Mark Waugh picks his top three ODI batsmen ahead of World Cup 2019

The upcoming cricket World Cup is expected to be a batsman’s delight. The ODI series between England and Pakistan held recently gave a hint of how hard things could go for the bowlers in the event and it will also embolden batsmen across the board to deliver. Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh took the opportunity to pick three such batters as his top three in the ODIs and they were led by India captain Virat Kohli.

The 53-year-old Waugh, who has played in three World Cups (1992-1999), chose Englishman Jos Buttler and compatriot David Warner as the other two in the list.

All three batters picked up by Mark Waugh are in great nick

All the three batsmen picked by the Waugh are in their prime forms at the moment. Kohli, who clinched all the three major ICC awards earlier this year, has the added responsibility to win India their third world title. Kohli goes into the tournament with 41 ODI hundreds, the most after Sachin Tendulkar’s 49, and averages nearly 60 in the format.

Buttler also is in incredible form as it was seen in the recent ODI series against the Windies and England — smashing hundreds in quick time. While Warner, who finished as the highest scorer in the just-concluded Indian Premier League despite missing the business end, ended up as the No.3 in Waugh’s list.

Warner was banned along with Steve Waugh for a year after their involvement in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa earlier in 2018 and were picked for the Australian World Cup side after their ban ended in March end, boosting the team’s prospects.

“Definitely Virat Kohli. He’s No.1. Jos Buttler, I’d have him at No.2 in the top three,” Waugh said while speaking to cricket.com.au. “Aaron Finch at his best is right up there, so is David Warner. I’ll go with David Warner,” he said.

While England play South Africa in the opener on May 30, Australia will take on Afghanistan in their first game in Bristol on June 1. India will meet the Proteas in their opening game on June 5.

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