5 highest career strike rates in ODI history

As T20 Cricket continues to develop, so does the way we look at a player’s statistics. Importance on the number of hundreds and fifties scored has been replaced by strike rate and batting average. These days, even in ODI cricket, a player who averages 30 at a strike rate of 110 with no hundreds is considered more valuable than a player with 5 hundreds but averages 25 at a strike rate of 70. Throughout this article, I will name and analyse the players with the 5 highest career ODI strike rates. The minimum matches played is 50, and the minimum batting average to qualify for this list is 30 runs per innings.

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#5 James Faulkner (Australia)

Over a significant period, James Faulkner was Mr. Fix-it for Australian limited overs cricket teams. Faulkner’s biggest strength was being able to play low-risk cricket shots while still being able to score at a rapid rate. In fact, Faulkner boasts the 5th highest ODI strike rate in history out of those that meet the qualification standards for this article. In a career that included ODI cricket from 2013 through to 2017, Faulkner played 69 ODI matches for Australia. He scored 1032 runs at a very respectable average of 34.40 runs per innings. His overall career strike rate is 104.24 runs per hundred balls. What makes this strike rate impressive is the numerous times Faulkner was required to play a rebuilding role for Australia. Despite needing to do this he has been able to maintain a strike rate that is ahead of players such as AB de Villiers and Adam Gilchrist in International One Day cricket.

#4 Virender Sehwag (India)

Along with a few others, Virender Sehwag changed the way modern One Day cricket is played. He was one of the first real master blasters at the top of the order for India and composed a formidable record throughout his limited-overs career. Sehwag comes in 4th overall for all time highest strike rate in ODI Cricket. Throughout his 251-match career, Sehwag had a strike rate of 104.33 runs per hundred balls faced. His solid batting average of 35.05 runs per innings while facing the world’s best bowlers sums up how much class Sehwag had. What makes Sehwag so special was that he produced these numbers in an era where protecting your wicket, and building an innings were the main points preached for an ODI opening batsman. Despite often being ridiculed for getting out playing too aggressively, Sehwag stuck to his style of play. Because of this, he will go down as one of the greats in One Day International Cricket.

#3 Jason Roy (England)

With his career still yet to reach its potential, it's exciting to see what numbers Jason Roy could end up with once he retires. One of the key players in England’s One Day cricket turn around, Roy bases his game around being aggressive and attempting to dominate bowling attacks. Because of this Roy boasts the 3rd highest strike rate of all time in One Day cricket for those who average 30 in more than 50 ODI matches. Jason Roy scores his runs at a strike rate of 104.45 runs per 100 balls faced. An awesome achievement by its self, yet what’s more remarkable is that Roy has a career ODI batting average of 39.04 runs per innings opening the batting for England. Jason Roy has been compared to Ricky Ponting with the classical way he plays his shots. If he can get anywhere near Ponting’s consistency whilst maintaining his strike rate, any record is within reach for the big-hitting Englishman.

#2 Jos Buttler (England)

Jos Buttler is like fine wine, he is only getting better with age. Buttler has been a regular in the England ODI setup since his debut in 2012. He has amassed 114 One Day International matches. Despite being England’s wicketkeeper, Buttler has the class to waltz into any International team without the prospect of being the team’s keeper. Jos Buttler has the 2nd highest strike rate in history for those who average 30 through more than 50 ODIs played. He has scored his 3091 ODI runs at an impressive strike rate of 117.52 runs per 100 balls faced. Add to this his impressive average of 40.67 runs per innings and it's easy to see why Buttler is considered one of the best white ball batsman in this current generation. Buttler’s ability to tear a team apart in the last 10 overs of an innings will be crucial throughout next year's World Cup. If Buttler can maintain this record for the rest of his career, he could challenge Gilchrist as the greatest ODI wicketkeeper-batsman in history.

#1 Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

The only player on this list not to have cemented their spot on their countries national team, Glenn Maxwell is a tough one to describe. He possesses more potential and ability than maybe any other cricketer playing white ball cricket today. His statistics are also very reasonable; however, his lack of consistency has had Australian selectors tearing their hair out and warranted Maxwell often missing out on selection. Maxwell possesses the highest ODI strike rate for those eligible for this list. He has scored 2181 ODI runs with a strike rate of 121.30 runs per 100 balls faced. He also owns a tidy average of 32.55 runs per ODI innings. These stats show Maxwell when in form is lethal. He can tear apart any bowling attack with ease and can literally score 360 degrees around the ground. If Maxwell can fulfil his potential, he will be a great advertisement for the new, exciting breed of cricketer that is around today