#4 Sir Viv Richards (West Indies)
Before the majestic stroke-play saw fielders scurrying for cover, there was the imperious walk which would leave the arena entrenched with fervent anticipation. The sight of a gum-chewing Vivian Richards striding on to the field was enough for bowlers to feel weak in the knees. For those who dared beyond, the consequence was emphatic and brutal. Far ahead of his time, he touched heights (as evidenced by 935 rating points) of which no peer, as well as successor, knew of.
The burial of the old colonial masters at Old Trafford is still revered as the pinnacle of ODI batting. Even as wickets fell at the other end, Richards hammered 189 out of a team total of 272 of which 106 was added in the company of the number eleven. It simply does not get any better than that.
Statistics: 6721 runs from 187 matches at an average of 47.00 and strike-rate of 90.20 with 11 centuries and 45 fifties
#5 AB de Villiers (South Africa)
One of the most intricate aspects of ODI captaincy stems from the precise placement of fielders while trying to negate the strengths of the batsman on strike. In such regard, AB de Villiers stands out like a beacon. With an extensive amount of shots in his armoury and an in-built GPS tracker in his head, the dynamic right-hander reads the situation like a hawk and pounces on his prey from unexpected positions.
From pace-friendly pitches to sluggish surfaces, the South African batsman’s profound judgement and impeccable awareness have propelled him towards inconceivable feats. The splendid 115 off 102 balls on a dicey Sharjah track reiterated his propensity to reign unimpeded irrespective of the conditions on offer. Notably, all of his ODI centuries have come at a strike-rate of more than 100.
Statistics: 9175 runs from 216 matches at an average of 54.28 and strike-rate of 100.16 with 24 centuries and 52 fifties
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