Top 5 averages among current openers in ODIs

#3 Hashim Amla, 50.70

CRICKET-RSA-ENG-ODI

Virat Kohli became the fastest to multiple of 1000 runs ranging from 5000 to 7000 ODI runs, first having the cushion of batting under the Sehwag-Sachin pair and now for the major part follows the consistent opening pair of Rohit-Dhawan.

Hashim Amla, sombre, calm and essentially the antithesis of the modern ODI cricketer, has become the most effective of accumulators in modern cricket. Opening the innings, playing on the bowler-friendly decks of South Africa, he has at times battled the fiercest of bowlers and despite that is now the fastest to all multiples from 2000 to 7000 ODI runs.

This particular stat is a good parameter to understand the genius of Amla, he does not have any particular purple patches to show for, there are no form slumps either. As well as he plays the inconceivable flick by picking the fast bowlers from the fifth stump line to deposit it to the midwicket boundary, with the same ease he meets the spinners by hopping down the pitch to drive against the turn of the delivery.

The perfect antidote to the madness of the likes AB de Villiers and David Miller, Amla has been the reason behind South Africa's long-term success in ODI cricket.

Stats as an opener:

Innings: 158, Runs: 7505, 100s: 26, SR: 89.19