Best current ODI Player from each full-time ICC Member team 

We are little less than 11 months away from 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. In the next 11 months, we will see all the teams participating in the World Cup playing plenty of ODI cricket in order to prepare themselves for the biggest event in cricket.

England recently broke the record for the highest ODI total, and if that is any sign, the pitches in England will favor the batsmen instead of bowlers, as it has done in the past. All the ten qualified teams will be trying to prepare their best squad in the next one year to play their strongest XI in the World Cup.

Even though each and every player is important to a team, there are certain players whose performance and form matters a lot to the team and affects the team's performance as a whole.

With World Cup in sight, we take a look at the current best ODI player from each ICC Full Member that will be vital for their team's chances in the biggest cricketing event next year.

Note:- Even though Zimbabwe and Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup, the best player from these two teams have also been included in this list.

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#1 Paul Stirling (Ireland)

Paul Stirling has been an integral part of Ireland's rise

Even though Ireland cricket has seen better days, like their fairytale run in 2007 World Cup, the team has continuously performed well against other associate teams in recent times and even earned.

While it was William Porterfield who played the anchor role for the better part of the last eight years, Paul Stirling has somewhat taken up that role in recent years.

The flamboyant right-hander was the team highest run scorer in 2017, with 656 runs in 15 innings, and has scored 399 runs in 10 innings in 2018. With plenty of cricketing years still left for this 27-year-old, there is a very good chance that he will shatter all batting records for Ireland in the future.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 96 Runs - 3295 Average - 35.43 Strike Rate - 90.32

Highest Score - 177 100/50 - 7/16

Sikander Raza (Zimbabwe)

It was nothing but heartbreak for Zimbabwe when they failed to qualify for Cricket World Cup for the first time since 1983. Even then, there were plenty of plus points for the team during the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. While the successful return of Brendon Taylor surely gave them hopes of a successful revival in the future, it was the emergence of Sikandar Raza as the phenomenal all-rounder that was the biggest plus for them.

It won't be unfair to say that Raza has actually succeeded Elton Chigumbura as the first choice all-rounder in the Zimbabwe team. Even though Zimbabwe failed to win the World Cup Qualifier, Raza won the Player of the tournament as he scored 319 runs and took 15 wickets in 7 matches. If Raza continues playing like this, he will continue to influence Zimbabwe cricket in a positive manner.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 85 Runs - 3295 Batting Average - 34.51 Highest Score - 141

Wickets - 50 Economy - 4.85 Bowing Average - 37.41

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

The transition and progress that the Afghanistan cricket team has made in the past 3 years in International cricket is something that will be remembered for generations and generations to come. Although it was a complete team effort, the name Rashid Khan often pops when we talk about the progress that Afghanistan has made in International cricket.

Easily the best bowler in the whole world currently, the 19-year-old has taken more wickets than any other bowler in ODI cricket since the 2015 World Cup. He was the second highest ODI wicket-taker in 2017 with 43 wickets and is leading the chart as of now in 2018, with 20 wickets. After breaking the record for fastest to 100 ODI wickets, Rashid is on the way of becoming one of best spinners in the history of cricket.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 44 Wickets - 100 Economy - 3.96 Bowling Average - 14.4

Bowling Strike Rate - 21.81 Best Bowling - 7/18

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Jason Holder (West Indies)

From the days of winning the World Cup to fighting to even make it to the World Cup, it has been quite a disappointing few years for the team from the Caribbean. While Gayle and Samuels have been on the scene for a very long time and have won many matches for the team, it is their skipper Jason Holder who has been their best overall player in recent times.

Be it leading the bowling attack or holding together the team's batting lineup in the middle overs, Holder has been the only regular shining spot in the ODI team. Holder led by example during the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, taking 15 wickets and scoring 219 runs en route to taking Windies to the finals. With a long way to go for the Windies team, Holder will play a very important role in the future as well.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 77 Runs - 1229 Batting Average - 26.71 Batting Strike Rate - 95.94

Wickets - 106 Economy - 5.39 Bowling Average - 31.28 Best Bowling - 5/27

Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)

The Sri Lankan team has witnessed a very steep fall ever since their three senior players, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan bid adieu to International cricket. So much so that they even lost to Zimbabwe in an ODI series on their very own backyard. Currently, the Sri Lankan team is pretty much over-dependent on two senior players - Upal Tharanga and, most importantly, Angelo Mathews.

Even though he has been on the injured list far too often in the last few years, he is nothing short of phenomenal whenever he plays for the team. In 2017, he scored almost 600 runs at an average of 64 and often provided vital breakthroughs whenever needed. Sri Lanka will be looking to bounce back in ODI format in the upcoming months, and for that, they need their skipper Mathews to lead from the front.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 196 Runs - 5107 Batting Average - 41.86 Highest Score - 139*

Wickets - 114 Economy - 4.61 Bowling Average - 34.21 Best Bowling - 6/20

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Shakib al Hasan (Bangladesh)

While Sri Lanka and West Indies have fallen from grace in the last few years, Bangladesh cricket team have had totally opposite fortunes in that same period in ODI cricket. First at 2015 World Cup and then at 2017 Champions Trophy, they surprised all the cricketing fans, with their team working as a perfect cohesive unit. However, just like Sri Lanka and West Indies, the onus is usually on their senior all-rounder and captain - Shakib al Hasan.

Even though there are other senior players like Tamim Iqbal, Mashrafe Mortaza and Mushfiqur Rahim who also form the core of the Bangladesh side, Shakib has not only been a great leader but also the anchor who holds the batting and bowling of Bangladesh. He has been at the top of the all-rounders ranking for quite a while now and will continue to have a positive impact on Bangladesh in the future as well.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 185 Runs - 5243 Batting Average - 34.95 100/50 - 7/37

Wickets - 235 Economy - 4.44 Bowling Average - 29.46 Best Bowling - 5/47

Mitchell Starc (Australia)

The sandpaper gate scandal that hit Cricket Australia earlier this year will undoubtedly have a long-term impact on Australian team in the future, as evident from their humiliating loss to England in the ODI series. With their two primary batsmen, Warner and Smith, out for a year and Australia looking to defend their World Cup, the onus is now on Aaron Finch and the bowlers led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Even though he has not played ODI matches on a regular basis due to injuries recently, there is no denying the fact that Mitchell Starc is the best fast bowler in the whole world. With his raw pace and near perfect length, the pacer has wreaked havoc against even the strongest of batting sides in the world. With Australia's batting looking bleak in the months leading up to the World Cup, there will be a lot of pressure on Starc to take them to the World Cup victory again in 2019.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 72 Wickets - 141 Bowling Average - 20.95 Economy - 4.93

Bowling Strike Rate - 25.4 Best Bowling - 6/28

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Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

From Imran Khan to Wasim Akram and from Waqar Younis to Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan bowlers always had the firepower that could send shivers down any batsman's spine, and Hasan Ali is proudly carrying on the legacy currently. It was actually the arrival of Hasan Ali that brought this long-lost power back to the Pakistan team, something that was missing from the side since the mid-2000s.

The first Pakistan fast bowler since Wasim Akram to top the ODI bowling charts, Hasan Ali has been on fire since the 2017 Champions Trophy. Not only was he the highest wicket-taker in Pakistan's victorious campaign, he was also the highest overall ODI wicket-taker in the world in 2017 with 45 wickets in 18 matches. At just 24, Hasan Ali has a lot of cricket left in his career and will be influential in Pakistan's matches in the future as well.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 30 Wickets - 62 Bowling Average - 21.40 Economy - 5.29

Bowling Strike Rate - 24.2 Best Bowling - 5/34

Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Choosing the best ODI player from the current New Zealand line-up is almost as difficult as choosing the better spinner among Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. It was a showdown between Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor - two of the best cricket players ever produced by New Zealand.

Both have been sensational for Black Caps in both Tests and ODIs, but when it comes to the overall impact on a team's performance in recent times, Williamson just edges past the veteran Taylor.

One-Fourth of the illustrious Fab Four of international cricket right now, Williamson has been playing the best cricket of his life ever since he took over the captaincy from Brendon McCullum in 2016. He has consistently scored runs at an average in excess of 50 in the past four years and has proudly led the Blackcaps from the front. Williamson must keep his form intact if he wants to better McCullum and take New Zealand to World Cup glory in 2019.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 137 Runs - 5156 Average - 46.87 Strike Rate - 83.22

Highest Score - 145* 100/50 - 11/33

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Hashim Amla (South Africa)

The retirement of AB de Villiers has a left a huge void in the South African batting line-up, especially in the ODI squad. While it will be hard for the Proteas to find a batsman as tremendous as ABD, we surely can not deny that the team is full of other world-class batsmen. Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock play their part very well at various times, but it is Hashim Amla who has been their constant savior for many years now.

While ABD was constantly stealing the spotlight with his batting, Hashim Amla silently did the same task as The Dark Knight of the South African Team. The man who holds the record for the fastest to 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI runs, Amla has continued to impress even as he edges closer towards the twilight of his international career. As the most senior player in the team, the onus will be on him to deliver as South Africa look to claim their maiden World Cup title in 2019.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 164 Runs - 7535 Average - 50.23 Strike Rate - 88.90

Highest Score - 159 100/50 - 26/35

Jos Buttler (England)

Between the humiliating exit from 2015 World Cup to breaking the world record for the highest ODI total, England cricket team became one of the strongest squads in the whole world.

While many current players like Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, and Alex Hales have had a positive impact on the team's performance in recent times, Jos Buttler has eclipsed all of them by having the maximum impact on the side.

The wicket-keeper batsman has made a name for himself with his variety of unconventional shots and his stunning ability to take away the matches from impossible situations. Whether it is at the top of the order or the lower order, be it building the innings or finishing the innings in style, Buttler is capable of doing everything, something that makes him one of the most complete ODI players of this generation. He will undoubtedly play a very vital role in England's quest for their maiden World Cup win.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 114 Runs - 3091 Batting Average - 40.67 Strike Rate - 117.52

Highest Score - 129 100/50 - 6/17 Catches/Stumpings - 144/23

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Virat Kohli (India)

There isn't a better ODI player in the world right than Virat Kohli, and, the way he has been playing in recent times, it is very unlikely that anyone will uproot him to reach the top of ODI batting rankings.

While he was already one of the best in the entire world even before he became the captain, his career took a fantastic turn for the good and he has been absolutely phenomenal in the last 18 months.

Since 2017, his form has been phenomenal in England, Sri Lanka, India and South Africa. As a plus point, he has been absolutely stunning as the leader of the Indian team and has taken them over the line irrespective of how tough the situation has been.

Kohli finished 2017 as the highest run-getter in the calendar year. India are the favorites to win the World Cup, and Kohli's form will surely affect India's chances more than any other player.

ODI Stats:-

Matches - 208 Runs - 9588 Batting Average - 58.10 Strike Rate - 92.14

Highest Score - 183 100/50 - 35/46