5 ODI teams with best batting lineups ahead of 2019 Cricket World Cup

With the 2019 World Cup just under a year away, ODI teams are busy getting their playing combinations right so as to field in their strongest playing elevens when the showpiece event gets underway in England. While teams shall be looking to strengthen their bowling arsenal in seam-friendly English conditions, they need the firepower in batting to put on commanding totals or chase down daunting targets set by their opponents.

Run-scoring has never been easy in English conditions, so a combination of power hitters and sheet anchors shall be the order of the day. While some ODI teams have a settled lineup with clearly charted roles for each batsman, others are still figuring out to get their batting orders in place.

While teams would look for their prolific run scorers like Virat Kohli, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Hashim Amla and Joe Root to score runs aplenty, it would have to be a collective batting effort by them in order to go the distance and clinch the coveted World Cup.

So let us have a look at the ODI teams which have the best batting line-ups ahead of the World Cup.

Note: I have taken the ODI records for the top five batsmen of each nation for the last three years (June 2015- June 2018) to gauge the performance of the batting lineups

For ranking teams from 1 to 5, I have taken the depth in batting, consistency in run scoring, strike rate and penchant to score hundreds as the major parameters.

---

#1 India

VIRAT KOHLI

India has arguably the best batting lineup in ODI cricket at the moment. Spearheaded by their prolific run-getter Virat Kohli, India have world class batsmen in their ranks who can make the best of bowling attacks look ordinary.

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma pack a punch with their opening salvo. While the 'Hitman' Rohit flays attacks with his effortless hitting, Dhawan can put the opposition on the defence with his brutal assault. The enormously gifted Rohit can win matches single-handedly by producing some monumental knocks. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan would relish playing at the World Cup as he has tasted success at major tournaments in England.

Skipper Kohli is the lynchpin of the middle order. Consistency is his forte and the master blaster more often than not he takes his team home. A prolific century maker and a master of chases, Kohli has been India’s biggest match-winner with the willow. Kohli’s mental toughness and competitive takes him to a different level.

With the ball seaming around in England, Ajinkya Rahane will look to play the sheet anchor’s role. The technically correct Rahane can wear out quality attacks and also play the stabilizer’s role if wickets fall early. Meanwhile, India has got some gifted stroke-makers in Manish Pandey and the classy KL Rahul who have shown flashes of brilliance in ODIs.

Experienced campaigners Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni are likely to don the role of finishers down the order. The hard-hitting Raina and Dhoni have taken India across the finishing line many a time with their whirlwind cameos. Meanwhile, all-rounder, Hardik Pandya can unleash with his ball striking ability. India has plenty of bench strength with Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant who all shall push their case for selection.

Indian Batsmen ODI Record (June 2015-June 2018)

Shikhar Dhawan

Matches 40 Runs 1824 Avg 49.29 SR 99.07 100s 5

Rohit Sharma

Matches 44 Runs 2311 Avg 57.77 SR 96.93 100s 10

Virat Kohli

Matches 49 Runs 3050 Avg 82.43 SR 97.88 100s 13

Ajinkya Rahane

Matches 35 Runs 1369 Avg 42.78 SR 80.86 100s 1

MS Dhoni

Matches 55 Runs 1463 Avg 47.19 SR 84.27 100s 1

#2 England

Joe Root

Hosts England would go into the World Cup with arguably their strongest batting lineup ever. The English have two attacking openers in Alex Hales and Jason Roy who get them off to fliers. While Hales can tonk the ball many a miles, Roy is capable of producing some destructive knocks up the order. The Hales-Roy opening combination gives England the opening salvo to build a solid platform.

The middle order shall by marshalled around by their ever consistent Joe Root. Root has been England’s 'Mr Dependable' and holds their innings together. Root who possess a well-organised technique shall be key to holding forte in the middle. Root shall have good company from the experienced Eoin Morgan who is England's most prolific run-getter in ODIs.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has been a revelation in ODIs and is their impact player with the willow, producing some blitzkrieg innings to close out games. Jonny Bairstow has boosted England’s batting with his consistent run of scores.

Meanwhile, Moeen Ali can be deployed as an effective pinch hitter. Ali chips in with some quick-fire cameos providing impetus to the innings. The hosts shall look to Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes to provide that late flourish to post some commanding totals on the board.

England Batsmen ODI Records (June 2015-June 2018)

Alex Hales

Matches 48 Runs 1747 Avg 38.82 SR 94.22 100s 5

Jason Roy

Matche 55 Runs 2074 Avg 39.13 SR 103.33 100s 5

Joe Root

Matches 52 Runs 2480 Avg 59.04 SR 90.01 100s 5

Eoin Morgan

Matches 57 Runs 1860 Avg 37.95 SR 90.77 100s 3

Jos Buttler

Matches 52 Runs 1453 Avg 45.40 SR 121.89 100s 3

Jonny Bairsow

Matches 37 Runs 1507 Avg 53.82 SR 103.85 100s 5

#3 Australia

David Warner

The Australians have an explosive batting line-up which can blow away any bowling attacks on its day. The Aussies have a dependable opening pair in Aaron Finch and David Warner. Warner is the pocket dynamite who provides the fireworks in the power plays with his belligerent strokeplay.

Meanwhile, Aaron Finch gets runs at a brisk pace with his wide range of shots. While Warner is at home playing against pacers, Finch is a good player of spin and can be lethal against quality spinners. Both Warner and Finch have the penchant to play the long innings and score hundreds.

Steven Smith is a busy bee in the middle overs and is a master of milking the singles with his unconventional yet effective stroke play. Once settled, Smith has the shots in his kitty to step up the scoring rate. The middle order has some places up for the grabs with Travis Head, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khwaja looking like the main contenders to fill in the slots.

The Baggy Green have power hitters in the form of Glen Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh who produce some match-winning knocks down the order. Both Maxi and Marsh can yield carnage with their power-packed shot making. While Maxwell is the ‘Big show’ with his cheeky stroke play, Marsh is a clean striker of the ball. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis has shown the ability to close out games for the Kangaroos with his calm and composed demeanour.

Wicket keeper batsmen Tim Paine and Matthew Wade can score runs at the brisk pace and provide impetus to the innings. The Aussies bat deep as James Faulkner and Mitchell Starc also having the ability with the willow to strike a few big ones over the park.

Note - Going by the assumption that both David Warner and Steven Smith would be served their bans and be available for World Cup selection.

Australia Batsmen ODI Record (June 2015- June 2018)

David Warner

Matches 44 Runs 2296 Avg 56.00 SR 103.75 100s 10

Aaron Finch

Matches 41 Runs 1492 Avg 39.26 SR 93.36 100s 4

Steven Smith

Matches 50 Runs 1882 Avg 42.77 SR 84.01 100s 4

Travis Head

Matches 36 Runs 1088 Avg 35.09 SR 88.31 100s 1

Mitchell Marsh

Matches 36 Runs 977 Avg 37.57 SR 94.48 100s 1

#4 South Africa

South Africa

The South Africans have a mouth-watering batting line-up with a galaxy of stroke-makers. The Proteas have two of the best openers in the business in Hashim Amla and Quinton De Cock. While Hashim Amla is the silent assassin who accumulates runs with his wristy strokeplay, De Cock is the aggressor at the top taking on the opposition with his stroke play. Amla has been South Africa’s run-scoring machine and his form shall be pivotal if South African want to go the distance.

South Africa may be have suffered a big blow due to the retirement of their batting genius AB de Villiers but still have enough experience in the middle order to deliver the goods. Skipper Faf Du Plessis had a purple patch in ODIs and would look to carry his good form into the World Cup. Seasoned campaigner JP Duminy is a valuable batsman down the order and can step up the gas towards the end of an innings.

The hard-hitting David Miller can swing games for his side in a blink of an eye. Miller combines brute force with sublime timing to tear apart the best of bowling attacks. Heinrich Klassen has shown promising signs of being a dangerous ODI player. Meanwhile, Farhaan Behardien has chipped in with valuable cameos down the order. Allrounder Chris Morris can strike some lethal blows down the order. So all in all the Green and Gold Brigade have the batting armoury to endure the testing English conditions.

South Africa ODI Record (June 2015-June 2018)

Hashim Amla

Matches 49 Runs 1843 Avg 39.21 SR 85.92 100s 6

Quinton De Cock

Matches 46 Runs 2229 Avg 51.83 SR 99.11 100s 7

Faf Du Plessis

Matches 43 Runs 2036 Avg 59.88 SR 93.26 100s 5

David Miller

Matches 34 Runs 66 Avg 37.65 sr 98.52 100s 2

JP Duminy

Matches 44 Runs 959 Avg 29.06 SR 79.85 100s 0

Note - I haven't taken AB De Villiers record as he has retired from international cricket

#5 New Zealand

Kane Williamson

New Zealand have one of the most destructive batting orders in ODI cricket. Martin Guptill has been their best bet in getting their innings to a flier. The elegant stroke-maker has played some sensational knocks over the years and is a delight to watch with his clean hitting down the down the ground. In recent years, Guptill has been ably partnered by Tom Latham who is a free-flowing batsman.

Skipper Kane Williamson is the wall of the Black Caps middle order. The elegant stroke maker has a perfect blend of attack and defence in his game. He can score at a brisk pace and play second fiddle as a sheet anchor. The veteran Ross Taylor has been in superlative form over the last couple of seasons and would look to bring his valuable experience and keep the runs flowing in the middle overs. Hard hitting Colin Munro has taken the world by a storm with his aggressive batting. Munro makes most grounds look small with his massive ball striking ability.

The Black Caps have some serious firepower with power hitters like Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme to take the opposition to the cleaners towards the later stages of an innings.

New Zealand Batsmen ODI Record (June 2015-June 2018)

Martin Guptill

Matches 47 Runs 2110 Avg 51.46 SR 93.32 100s 6

Kane Williamson

Matches 49 Runs 2124 Avg 46.17 SR 81.09 100s 4

Ross Taylor

Matches 41 Runs 1805 Avg 60.16 SR 84.50 100s 5

Tom Latham

Matches 48 Runs 1632 Avg 37.95 SR 85.40 100s 4

Colin Munro

Matches 33 Runs 738 Avg 25.44 SR 107.26 100s 0

---

The other One Day International teams which didn't make the cut also have some world class batsmen but lack consistency and depth as a batting unit. The likes of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies have individual brilliance but more often than not fail to make an impact as a collective unit.

A look at top ODI batsmen for Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and Afghanistan

Pakistan - Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Shoiab Malik, Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad

Sri Lanka - Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Matthews, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirammane and Niroshan Dickwella

West Indies - Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Marlon Samuels, Shai Hope and Johnson Charles

Bangladesh - Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah

Afghanistan - Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi and Mohammad Shahzad