 116 not out off 159 balls
When: 1974
Where: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To some, David Lloyd is simply the eccentric commentator who livens up the cricket coverage on Sky Sports with his passionate views and collection of trademark sayings.
But the devout Lancastrian had a rich career in the game as a player, a coach and even an umpire before moving behind the microphone.
One of the highlights from his playing days was an unbeaten 116 against Pakistan that once again broke the ODI highest-score record. Unfortunately, the knock proved in vain as the visitors won with 43 balls to spare.
Fact: Lloyd is nicknamed "Bumble" due to his physical resemblance of a character in the children's TV show The Bumblies.
5. Glenn Turner
5 of 10
Score: 171 not out off 201 balls
When: 1975
Where: Edgbaston, Birmingham
A year later the record was to take a significant jump when straight-playing opener Glenn Turner smashed 171 on the opening day of the first-ever ODI World Cup.
There is now doubt the opposition, East Africa, a combined team from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, were comparatively weak, but surpassing the previous best by 55 runs was still an impressive effort.
Turner's New Zealand went on to win the game by 181 runs but were eliminated from the tournament in the semi-finals by the West Indies.
Fact: On the same day, previous record holder Dennis Amiss also scored a century but fell for 137 and was eclipsed by the Kiwi's effort.
6. Kapil Dev
6 of 10
Score: 175 not out off 138 balls
When: 1983
Where: Tunbridge Wells, England
Coming in with the score on 17/5, India's skipper Kapil Dev must have been nervous about the prospect of overseeing one of the greatest shocks of all time.
Instead he proceeded to smash Zimbabwe's bowling attack to all parts of the Kent ground and keep alive his country's 1983 World Cup hopes. In fact they would go on and win it.
The innings contained a T20-esque number of boundaries with the all-rounder managing to clear the ropes on six occasions, and you can see the video here.
Fact: Dev also holds the record for having the highest ODI ranking ever for an all-rounder on the ICC cricket ratings system.
7. Viv Richards
7 of 10
Score: 189 not out off 170 balls
When: 1984
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
To put this sensational record-breaking innings by Sir Viv Richards, which many people consider the greatest ODI knock of all time, into context you only have to take a look at the scorecard.
At one point the West Indies were 102/7 in the 26th over and staring down the barrel of, at best, a substandard score. Cue the "Master Blaster."
Richards proceeded to take complete control of the game and blasted England's bowling attack all over the park, adding an incredible 112 for the final wicket with Michael Holding (Holding scored 12).
His 26 boundaries helped the team reach a final score of 272/9 which proved too much for England who lost meekly by 104 runs. The video of the innings is here.
Fact: The Antiguan's score of 189 was 69.48 per cent of his entire team's total, which remains a record proportion to this day.
8. Saeed Anwar and Charles Coventry
8 of 10
Score: 194 off 146 balls
When: 1997
Where: Chennai, India
Sir Viv Richards held the record for 13 years until a very special innings by Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar usurped the Master Blaster.
Not many players get to silence the vociferous home support at Chennai, never mind get a standing ovation, despite playing for their bitterest rivals, but Anwar's sublime 194 did just that.
The next best score in the team was just 39 as the stylish left-hander milked India's bowlers to register 27 boundaries and lead his side to an unassailable score.
Fact: Anwar's record stood for 12 years until it was equalled by Charles Coventry's freak innings in 2009. The Zimbabwean batsman, who made his first-class debut aged just 15, scored 194 against a very weak Bangladesh side.
9. Sachin Tendulkar
9 of 10
Score: 200 not out off 147 balls
When: 2010
Where: Gwalior, India
With the T20 boom in full swing, it's perhaps no surprise that someone eventually smashed a double century. That is why serial record-breaker Sachin Tendulkar is even less of a surprise.
In the midst of a fairly meaningless ODI series against South Africa, "The Little Master" strode to the crease to face an attack spearheaded by Dale Steyn (whose 10 wicketless overs went for 89 runs)
And 147 balls later, the 36-year-old was walking off the pitch to a standing ovation and 200 runs to his name.
His 50 was raised in 37 balls, the century in just 90 while the second ton took just 57 balls. ESPN cricinfo gives a more detailed analysis of the innings while the video master class is here.
Fact: Tendulkar was the first individual without an aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of group captain by the Indian Air Force.
10. Virender Sehwag
10 of 10
Score: 219 not out off 149 balls
When: 2011
Where: Indore, India
Whether it's a Test Match, a T20 or an ODI, Virender Sehwag only knows one way to bat, and if it's his day...the spectators need to watch closely for their own safety.
Captaining his country in this match against the West Indies, the aggressive opener hit his second ball to the boundary and never looked back, reaching the boundary on a further 31 occasions.
His first century took just 69 balls and the second only 71. And amazingly there was still 21 deliveries remaining when Sehwag was dismissed.
Of course India went on to win the contest, and you can watch the highest ever individual innings in ODI cricket right here.
Fact: Sehwag also holds the record for the fastest triple century ever, scoring 300 off just 278 balls in a Test match against South Africa.
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