Top 5 Batsmen with Highest Striking Average in ODI Cricket

Top 5 Batsmen with Highest Striking Average in ODI Cricket: ODI format is that captivating form of the game which has produced some of the most extraordinarily swashbuckling talented breed of cricket batters you could ever see. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Vivian Richards, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sourav Ganguly are some of the extravagant names which have glittered the format chivalrously. Average and strike rate are the two critical virtues to judge about the success and stamp of a batsmen’s abilities in the game of cricket. If a batsman holds a top notch average but has a relatively lower strike rate, then he cannot win you matches. At the same time, if a someone holds a belligerent strike rate but a mediocre level of consistency (average), then he is nothing more than a one inning wonder. So, we make an elusive list which is one of its own kind by combining both the virtues of a batter in ODI cricket. Let’s have a look at the Top 5 Batsmen with Highest Striking Average in ODI Cricket. (Minimum 100 matches): *Points = (Average + Strike Rate/2) 5. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies) – 68.5 points: Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images) There is hardly any list on ODI batsmen in which this legendary calypso king, Sir Vivian Richards doesn’t feature. In his days, he was like a swagger who walked across the stumps to whip the fast bowlers over square leg in absolute disarray or majestically lofted the ball over the extra cover. He was a great improviser and had an exuberant repertoire of strokes in his armor. Mind you, those bowlers were the likes of Imran Khan, Denis Lillee, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham who were no mug with the ball on lively tracks. In an era where the average strike rate of the batters was 65 and average of top 7 batsmen were 29, this eccentric cricketer possessed a devastating strike rate of 90 and impeccable average of 47 which highlights his towering greatness and supremacy. He was a big match player and who knows this better than the Australians whom he slaughtered all around the park in his marathon knock 138 in the 1979 World Cup final at a strike rate of 87. This guy has left behind a great legacy and only his name is enough to boast the ghost of vengeance and menace in the opponents mind. 4. Virat Kohli (India) – 70.6 points: Virat Kohli. (© Getty Images) The Indian Test captain, Virat Kohli is the poster boy of Indian cricket. Barring the ongoing year, he has amassed in excess of 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the last 4 consecutive years. At 26, he is contemplated as the modern day maestro of the imperial art of run chases. He is the heir of M.S Dhoni and the future ODI Captain of India. Kohli averages a whopping 86.25 while chasing and has piled up 13 centuries which is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in victories while chasing. The way he backs himself and approaches a chase speaks volumes about the mental tenacity of the champion player. Virat has been a match winner for his country with 21 Man of the Match awards to his credit. 3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India) –70.8: MS Dhoni. (© Getty Images) One of the best wicket-keeper batsmen to have played the game, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a man of matchless persona and charisma. He burst on to the scene in 2004, in a very rapid succession he grew a superstar stature with his ardent match finishing credentials as well as for his long hairs which became an overnight sensation. Apart from donning the gloves, we all are very well aware that he has led India to silverware across all the format of the games. To lead a cricket crazy nation like India where cricket is worshiped as a religion, only a man of his endeavor and calmness can handle the brimming pressure and burden of the expectations of a billion people. Dhoni holds a mind boggling average of 109 in successful run chases. He has revolutionized and has taken the reputation of wicket-keeper batsman to unimaginable heights of greatness with his stupendous consistency and swash buckling hits over the ropes. He is also responsible for the discovery of the epic ‘helicopter shot’ which lands bowlers in haywire. 2. Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 72.59 points: Hashim Amla. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Whenever the name of South African Test captain pops up, we get an image of genius who oozes sheer elegance with his leg side flicks and delightful stroke play. Hashim Amla is a run machine with the willow and his classical strokes are very pleasing on the eye. He not only enjoyed a successful transition in ODI cricket but is now widely regarded as one of the best ODI players of the decade. A man who is always overshadowed by the brilliance of AB DE VILIERS, Amla possess some mind blowing stats which are second to none. He is the fastest to reach 20 Centuries and also holds the highest batting average for a batter who has played a minimum of 100 matches. He is also the fastest to reach 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ODI runs. In ODI’s played at home he averages 60 while in away matches its 52 per innings, while batting first Amla averages 62 which drops to 49 while chasing. He has faced 6,330 balls with 5,692 runs against his name. 1. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 76.38 points Ab De Villiers. (© Getty Images) The South African ODI Captain, AB de Villiers is world famous as the most complete batsman to have played the game. He is often referred to as Mr.360 degree by the Cricket experts and pundits. The Superman from the rainbow nation stunned the world with fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls). The freakish guy has some out of the blue innovative and uncanny range of strokes. When AB is at his demolishing best, then the spectators become fielders and fielders become spectators. The opponent bowlers scratch their head in awe, when this freakish guy gets down on one knee to scoop the bowl over fine leg region as if he has some magical wand in his armor. Even the name of this bloke is enough to intimidate the opponents with tremble and striking fear. AB de Villiers is the picture of the modern era and the art with which he balances his consistency with brute power makes him the most barbarous player in this format of the game. He has faced 8,011 balls for scoring 7,941 runs with an average of 53.65 which makes him the most valuable player on the planet. (All Stats Updated Till 3rd June 2015)