Top 5 ODI teams in international cricket between 2000-2009

#2 South Africa

AB De Villiers is one of the most innovate batsmen of this era

South Africa were a potent outfit in limited overs cricket and had plenty of batting and bowling arsenal to beat the top teams on their day. The Proteas were second to none in the fielding department lead by Jonty Rhodes.

The South Africans were well led by, perhaps, their greatest captain in Graeme Smith for most of the decade. While the dependable Graeme Smith and the maverick Herschelle Gibbs gave them solid starts up the order, the middle order was marshalled by Mr Consistent Jacques Kallis who stood like a rock providing stability to the innings.

AB De Villiers was simply mesmerizing with his 360-degree stroke play and could flay bowling attacks at will. The lower middle order had experience in abundance with seasoned campaigners like JP Duminy, Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp, leading the charge.

The South African seam attack was quite formidable as the likes of Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Steyn and Jacques Kallis proved a handful for any batting lineup.

The Proteas were simply phenomenal, almost unbeatable at home as well as proving a tough nut to be cracked overseas. However, the only bloat on their impressive CV was the lack of any major ICC tournament victory, where they crumbled under pressure during the knockout stages, thereby, earning the tag of chokers.

ODI Record Jan 2000- Dec 2009

Matches-254; Won-157; Lost-86; Tied-4; NR-7; Win%: 61.81

ICC World Cup 2007: Semifinalist

ICC Champions Trophy 2000: Semifinalist

ICC Champions Trophy 2002: Semifinalist

ICC Champions Trophy 2006: Semifinalist