Top 10 ODI Batsmen: A multi-faceted statistical approach

Best ODI batsmen of all time? Oh yeah, you can find millions of such lists anywhere on internet – some made by experts, others made by not-so-expert people like me.

However, this list has something different about it – The list has been made considering the batting averages and strike rate of the batsmen. Giving equal priority to these two criteria, and using some geeky yet simple statistical calculations (Yes, I am an IITian), I have come up with this interesting list of Top 10 ODI batsmen.

For details on my ranking algorithm, use this link. The data used is as of October 5, 2012.

Firstly, a look at those poor souls who narrowly missed out on our elite list:

(14) Graeme Smith The ChokeMaster

Total runs: 6689

Average: 38.21

Strike Rate: 81.2

Our Rating: 6.86/10

Okay, South Africa are still chokers. But Graeme Smith, the mighty batsman and the charismatic leader, was instrumental in guiding South African cricket from a period of turmoil to some of its best years.

(13) Saeed Anwar 194! 194! 194!

Total runs: 8824

Average: 39.21

Strike Rate: 80.67

Our Rating: 6.9/10

Very few would go for a six when on 194* (except perhaps, Virender Sehwag). Even fewer would get caught out in the attempt. Apart from this too, he was fantastic batsman with his own class and elegance.

(12) Brian Lara The unusually unusual!

Total runs: 10405

Average: 40.48

Strike Rate: 79.51

Our Rating: 7.02/10

Brian Lara, more famous for his successes in test cricket, was no less in ODIs (as the stats prove). The “Lara shuffle” was a sight that even the best of the bowlers feared to face (and made the best dancers react with a Facepalm).

(11) Chris Gayle Chief Destruction Officer

Total runs: 8360

Average: 39.43

Strike Rate: 84.45

Our Rating: 7.26/10

Few would believe that there are batsmen with a strike rate more than that of Chris Gayle, but this is where the stats place him! Anyone from Glenn McGrath to Ajit Agarkar would rather play for West Indies than bowl to Chris Gayle on song. Highly unfortunate to miss out on the top 10 by a whisker!

And here begins our esteemed list! A few surprises await you!!!

(10) Ricky Ponting The Punter

Total runs: 13704

Average: 42.03

Strike Rate: 80.39

Rating: 7.37/10

Being more famous for his notoriety on and off the field doesn’t take any credit away from his batting. Even Harbhajan Singh couldn’t stop him from making it to Number 10 on our list.

(9) Matthew Hayden The Mongoose Man

Total runs: 6133

Average: 43.8

Strike Rate: 78.96

Rating: 7.54//10

Lara re-gained his record from Hayden, but Hayden still overtakes Lara on our ODI list. Huge man, huge bat, huge records, still Number 9 on the list.

(8) Gautam Gambhir Why so “Gambhir”?

Total runs: 5077

Average: 40.94

Strike Rate: 86.06

Rating: 7.69/10

Described as the ‘best Indian opener since Sunil Gavaskar’ by arguably the best Indian opener since Sunil Gavaskar (Viru), Gauti is a rare opener who is equally adept at playing pace and spin. The number 8 on our list is pretty verbal too (ask Afridi).

(7) Michael Clarke The mature Pup!

Total runs: 7278

Average: 45.48

Strike Rate: 78.44

Rating: 7.78/10

Leading an Australian cricket team is no joke. Taking over from a great captain-batsman like Ricky Ponting is no easy task. Applause for maintaining his everlasting smile and cool composure through thick and thin, and for being number 7.

(6) Andrew Symonds The bartender – fisherman – cricketer!

Total runs: 5088

Average: 39.75

Strike Rate: 92.44

Rating: 8.02/10

For someone who repeatedly showed the world how casual one can be about Australian cricket, his records are pretty astounding – be it bowling, batting or fielding. However it is the batting which brought him to number 6.

(5) Sachin Tendulkar One word. “God”.

Total runs: 18426

Average: 44.83

Strike Rate: 86.23

Rating: 8.43/10

I refuse to comment on him, for I am but a mere mortal.

P.S. Please do not murder me for not making God No. 1 on the list ! But stats, you see!

(4) Mike Hussey A Michael (Hussey) after The Michael (Bevan)

Total runs: 5442

Average: 48.15

Strike Rate: 87.16

Rating: 9.16/10

It’s lucky for non-Australians that he debuted only at the age of 28. Adding a Hussey to the already unconquerable Aussie team might have led to other teams refusing to play against them! A well deserved number 4, mate!

(3) Viv Richards “Sir”. That says it all.

Total runs: 6721

Average: 47.0

Strike Rate: 90.2

Rating: 9.25/10

Did this helmet-less guy ever care about what was happening around him? At a time when targets of 250 were ‘easily defendable’, he was playing as if in a different era, destroying bowling line-ups like I do in EA Sports Cricket! Unfortunately, only number 3!

(2) MS Dhoni This is not a helipad, bro.

Total runs: 6908

Average: 51.17

Strike Rate: 88.42

Rating: 9.87/10

Yes, he is not the most elegant of batsmen. He rarely plays any shot that Rahul Dravid would have been proud of. To be honest, his ‘batting’ is more like butchering. Yet, somehow these haphazard bat swings have fetched him a well deserved No 2 in this list!

And finally, the statistical #1 ODI batsman of all time is:

(1) AB de Villiers Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Jonty Rhodes? No, it’s AB !

Total runs: 5168

Average: 49.21

Strike Rate: 93.15

Rating: 10/10

Always the simple guy with the cheerful smile, it’s hard for anyone not to like AB (That’s not why he is on top of our list, though). A gifted batsman and an out-of-the-world fielder with stunning athleticism, he is an asset to South Africa and the game of cricket.