Top 5 batsmen with most runs between 1999 and 2003 World Cup

Srikant
Jacques Kallis South Africa Cricket
Kallis is arguably the greatest all-rounder in the history of the game

The 1999 ODI World Cup saw Australia bag their first of three consecutive World Cup titles in the 50-over format but when it came to individual performances, it was the other teams that dominated the performance charts.

Be it batting or bowling, teams from Asia tended to have a higher representation as they played much more than others and the leading run-scorers chart for the period between the 1999 and 2003 World Cup proves that point.

Two players each from Sri Lanka and India feature in the list and it is not much of a surprise that it is the opening pair for the two sides that make the cut.

The Top 5 kicks off however with a South African cricketer, who is arguably the greatest all-rounder in the history of the sport.

#5 Jacques Kallis (South Africa) - 3476 runs

The only player in the history of the game to score more than 10000 runs and take 250 wickets in both Test and ODI cricket, Kallis has had a consistent graph over his long and illustrious career and the period between the 1999 and 2003 World Cup was no different.

The period saw Kallis establish himself at the No 3 position for South Africa and also ranked among the leading all-rounders in the world on a consistent basis.

From 96 ODIs during the period, Kallis scored 3476 runs at an average of 45.73. He only scored three centuries during the period but as many as 26 half-centuries proving that he was very consistent at the crucial No 3 spot.

His strike rate might have been less than 71 during the period but he played the task of building the innings entrusted upon him perfectly showing a maturity beyond his young age.

He collected nine Man-of-the-Match awards during the period proving how crucial he is for the Proteas with both bat and ball.

Jacques Kallis South Africa Cricket

#4 Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 3492 runs

Sachin Tendulkar India Cricket
Tendulkar was in sublime form and had the highest average among the Top 5 run-scorers during the period

A favourite of the record books, Sachin Tendulkar, walks into the list at Number 4, despite missing out a number of matches due to a streak of unfortunate injuries.

Tendulkar was forced to miss the tri-series in 2001 involving Sri Lanka and New Zealand due to a toe injury while a thigh and hamstring injury kept him out of bilateral series against Zimbabwe and West Indies respectively in 2002.

Despite the setbacks, India's Master Blaster performed exceedingly well when fit, scoring 3492 runs from 85 matches at an average of 47.18 - the highest among the five batsmen in this list.

He scored 11 centuries during the period, including an unbeaten knock of 186 against New Zealand at home which remained his highest score in ODIs for nearly a decade before the maiden ODI double ton against South Africa in 2010.

Sachin Tendulkar India Cricket

#3 Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka) - 3797 runs

marvan Atapattu Sri Lanka Cricket
Atapattu was consistent at the top for Sri Lanka, forging a wonderful understanding with Sanath Jayasuriya

Counted as one among the most stylish openers in Sri Lankan cricket history, Marvan Atapattu had a good run in ODIs during the period between the 1999 and 2003 World Cup, scoring 3797 runs from 106 ODIs.

He proved to be the ideal partner for Sanath Jayasuriya who always looked to attack the opposition at the other end. Known for treasuring his wicket, Atapattu batted cautiously, as his strike rate of 67 during the period suggest, but ensured that Sri Lanka got a steady start at the top more often than not.

Half of Atapattu's 20 Man-of-the-Match award in ODIs came during the period which saw him score 6 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

His highest score during the period was an unbeaten knock of 123 against South Africa which helped the Sri Lankan to its only victory in a 5-match ODI series on Proteas' home turf.

Marvan Atapattu Sri Lanka Cricket

#2 Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) - 3891 runs

Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka Cricket
Jayasuriya loved to take the attack to the opposition

The third-most capped player in ODO history, Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya had a fruitful period between the 1999 and 2003 World Cups as he resurrected his career somewhat after failing to score an ODI century for more than two years.

Jayasuriya broke the duck with a knock of 105 against India at Dhaka in June 2000 and his next ton turned out to be a batting masterclass as India once felt the wrath of Jayasuriya's big-hitting prowess as he batted the opposition out of the contest with his knock of 189.

He was in spectacular form in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup scoring 122 against Australia and 106 and 99 against England in a tri-series Down Under just prior to the tournament before a smashing start to the 2003 World Cup with a ton against New Zealand in the opener.

During the period between the 1999 and the 2003 World Cup, Jayasuriya scored 3891 runs from 104 ODIs at an average of 38.52. As was the norm throughout his illustrious career, Jayasuriya wasted little time in scoring those runs as his strike-rate of 89.10 suggest.

Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka Cricket

#1 Sourav Ganguly (India) - 4367 runs

Sourav Ganguly India Cricket
Ganguly preferred to score in boundaries and was highly successful at that as well

The period between the 1999 and the 2003 World Cup was the golden period of Sourav Ganguly's career both as a player and skipper.

Ganguly was by far the best ODI player of the time and he took Indian cricket to new heights with his aggressive brand of captaincy which was a breath of fresh air for the game.

After an impressive outing in the 1999 World Cup where he scored 379 runs from just 7 matches, Ganguly carried forward his form and was largely unaffected despite taking on the mantle of captaincy during a tough time for Indian cricket following the match-fixing scandal.

He scored 4367 runs from 112 ODIs during the period which included 12 centuries. He also scored the maximum number of boundaries during the time - 457 fours and 91 sixers, beating the likes of more accomplished big hitters like Afridi, Gilchrist, and Jayasuriya.

Most of his centuries were big knocks and his highest score during the knock was an unbeaten knock of 153 against New Zealand at Gwalior.

Sourav Ganguly India Cricket

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Edited by Srikant