Top 5 ODI batsmen with most runs while batting at No.5 & below

Being a middle-order batsman, especially in ODIs, is not an easy task as it demands an immense level of understanding and fitness. The business of a middle-order batsman runs around consistency and game knowledge. This job tests the extremes of a cricketer. It examines the ability of a cricketer to understand the situation and react to it as fast as he can.

ODI cricket has witnessed a handful of great middle-order batsmen. MS Dhoni, Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Steve Waugh, Arjuna Ranatunga, Yuvraj Singh, and Jonty Rhodes are some of the names who made it big in the history of ODI cricket predominantly as a middle-order batsman.

Thus, in this slider, we will look at the top five ODI batsmen with the most number of runs while batting at No.5 or below in the order.

(All statistics as on 16 July 2018)

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#5 Jonty Rhodes (South Africa)

Better known for his acrobatic fielding, Jonty Rhodes announced his arrival at the international stage when he slung in the demeanor and ran-out Inzamam-Ul-Haq in the 1992 World Cup match against Pakistan. Agile became the household word to define Jonty's exploits in the world of cricket.

However, his fielding propensity overshadowed his batting talents. But to the fact, Jonty flourished to be one of the best lower-order batsmen not only among the South African team but also amongst all other players in the world.

Admittedly, Jonty Rhodes happened to be the pioneer of the modern-day cricket. He was probably the first player to attempt the reverse-sweep and to master it.

Having played 202 ODI matches while batting at No.5 and below, Rhodes amassed 4754 runs at a decent average of 35.74 and a strike-rate of 82.12 which also includes two centuries and 28 half-centuries with the highest score being 121.

Thus, with 4754 runs in his pack, Jonty acquires the fifth position in this list.

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#4 Yuvraj Singh (India)

India v South Africa - ICC Champions Trophy

Those classical cover drives, those slap cuts behind the point, and those short-arm jabs over the mid-wicket were all class as we witnessed Yuvraj Singh savaging the bowlers. Apart from being an able middle-order batsman, Yuvraj rushed to the ODI format as a specialist fielder as well.

Yuvraj steadily fastened his spot as a middle-order batsman who could construct an innings as well as fire the bowlers at disposition. With time, Yuvraj grew to become the kingpin of India's middle-order and assumed the responsibility of stabilizing and building the Indian innings in the middle overs.

While batting at No.5 and below, Yuvraj Singh played 174 ODI matches and scored 4870 runs at a modest average of 38.34 and an astonishing strike-rate of 86.73. Also, while batting at No.5 and below, the left-handed batsman hit seven centuries and 33 half-centuries with the highest score being 139.

Hence, with as many as 4870 runs, Yuvraj Singh fixes the fourth position on the list.

#3 Steve Waugh (Australia)

Steve Waugh was a pantheon of mental vigor, patience, and aggression. Frustrate the bowlers, tire them out, pull them out of the game mentally, and then attack, was the modus operandi of Steve Waugh. He had one of the most different styles of batting, yet, he happened to be one of the best batsmen in the history of cricket.

Besides a noble batsman and an able bowler, Steve was a great captain too. His captaincy and batting were central to Australia unassailable rise in cricket. What made him great was his presence of mind and his ability to stay focused even in the grimmest situations.

Waugh, predominantly a middle-order batsman, was mighty effective at the business end of the innings in the limited overs format. He was quite good at reading the minds which helped him trespass the mental figures of the bowlers and score runs at will even in the conditions that favored bowlers more than batsmen.

He featured in 258 ODI matches while batting at no.5 and below and scored as many as 5797 runs at a respectable average of 34.30 and a strike-rate of 77.39 which also included two centuries and 32 half-centuries, with his highest score amounting to 120*. That being so, Steve Waugh captures the third position on the list.

#2 Arjuna Ranatunga (Srilanka)

ARJUNA RANATUNGA / SRI LANKA

Arjuna Ranatunga, against all the odds, captained Sri Lanka to their first-ever World Cup triumph in 1996. Besides his influential leadership skills, Ranatunga gloated to be one of the best lower middle-order batsmen in those times.

His off-side exploits were as good as any another batting great. Although Ranatunga failed to grab those quickies between the stumps, his dazzling strokeplay and imperative placement skills made up for his slowness between the wickets. Arjuna had a great sense of timing which helped him rake up plenty of runs in the middle order with a minimum of risk taken.

Having donned 226 ODI caps while batting at No.5 and below, Ranatunga amassed 6041 runs at a decent average of 35.12 and a strike-rate of 76.88 which also included two centuries and 40 half-centuries with the best score being 102*. Thus, with this many runs, he collects the second position on the list.

#1 MS Dhoni (India)

England v India - Second Royal London One Day International - Lord's

10,000 ODI runs, 107 stumpings, 110 ODI wins as a captain, and the list continues. Do I need to give a more extensive introduction for MS Dhoni? No, right? He has built a repute of being one of the most reliable batsmen in limited-overs cricket, taking India to victory continually from the clasps of defeat. However, of late, Dhoni has fared a bit of criticism owing to his failure to finish the matches at will.

No matter what, MS Dhoni is undoubtedly the best middle order batsman in the history of cricket. He is the only batsman to score as many as 70 percentages of his ODI centuries while batting at No.5 and below.

Thus, having mastered the art of chase, MS has been the linchpin of India's middle order in the limited overs format, especially in ODIs and proves to be a reliable option for the upcoming World Cup as well.

While batting at No.5 and below, MS Dhoni has featured in 274 ODI matches and has scored 7683 runs at a staggering average of 48.32 and a strike-rate of 86.04 which also include seven centuries and 49 half-centuries with the highest score being 139*. Hence, with almost 7600 runs, MS Dhoni tops this list.