Top 10 batsmen who achieved highest ICC ODI rating points in last two decades

There is no question more often asked on the face of the earth than this – Who is the best and greatest batsman ever? The criteria to decide the answer to this question varies from average to strike rate to number of centuries or a culmination of all of these.It goes without saying that there is no actual and well defined criteria to answer this question, and the question itself remains a matter of perception. However, a question that has a relatively lesser purview and generalization is – who are the players who have been the best as per the official ICC ratings?The ICC releases its ratings for batsmen, bowlers teams and all-rounders. The official ICC website generalizes that: The Reliance ICC Player Rankings are a sophisticated moving average. Players are rated on a scale of 0 to 1000 points. If a player’s performance is improving on his past record, his points increase; if his performance is declining his points will go down.The value of each player’s performance within a match is calculated using an algorithm, a series of calculations (all pre-programmed) based on various circumstances in the match. All of the calculations are carried out using pre-programmed formulae, using the information published in a match scorecard. There is no human intervention in this calculation process, and no subjective assessment is made.As for specifically ODI batsmen ratings, the ICC uses the following parameters in its algorithm:– Runs scored– Ratings of the opposing bowling attack; the higher the combined ratings of the attack, the more value is given to the batsman’s innings (in proportion)– The level of run-scoring in the match, and the team’s innings total; an innings of 100 runs in a match where all teams scored 500 is worth less than 100 runs in a match where all teams were bowled out for 200.– The result. Batsmen who score highly in victories receive a bonus. That bonus will be higher for highly rated opposition teams (i.e. win bonus against the current Australia team is higher than the bonus against Bangladesh.)– Batsmen gain significant credit for rapid scoring. They only get a small amount of credit for being not out (because a not out batsman is, by definition, batting at the end of the innings when the value of his wicket is low) (A possible reason why Dhoni just misses out)– Players lose half per cent (½%) of their points for missing a match for their country. All ODI matches are considered equal, except for ICC Cricket World Cup matches, where good performances gain extra credit. Big scores or wicket hauls against very weak nations get much less credit than the same performances against the main ODI countries. A very interesting aspect of such calculations is stated down by the ICC: The players’ ratings are calculated by combining their weighted performance in the latest match with their previous rating. This new ‘weighted average’ is then converted into points. Recent performances have more impact on a player’s rating than those earlier in his career, but all his performances are taken into account. A great player who has had a lean run of form will still have a respectable rating.Having cleared the air about the procedure, we look at the top 10 highest rated players ever since 1st January 1994.Special Mention: The following players just miss out from the list15) MS Dhoni: 836 v Australia, 31/10/200914) Sanath Jayasuriya: 838 v Bangladesh, 14/02/200313) Sourav Ganguly: 844 v South Africa, 17/03/200012) Matthew Hayden: 850 v India, 15/02/200311) Mark Waugh: 852 v New Zealand, 11/03/1996Note: The list contains a whopping 40% of players who achieved this in 2014, showing how uneven the contest between bat and ball has become in the recent past. – Very surprisingly, not only the top 10, but the top 15 as well includes players from merely four nations.

#10 Kumar Sangakkara

853 on 03/03/2014

Numbers in the last one year

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
28	4	1583	169	65.95	91.98	4	12

Notable Performances

68 vs New Zealand, Cardiff 9th June 2013: An innings worthy of a special mention. On a pitch where a total of 19 wickets fell for merely 277 runs, Sangakkara was in a word of his own, scoring 68 crucial runs albeit in a losing cause. The very fact that none of his team mates scored more than 20 and opponents more than 32 tells you about the character and class of this southpaw.

134 vs England at The Oval, 13th June 2013: Expect Sanga to do one better in the very next match and he does so with élan and ease. Sangakarra stroked his way to a masterful 134*, rendering a rather tricky chase of 293 moot. It is perhaps surprising that this was his first century in or against England – coming in his 13th year of International cricket.

169 vs South Africa at Colombo, 20th July 2013: Nothing short of a masterpiece. A completely different Sanga strode out to bat that day, a Sanga that would give the best hitters in the world a run for their money. In a match that nobody crossed the 50 run mark, his 169 was easily one of the best innings of the decade as yet.

Interesting facts:

– Sanga scored more than 50 in the last four matches he played up to reaching this ranking.

– He had 16 scores of 50 and above in 28 matches, meaning he scored more than 50 an astonishing 57% times he strode out to bat.

#9 Michael Hussey

857 v New Zealand, 28/01/2007

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
21	9	794	109	66.16	91.36	1	4

Notable Performances:

Though his figures may not look as glittering as Sangakarra, being Not out half the times you have batted last year is no small feat. Here is a look of some the jailbreaks Huss performed in the period

109* vs West Indies at the MCG, 18th Sept 2006: Though Australia did go on to eventually lose the match, things could have been much, much worse had Huss not scored a crucial and rare hundred. Coming in to bat when the Aussies were reeling at 64-4, Hussey built his innings superbly en route his scintillating hundred, consolidating the innings at first and launching a scathing attack towards the end of the innings to take the total to a very respectable 272.

65* vs New Zealand at the SCG, 21st January 2007: Needing a paltry 219 for victory, one would have assumed this to be a walk in the part for the mighty Aussies. But the Kiwi’s had other ideas and made deep and early in roads to leave Australia tottering at 77-4. In came Mr. Cricket, and played one of the more mature knocks the world has seen. At 198-7, the match was hanging in the balance, but Hussey and his nerves of steel made sure that the fininshing line was crossed with 2-wickets to spare. To put a cherry on the top, he finished it with a huge six off Astle and wrote his name into history books.

#8 Aravinda de Silva

862 on 11/04/1997

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
19	5	1103	134	78.78	82.19	3	7

Notable Performances:

An average of almost 80 speaks more than enough about this Sri Lankan legend, backed up by numerous mind blowing performances.

83* vs Australia at Colombo, 30th Aug 1996: A rematch of the world cup finalists saw the Sri Lankans come out on top yet again, to the delight of thousands of fans who had flocked in to watch the match. But it would not have been the case had it not been for this man. Coming in to bat at 78-3 after they were comfortably placed at 78-1, he watched in horror as 4 wickets fell in just 3 runs, leaving the Island nation reeling at 81-5. However, fighting odds and momentum, de Silva took the team home comfortably to upstage another upset in as many meetings.

134 vs Pakistan at Sharjah, 7th April 1997: When you score a century faster than a run a ball against a bolwing attack containing the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed, you are bound to be special.

Interesting fact:

– de Silva won 2 man of the series trophies during this period out of an available four, in tournaments involving more than two teams, which goes on to show the utter dominance he had over the world.

#7 George Bailey

867 on 27/08/2014

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
16	3	849	156	65.30	105.99	1	7

Notable Performances:

92* vs India at Jaipur, 16th Oct 2014: In a match that saw over 700 runs scored on a flat deck, Bailey still manages to peep above the pack as he scored his 2 in merely 50 balls, at a stunning strike rate of 184.

156 vs India at Nagpur, 30th Oct 2014: Two weeks later, Bailey played one of the better innings of the year though again in a run fest. But as earlier, his innings stood a touch above the rest by being the highest scorer and 2nd fastest player of the match.

Interesting fact:

– George Bailey was temporarily the highest run scorer ever in a bilateral series before he was overtaken by Rohit Sharma in the same series held in India.

#6 AB de Villiers

885 on 12/07/2014

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
19	2	863	115*	50.74	102.73	3	4

Notable Performances:

115* vs Pakistan at Sharjah, 11 Nov 2013: A bold, unbeaten hundred in sub continent conditions faster than a run a ball is special for any South African. A match that saw just one other 50+ score tells you about the quality of the pitch.

108 vs Sri Lanka at Hanbantota, 12 Jul 2014: Sri Lankan conditions have always proved to be an Achilles heel in the Pretorian camp, but that changed come July 2014, and one person instrumental in that was the man in the picture. A hundred scored at faster than 150 runs per 100 balls studded with the choicest of shots was a treat to watch like no other.

#5 Michael Bevan

885 on 17/01/1999

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
22	9	990	101*	76.15	80.29	1	9

Notable Performances:

56* vs England at Brisbane, 10th Jan 1999: A match that saw less than 330 runs scored across both innings, Bevan held to his own and recorded the only 50+ score in the match, on a pitch that ‘had demons in it’. Though Australia went on to lose the game, his innings was well received by the critics as well as the fans and he remained unbeated in the contest.

101 vs India at Sharjah, 22nd Apr 1998: The match best known for Tendulkar’s magical 143 also saw Bevan take back seat scoring one of his mere 6 international tons. The inning may lack recognition but was high up there when it came to class.

#4 Virat Kohli

886 on 26/02/2014

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
29	5	1527	136	63.62	102.41	6	8

Notable Performances:

100* vs Australia at Jaipur, 16th Oct 2013: When Bailey scored a superb 92 off merely 50 balls, one would have imagined it would be the best and fastest innings of the match. Kohli, like countless other times, had other ideas. Coming in to bat with the score at 175, a lot of work remained to be done in chasing a mammoth target of 360. But when Kohli scored a sublime ton off just 52 balls, the fastest by an Indian, the target looked less menacing than a little pug and India got home with 6.3 overs remaining.

115* vs India at Nagpur, 30th Oct 2014: Bailey must have been sure that though Kohli beat him last time around, this time his 156 off just 114 was going to take centre stage and Australia the match. But the Indian youngster stepped on the gas as India chased down yet another 350+ score much to the delight of the home crowd. It must be noted that Bailey’s knocks were against a team not known for their bowling but Kohli ripped apart a top notch Aussie attack that even contained the likes of Mitch the menacing.

123 vs New Zealand at Napier, 19th Jan 2014: Indians have always been bad tourists when it comes to New Zealand, and this tour was no different. However, this prodigal lad stood out among the herd and scored a mature century in the first ODI of the series, unfortunately in vain. None of his team mates provided him with any sort of support with Dhoni being the second highest scorer with 40 runs to his name.

Interesting Facts:

– The king abroad: Kohli has scored a century in every country he has played against, barring South Africa where he has played merely two innings till date.

– Kohli is the fastest to reach 15 centuries, joint fastest to 5000 runs, and has the second highest number of centuries in chases as well as successful chases (13 and 12), behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 17 & 14, having played less than one-third of the matches played by the Master Blaster.

– Since the 2011 World Cup, Virat has scored more runs and more centuries than any other player in the world, and his average is lesser than only AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni.

If you need more reasons as to why he should not be written off just yet, you could get those here.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar

887 on 13/11/1998

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
38	5	2077	143	62.93	101.51	9	9

A period that saw utter dominance by the Master. He averaged above 43 against every single nation he played against and scored those evoking fear into the minds of every bowler he did or did not face.

Notable Performances:

143 vs Australia at Sharjah, 22nd April 1998: The innings considered by many as the best ODI knock ever. An attack that consisted of the best bowlers in the world, Sachin Tendulkar stood his ground to make sure India qualify for the finals though did go on to lose the match. But none gave them any chance to qualify when they had their backs to the wall needing 237 off 46 to qualify. The vision of Tendulkar coming down the ground and smashing Warne over his head is rumoured to have given the best spinner in the history of cricket ‘nightmares’.

134 vs Australia at Sharjah, 24th April 1998: The final of the Coca-Cola cup two days later saw Tendulkar rip out the best team in the world twice in a span of 3 days. Needed a daunting 272 for victory, Tendulkar made it seem like a walk in the park, scoring half the target in 131 balls. Never had the Aussies been stunned in this manner before, and a little boy was now not only a man, but ‘the man’.

141 vs Australia at Dhaka, 28th Oct 1998: Three 130+ scores in a year against the best team in the world tells you why he achieved such high ratings. The little legend is by far one of the greatest players to bless the game, and here is a glimpse as to why.

‘Very’ Interesting Facts:

– The calendar year 1998 saw Tendulkar score 1894 runs including 9 centuries, which remain the highest runs and centuries in a calendar year, 100 runs and 2 centuries more than Ganguly (these are two different occasions). If you think that’s all, you are mistaken because he made those runs at a strike rate of 102.15, the fastest in the list as well. No other player having 1200 runs in a year has scored faster than a run a ball. Oh, how could we forget, he broke his own record he made in 1996. Talk about greatness.

– In 1998, India won 5 ODI finals. Sachin Tendulkar socred a ton in each one of them! Still don’t think he’s a big match player? These interesting facts and statistics might just change your opinion.

#2 Gary Kirsten

900 on 19/10/1996

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
25	5	1397	188*	69.85	85.70	6	4

Kirsten remains one of only 10 players ever to achieve a rating of 900 or more in ODI.

Though the current generations know Gary as India’s world cup winning coach, he was an excellent batsman, for some the best opener South Africa has ever produced. A walk down the memory lane tells us that before South Africa had the ‘chokers’ tag, they had Gary Kirsten, the big match player.

Notable Performances

188* vs UAE at Rawalpindi, 16th Feb 1996: Though a match against UAE should ideally not make it to the list, a 188* waltzes its way into any sort of list. The form Kirsten was in on that day, he would have scored as many against any other opponent. Add to this that it was a world cup match and this is the highest score by an individual in a world cup and you realize it was not another innings by the gritty left hander.

115 vs India at Sharjah, 19th Apr 1996 : As stated earlier, before Africa began to choke, they had Kirsten. This period saw South Africa win two finals and Kirsten scored a ton in each one of them

118* vs Pakistan at Nairobi, 6th Oct 1996: Another final, another hundred, another South African win. The only difference is this time it was on a pitch no one could score above 50.

Interesting Fact

– Kirsten too had scores of above 60 in the last four matches he played up to reaching this pinnacle, and two of these were unbeated centuries.

#1 Hashim Amla

901 on 05/09/2012

Performance in the last year up to date

Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
12	1	754	150	68.54	88.49	2	5

So it is the bearded South African to top the list. The ‘Monk’ as he is referred to, was earmarked as a Test player before getting a chance to prove his worth in the shorter formats. And he did so with élan and grace, so much so as for the system to recognize him as the best of the best. Though he played only 12 ODIs in the period, it was against non-associate nations, and the consistency was for all to see.

Notable Performances

112 vs Sri Lanka at Paarl, 11th Jan 2012: A steady hundred took the South Africans the 300-run mark. This target however, proved to be more than 6 times that was required as the Lankan blew away for mere 43 runs. It is certainly not usual for a play to score almost thrice as much as the opponent has done as a whole!

150 vs England at Rose Bowl, 28th Aug 2012: A century away from home is always special, and a 150 away from home is pure gold. Amla scored more than half of what his side managed and was then the highest ever score on this venue.

97* vs England at Trent Bridge, 5th Sept 2012: The Proteas are known for losing their nerves at the wrong moments. However, Amla is more known for the cool head on his shoulders and that came to the fore when England pegged back the Africans at 14-3 needing 183 for victory. But Amla held to his own and worked his way to a hard earned 97 to see his team through.

Interesting Fact

– In the last 10 ODI innings leading up to this match, Amla had scores of above 40 in nine of them, displaying unseen and unparalleled consistency.