3 Teams with highest batting average over the last year

The World Cup is now fast approaching, and batting on flat English pitches will have to be powerful. With the pitches likely to offer little help to spinners or even the quicks, it looks set to be a batsmen's fest just like the Champions Trophy. In such cases, the role of batting becomes pivotal, and teams need to look for not only breaking the 300 mark, but also conveniently surpassing it to the scoreboard to read numbers that are 350+ totals.

To make it big, the importance of batting averages cannot be overstated, as in order to get those runs batsman need to put a hefty price on their wickets. The Champions Trophy final was a fine example of the same, where Pakistan, and specifically Fakhar Zaman utilised the road that was thrown at them, to make a total beyond India's temperament to chase. While a higher batting average is a good metric to have as a team, it may also suggest an over-conservative batting approach.

One might hit the 300 mark more number of times, but its hard to get to 350+ with pretty looking batting averages. Which is why I tip the team second on this list to lift the World Cup this time. Here, we look at the top 3 teams in terms of highest ODI batting averages over the last year.

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#3) New Zealand

New Zealand are third on this list with a batting average of 37.50 in the 15 ODI's they have played in the last year. Their highest score of 339 came in an incredible chase of 336 in Dunedin on the evening of the 7th of March this year.

With both openers departing for ducks, a limboing, exhausted Ross Taylor batted through in an incredible 181 off 147 balls and took the Blackcaps home with three balls to spare.

#2) England

No one knows what Eoin Morgan feeds his men for breakfast but they sure have changed

Unsurprisingly, England are ranked second on the list with a hand batting average of 39.06 per wicket. It's not that they have scored any less than first ranked India, but seem to go pretty hard and loose wickets in the process.

No wonder their highest score was a jaw dropping 481 with both Bairstow and Hales getting massive knocks in the process. It is no surprise that burger stall vendors were 'on alert' for white missiles.

This approach is certainly risk-filled, but considering the quality of this English side, you'd expect them to carry on in the same fashion and cross the hurdle of the group stage games. But the problem comes in the big eliminators and semis, where you only have one chance. And if a batting collapse tragically occurs at the wrong moment, then you can't cry over your approach.

You knew it was coming...

#1) India

The top three have been just too good for most bowlers

Well, that was a huge surprise wasn't it? Courtesy their formidable top order of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India just don't seem to be loosing wickets - apart from Dhawan- and these men pose a threat to all their opponents. Interestingly, India's highest total of 392 over the last year came without Kohli against Sri Lanka, where Chandigarh was treated to a double century the third double century by the Hitman.

India's issue is different to England's. In Sharma and Kohli, India have two incredible accumulators. But in ensuring that India crosses the 300 mark, this top order can sometimes be over cautious and slow to make use of the fielding restrictions of the first power play. This is why a pretty looking batting average isn't necessarily good. The days have changed and 300 is no more a safe score.