Cricket’s Best Left-Handed XI (Source: AFP)
If you’re a left-hander, then today, August 13, is a special one for you!
It's International Left-Handers Day, a day to celebrate all the left-handed people out there and highlight what it's like living in a world largely designed with right-handed people in mind.
According to a research, roughly around 10 to 12 per cent of the world population is left-handed. That means around 800 million people prefer their left hand for day-to-day tasks like eating and writing.
In a sport like cricket, left-handed players hold a special place in team combinations for their ability to create awkward bowling angles for right-arm bowlers and disrupt field placements.
Left-handed batters force captains to change field settings. Thus, having a left-and-right-hand batting pair at the crease makes it hard for bowlers to settle on a consistent line and length.
That being said, on International Left-handers Day, we have curated a glorious playing 11 of left-handers across the globe.
Top order
1) Matthew Hayden
At 6 feet 2 inches tall, Matthew Hayden was feared by opponents, but at the same time respected for his brute force, strokeplay and patience. Hayden’s esteemed international career, spanning 16 years, included 15,000 runs and two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victories.
2) Sanath Jayasuriya
The Sri Lankan batter retired with 13,430 ODI runs at a remarkable strike rate exceeding 91, changing how powerplays and opening partnerships were approached across international cricket.
Thus, his greatness lies not in traditional averages, but in his unmatched ability to dismantle bowling attacks. Apart from it, he also had 323 ODI wickets to his name and 98 Test wickets too. These attributes truly make him one of the greatest ever to grace the sport.
3) Kumar Sangakkara
An elite run-scorer with sublime elegance as a left-hander, Sangakkara was an exceptionally versatile batter with an analytical mind that made him one of cricket’s most respected global ambassadors.
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Middle order
4) Brian Lara
Gifted with a high backlift and extraordinary fast hands, in his time, he would dismantle the best bowling attacks with breathtaking elegance and aggressive intent. Lara bore the immense weight of a declining West Indies side, often converting his hundreds into massive, marathon double and triple centuries.
5) Yuvraj Singh
Renowned for his fearless left-handed explosive batting, clutch performances in major global tournaments, and immense resilience, Yuvraj is considered one of India’s greatest power-hitters.
6) Adam Gilchrist
Playing from 1996 to 2008, Adam Gilchrist completely revolutionised the role by playing with explosive, aggressive batting dominance and won three consecutive World Cups (1999, 2003, 2007).
All-rounder
7) Ravindra Jadeja
The Indian all-rounder stands as one of modern cricket’s ultimate match-winners, blending lethal left-arm spin, resolute lower-order batting, and elite world-class fielding into a complete multi-format package.
8) Garry Sobers
The greatest all-rounder to ever step onto a cricket field, escalating all-round skill to transcendental realms. No cricketer could so spontaneously change the course of the game.
Bowlers
9) Rangana Herath
An orthodox left-arm spinner, Herath stepped up after Muttiah Muralitharan’s retirement. Herath is one of the players who bloomed late, but once he did, he shouldered the spin-bowling burden with incredible consistency.
10) Mitchell Starc
The left-arm pacer still continues to add to his remarkable legacy. Interestingly, on August 13, 2026, on International Left-Handers Day, Mitchell Starc became the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket among left-arm bowlers, leaving Rangana Herath behind (433).
11) Wasim Akram
Nicknamed the “Sultan of Swing”, the Pakistani legend is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history. Akram could swing the ball conventionally at high pace and was the pioneer of mastering reverse swing with older balls, making him lethal in any conditions globally.
World's best Left-handers’ playing XI
Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara ©, Brian Lara, Yuvraj Singh, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Garry Sobers, Rangana Herath, Mitchell Starc, Wasim Akram
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