CricTracker fan poll - 5 Best ODI batsmen of the year

As the sixteenth year of the second millennial approaches its end we take a look back at what and how things happened on the cricket field. With the exciting dose of World T20 right at the start of the season it was all set to be a stupendous year for the lovers of the game and it definitely proved to be. We gave CricTracker fans an opportunity to pick the best ODI batsmen of the year among the five top names and with almost 4000 voters participating it was a fair poll to crown the best batter from amongst the best.

2016 witnessed a more even contest between the bat and the ball. But a certain few batsmen enjoyed unprecedented success. While the year ended with some enriching Test match experience there were enough ODI action to complement the other two forms. The fans witnessed some nerve-wracking 50-over matches and exuberant batting displays. Here are the fan’s choice 5 best ODI batsmen of 2016

5. Alex Hales – 1% votes

In Alex Hales England got an explosive opener who has been a pioneer in the change the Brits wish to make in their style of play. He is one of the watch the ball hit the ball kind of players and doesn’t quite believe in the age old saying or respecting the bowler and the ball. Hales played a total of 14 matches in the year and scored 743 runs and was second only to Root in the leading run-scorers in the format in 2016 among English players.

The 171-run knock that he played against Pakistan helped the team scale the highest ODI total of 444 runs. Towards the end of the year, he preferred to skip the tour of Bangladesh but will once again be a key member of Eoin Morgan’s team when they play the ODI series in India. Hales successfully maintained an average of 61.91 with a striking rate of 101.36. He has three centuries and four half tons to his credit in the year as well.

Hales clearly wasn’t among the fan favourites and secured the least 1% votes in the poll.

4. Joe Root – 2% votes

England batting mainstay Joe Root had a great year in the 50 overs format. He has dynamic teammates in the limited-overs setup and that has certainly helped him in playing his natural game. Root is someone who loves to play his shots but not a real risk taker and that is where he stands unique. He scores as per the demand of the hour and at the same time anchors the inning.

In the year 2016, he played 15 ODIs and scored 796 runs. He had an impressive average of 61.23 along with a powerful strike rate of 91.81. His best knock was worth 125 and he scored one more century and six half centuries in the year to end 2016 as one of the top five run-scorers in the format. But Root probably couldn’t impress CricTracker fans and garnered 2% votes.

3. Quinton de Kock – 9% votes

He might not have the strongest body or the toughest look but the sleek and tender looking wicketkeeper-batsman is a basher with the bat in hand. Quinton de Kock has not only solved South African’s opening woes but has absolutely owned the opposition bowling attacks at times. He gives a boosting head start to the innings and combines perfectly with the pacifier Hashim Amla as openers for the team.

De Kock appeared in 17 ODIs to account 857 runs. He beats everyone in the list with his strike rate – 108.61. The marvellous 178-run knock that he scored against Australia was one of the best individual performances of the year. Despite his on-field exploits he couldn’t win over the fans and managed a 9% share of votes.

2. David Warner – 25% votes

Australian opener David Warner had a fantastic 2016. He was amongst the runs in Test, in ODIs as well as T20Is. Despite his aggressive and risky style of play he has been able to maintain an unexpected level of consistency and that is what places him ahead of the rest. Being one of those cricketers who has to play his shots no matter what the situation is Warner has enough skill and experience to pull that off more often than not.

He played the most 23 matches among the five players in contention here and put together the most 1388 runs. He had a superior average of 63.03 and the second best strike rate of 105.47. The proof of the fact that he relies on the boundary shots to get most of his runs is the 148 fours and 22 sixes that he hit. Warner scored the most seven centuries and four half centuries. But the fans certainly thought the Aussie was not the best and had to settle down for the second spot with 25% votes.

1. Virat Kohli – 63%

Virat Kohli, the Modern Master of batting has been evolving every time he takes the field. He is in a state of mind where he has no competition with anyone else but strives to better his own game. What he achieved right through 2016 was termed inhumane one after the other. His level of consistency and ability to handle pressure and workload is simply amazing.

He scored thickly right from the start of the year with the series against Australia down under. Virat has been the batting mainstay for the team in the shorter formats as much as he has held control of things in Test cricket. He appeared in 10 ODIs in 2016 and has 739 runs to his name. The best score he got in the year was 154* against New Zealand in the previous series.

The Indian Test skipper maintained an astonishing average of 93.37 during the year with a staggering strike rate of 100. During the course, he scored three hundreds and four half’s as well. Virat was the clear winner of the CricTracker fan poll and got a whopping 63% vote share to beat the second placed David Warner by quite a margin.

Here is the poll: