One day cricket has evolved a lot since its inception in 1971. Though now ODI cricket is seen with flurry of sixes and big hits that sail over the ground’s roof, purists still prefer a stylish flick off the legs for a four than ugly shots going for sixes.

Many batsmen have developed many release shots that result in fours and hitting fours is much easy than hitting those long shots for six. The trend of hitting this many sixes started in the last decade, thanks to shorter boundaries, fielding restrictions, 2 new balls and big bladed bats.

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However, some batsmen have made hitting fours an art. Straight drives, pulls, cuts and flicks off the hips are some of the shots that leave fans and viewers gasping for breath and opposition can only applaud the wonderful skills of the batsman.

Here are 5 such skilled batsmen with most number of fours to their name in One day International cricket.

5. ADAM GILCHRIST (AUS/ICC) - 1162 fours

Australia’s greatest wicket keeper by far, Adam Gilchrist redefined the role of wicket keeper in all forms of cricket with his destructive batting in all the three formats. Before his arrival, teams looked for a keeper who could keep well and was handy with the bat. But after him, teams ran everywhere to find a keeper who could keep well and was more than handy with the bat.

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Gilchrist scored 9619 runs in 287 ODIs, with a strike rate of 96.94 and 1162 fours to his name. He would take on the fiercest of the opening bowlers and hit them to all parts of the boundary. His highest score in ODIs was 172 and he hit 16 centuries in his career.

4. RICKY PONTING (AUS/ICC) – 1231 fours

Australia’s most successful captain Ricky Ponting hit 1231 fours in his career of 375 ODIs. He made 13704 runs with 30 centuries to his name and a highest score of 164.

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Ponting was a destructive batsman to have at no.3 and he could play spin expertly, something the current Australian batting lineup is struggling with. Ponting also loved hooking and pulling the short bowls from the fastest of bowlers and something that his fans all over the world loved to see every time he came out to bat.

3. KUMAR SANGAKKARA (SL/ICC/ASIA) – 1385 fours

Sri Lanka’s genius captain and keeper Kumar Sangakkara managed an impressive 1385 fours in his career of 404 ODI matches. Left handed batsmen are usually attractive to look at while batting and Kumar Sangakkara made batting look more beautiful.  

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Sangakkara is the only batsman in ODI cricket to score four consecutive centuries, all coming in the 2015 World Cup. His 14,234 runs in ODIs are the most by any Sri Lankan batsman in the format and Sangakkara was someone who was amazing for his nation at no.3. He could bat as a sheet anchor and could then transform into a big shot hitting monster when needed, relying more on hitting fours than sixes, given that he hit just 88 sixes in his career compared to the number of fours he hit.

2. SANATH JAYASURIYA (SL/ASIA) – 1500 fours

The man who changed the way openers batted in ODIs, former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya hit an astonishing 1500 fours, in addition to the 270 sixes in the ODI format. Jayasuriya played 445 ODIs and scored 13430 runs with a highest score of 189 to his name.

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SL captain Arjuna Ranatunga unleashed Jayasuriya over the bowlers of the world in 1996, promoting him as an opener and giving him the license to kill their careers with his hitting. At one point, Jayasuriya held the records of the fastest century and half century in the ODI format. Jayasuriya will always be remembered for his strong forehand powered shots on both the leg and off side, which sliced the fielders, who watched the ball whistle past them and thud into the boundary boards.  

1. SACHIN TENDULKAR (IND) – 2016 fours

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of most fours in ODI cricket with 2016 boundaries to his name in 463 ODI matches. He also hit 195 sixes in addition to over 2000 fours.

Sachin, who was the first male cricketer hit a double hundred (200* vs SA in 2010) in ODI cricket, held almost every batting record in cricket and still holds the record for most runs – 18,426, most centuries – 49 and most fifties – 96 to his name among other records.

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His record for 2016 fours seems to be safe as the next currently active cricketers are Yuvraj Singh with 908 fours and Virat Kohli with 839 fours to their name.