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ODI GOAT: Lloyd vs Border

Two legendary captains go head-to-head in this round one match-up

The #ODIGOAT is cricket.com.au's knockout competition to determine the greatest ODI player of all time. We've selected our top 64 ODI players and now we're asking YOU to do the hard work – that is, narrow it down to one. Set up in much the same way as a tennis tournament, each day you'll see head-to-head match-ups, with the winner of those progressing to the next round to square off with their next challenger. From 64, we'll go to 32, to 16, 8, 4 and ultimately our final. So cast your VOTE and decide just who is the greatest ODI player in history!

CLIVE LLOYD (WEST INDIES)

The numbers: Matches: 87 | Runs: 1,977 | Average: 39.54| SR: 81.22 | 100s: 1 | HS: 102

Why he makes the list: Standing at a muscular 6'5", the hard-hitting Clive Lloyd would fit seamlessly into the modern West Indies team of giants that conquered the world earlier this month if his playing days didn't end 31 years ago. Using his long levers for leverage and a savage swing of the bat, there were few hitters in the world who could match Lloyd's power until the likes of Richards, Greenidge and Haynes joined him at the highest level to collectively destroy bowling attacks the world over. But it's as captain that Lloyd is most remembered. The calm and calculating skipper united the mixture of Caribbean nationalities to win World Cups in 1975 and 1979, commanding an unstoppable pace attack like a military general.

Performance we loved: Still wearing whites and facing a red ball, Lloyd produced the only century of his ODI career when it mattered most – the 1975 World Cup final at Lord's. Remarkably, it was only the left-hander's fourth innings of his one-day career, but what he lacked in experience he made up for with runs, bludgeoning 12 fours and two sixes on his way to an 85-ball 102. His knock lifted the Windies 8-291 from 60 overs against an attack that featured Lillee, Thomson and Gilmour. It proved to be too much – Australia falling 17 runs short to crown Lloyd and the Windies as the inaugural World Cup champions.  

ALLAN BORDER (AUSTRALIA)

The numbers:

Matches: 273 | Runs: 6,524 | Average: 30.62 | SR: 71.42 | 100s: 3 | HS: 127no

Wickets: 73 | Average: 28.36 | SR: 36.4 | Economy: 4.66 | BB: 3-20 | 5fa's: 0

WATCH: Mix Tape: The best of ODI AB

Why he makes the list: The godfather of Australian cricket, Allan Border has a record we couldn't refuse. The batting pillar in a time of transition in Australia, Border brought his uncompromising attitude and work ethic from Test cricket into the one-day game. In a career spanning 15 years, only Ricky Ponting (230) captained Australia more than Border's 178 games at the helm. His gritty, uncomplicated style was most effective against England, averaging 42.46 and scoring 105no in just his second match against the Old Enemy. His greatest feat was bringing together a young team, described as "rank outsiders" by Steve Waugh, to win Australia's maiden World Cup in 1987 on the subcontinent.

Performance we loved: Nine days after scoring 118no off only 88 balls against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval, Border reached triple figures once again in the first tri-series final at the SCG in February, 1985. This time it was against the Hall of Fame West Indies fast-bowling trio of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and 'Big Bird' Joel Garner. Entering at 2-7 and copping an early blow to the chest from a rising Garner delivery, Border teamed up with Wayne Phillips to put on 105 for the fifth wicket. The southpaw had help from Simon O'Donnell and Geoff Lawson, but it was a one-man show for a majority of the innings. He struck 13 boundaries in his unbeaten 127, guiding Australia to a match-winning total of 6-247. The 26-run win snapped the Windies 10-game unbeaten ODI run that summer. 

#ODIGOAT First Round: Tendulkar v Sharma

#ODIGOAT First Round: Akram v Starc

#ODIGOAT First Round: Garner v Donald

#ODIGOAT First Round: Richards v de Silva

#ODIGOAT First Round: Azharuddin v Miandad

#ODIGOAT First Round: Jones vs Clarke

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