Top 10 Batsmen with Highest Average Batting Away (min. 50 inns) in ODIs

Top 10 Batsmen with Highest Average Batting Away (min. 50 inns) in ODIs: A batsman is regarded as a great one when he not only performs on his home soil against opponents but also against opponents on their own grounds. It is very difficult to have a good away record in limited over matches due to less time available for acclimatization. Here are 10 batsmen with best away averages in One Day Internationals (Min 50 innings): 10. Damien Martyn – 45.15: (Photo Source: Reuters) The mainstay of Australian middle order in the greatest team of modern era, Damien Martyn didn’t get many chances to show his true skills. Thanks to either the great bowling attack or the top class opening combination that Australia possessed in the 2000s. But Martyn did well on the away tours to countries like India, Sri Lanka, South Africa where his ability to play both quick bowlers and spin easily was brought forth. A World cup winner in 2003, he played an important role in the whole tournament and especially in the final supporting captain Ricky Ponting and taking Australia to a cup winning total of 359 runs. 9. Michael Clarke – 46.00: (Photo Source: AFP) Current Australian captain Michael Clarke has adapted his game to suit the both the slow pitches in the Indian subcontinent and the fast pitches in South Africa and England. Clarke showed his class in his very first test series in India, where he scored 151 on debut, playing the Indian spinners with ease. He then passed his Ashes exams with flying colours in 2005 Ashes series, despite Australia losing the series to England. Over 3000 runs on foreign pitches show that Clarke can handle himself pretty well in every condition. 8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 46.66: (Photo Source: Associated Press ) The West Indian stalwart proved his unorthodox batting style was effective enough to bring him success in even the shorter form of game. Shiv Chanderpaul mostly played under the shadow of the more talented contemporaries in Brian Lara and Carl Hooper, but he was good enough to hold his own when it came to batting on surfaces outside the West Indies. His success in South Africa, England and especially India proves that he was capable enough to play and succeed on any surface thrown at him. He was responsible for steadying the West Indian batting line up and even opened for them. His highest score of 150 came against a full force South African bowling line up in South Africa. 7. Virat Kohli – 46.96: (Photo Source: BCCI) The Indian wonder kid Virat Kohli made his debut for India in 2008 in Sri Lanka and since then, he has been the back bone of Indian One Day line-up. Especially after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli has taken up the mantle of making sure India wins the matches comfortably. Virat Kohli has proved that he can chase any target on his own on any surface. His brilliant knock of 136 against Sri Lanka chasing a total of 327 runs in fewer than 38 overs on Perth pitch was a master class in overseas batting. His biggest test will come in the upcoming ICC World cup 2015 to be held in Australia and New Zealand. 6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 46.72: (Photo Source: Getty Images) Tied with Michael Bevan as the greatest finisher In ODI history, Indian captain MS Dhoni has proved his mettle on every surface he has played on. Be it Australia, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa he has performed admirably on all the surfaces and has won India matches from losing positions. Known for his powerful and big hitting, Dhoni has also cleared stands on the biggest grounds possible like the SCG, MCG, Sabina Park, Centurion, Headingly. Dhoni’s average of almost 47 proves that he is as effective overseas as he is in India. 5. Misbah-ul-Haq – 48.64: Misbah-ul-Haq. (© Getty Images) Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq has recently made a name for himself as a finisher for his team. He has the ability to rotate the strike and launch into the big hitting modes with ease. Though he does not have a century in the ODI format, he has proved his capabilities otherwise. An overseas average of 48.64 is commendable seeing that Pakistan last played an international game on its home ground in 2009. Pakistan has performed well in England, New Zealand and other overseas destinations thanks to Misbah’s captaincy and his batting abilities. 4. Michael Hussey – 50.82: (Photo Source: AFP) Michael Hussey a.k.a Mr Cricket redefined the lower order batting with his innovations and big hitting capabilities. Getting a chance to represent Australia when he was already 30 years of age, he made sure that the world will remember him as one the greatest ODI batsmen forever. Hussey could both rotate the strike and take singles and doubles and very well hoist the ball into the crowd as the situation demanded. The pitch didn’t matter to him whether it was home or away, Australia or India or England or South Africa, he performed everywhere thanks to his wonderful technique and presence of mind. 3. Michael Bevan – 51.79: (Photo Source: AFP) The greatest finisher in the One Day International history, Michael Bevan could do it all. Bat the team out of a sticky situation, accelerate the innings in the last overs and commander a close chase along with the tail-enders. His ability to play spin well brought him much success in the sub-continent pitches and his ability to manoeuvre fast bowlers made him an asset in places like England and South Africa. He came in at number 5 or 6 and could control the game the way he wanted, whether hitting the big shots or taking cheeky singles. And he remained not out most of the times to take his team to victory. 2. Sir Vivian Richards – 56.82: (Photo Source: Getty Images) The greatest ODI batsman of all time Sir Viv knew how to modulate his batting to this new format and then went on to rule it until his retirement in 1991. Sir Viv was the face of the West Indian batting during the mighty reign from 1975-1991. He didn’t fear any bowler or any surface. He would come out to bat in his maroon cap, chewing gum and with his trademark swagger. He dominated the game unlike any one has, not just the game, but he dominated the bowlers to an extent where they would get tired of being hit for fours and sixes. Sir Viv’s record on overseas grounds in ODIs is just an eye opener, he averages almost 57 with 9 hundreds and a highest score of 189* against England in England. He also scored 181* in 1987 World cup against Sri Lanka in Karachi. He dominated the Indian spinners in India on tour of 1983 and 1989 where India could manage just 2 wins in each of the 5 match ODI series. 1. AB de Villiers – 62.73: (Photo Source: Getty Images) Abraham Benjamin de Villiers is the most exciting and all-round complete batsman in modern day cricket. He can play the waiting game, taking singles, doubles and rotating the strike or he can hit a bowler into the crowds anywhere in the stadium. His ability to hit the ball in any direction and hit pure Yorkers for six makes him a very different entity altogether when compared with other batsmen in ODIs today. And he has scored runs all over the world be it India, Sri Lanka, England, Australia or New Zealand. He has the highest overseas average of 62.73 for someone who has batted for minimum 50 innings, which proves that he is one of the modern era greats of ODI cricket. (Also read Top 10 Best Associate Players in ODIs) (All stats updated till 17th January 2016)