ICC World Cup 2019: 5 non-English batsmen who can finish as the higher run-getter of the tournament

At the upcoming World Cup 2019 in England, the best batsmen in the world will be hoping to leave their mark on the event.

Scoring big runs in English conditions has long been considered a litmus test for the batsmen from visiting teams, and only players with a high level of temperament and skill can survive against potent new ball bowlers in England. But since the 2015 World Cup, batting in England has become much easier as the pitches have become flatter and the boundaries shorter, which has led to many 300 plus scores.

Moreover, the ICC monitors the nature of the pitches used in the World Cup to ensure the game lasts a minimum of 90 overs, and hence there will definitely be many big totals in this edition of the World Cup.

On that note, here is a look at the top 5 foreign batsmen in English conditions since the 2015 world Cup (in no particular order), who stand a good chance of finishing as the tournament's highest run-getter this year:

#1 Shikhar Dhawan (India)

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is one of those special players who take their game to the next level when the stakes are high. He has scored 976 runs in England with a majority of those coming in the two Champions Trophy tournaments.

In both the 2013 and 2017 editions of the Champions Trophy, Dhawan was the highest run-scorer, and India will rely heavily on him in their pursuit of a third World Cup.

Since the last World Cup, Dhawan has scored 458 runs in England at an average of 57.25. His best knock during this four-year period came against Sri Lanka at The Oval during the 2017 Champions Trophy. He shared a 138-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma and reached his century in 112 balls.

The conditions were not easy for batting and Dhawan showed adaptability and temperament to score a century. But his wonderful innings went in vain as Sri Lanka won the match with seven wickets remaining.

#2 Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli will be going into this World Cup with the hopes of a billion Indians relying on his seemingly never-ending batting form. He is just a cut above the rest as far as ODIs are concerned, and over his whole career he averages 54.56 in England.

But since 2015, the average goes up to 89.80 in 8 innings. Strangely, he has not scored a century in England after the last World Cup, with his highest score being the 96* against Bangladesh in Birmingham.

In the 2017 Champions Trophy opener, Kohli scored a sublime 81* against Pakistan in just 68 balls, propelling India to a huge total of 319. But in the final against Pakistan he scored just 5 runs before getting dismissed by Mohammad Amir, and the scars of that defeat will be still fresh in his memory.

Kohli will be looking to avenge that defeat by putting a big performance when India takes on Pakistan at Old Trafford on June 16.

#3 Ross Taylor (New Zealand)

Ross Taylor

The immense talent of Ross Taylor has never been in question, but until the end of the 2015 World Cup in Australia he was pretty inconsistent with his performances. But since that tournament, he has scored 2892 runs in ODIs at a stunning average of 68.85.

In the last four years, Taylor has scored 523 runs in English conditions at an average of 74.71. In 2015, he scored back-to-back centuries against England in a 5-match ODI series. The first of those centuries came at the Oval in 87 balls, where he combined with Kane Williamson for a 100 run partnership and took his team to a match winning total of 398.

In the next game at Southampton, he again joined hands with Williamson for a double century partnership and registered a composed century while chasing 303, as the Black Caps took a 2-1 lead in the series.

#4 Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma’s career renaissance began at the 2013 Champions Trophy when he finally fulfilled all the expectations of the fans with consistent performances as an opener. He hasn’t looked back since then, and at his fluent best he is a sight for sore eyes.

Since the 2015 World Cup, Rohit has scored 458 runs at an average of 76.33 in English conditions. He has registered two hundreds during this period, one each against Bangladesh and England.

Rohit's century against Bangladesh came during the 2017 Champions Trophy semifinal in Birmingham when India were chasing 264. His performance resulted in a easy victory for India as they won with 9 wickets in hand.

Last year, he made a similar 137* against England at Nottingham. Rohit’s biggest gift is his ability to score at a breakneck pace after reaching his century, and he will play a vital role in India’s quest for World Cup glory.

#5 Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Kane Williamson

The youngest player among the 'Fab Four' of world cricket, Kane Williamson has grown leaps and bounds since the last World Cup. He has adapted his game beautifully to suit all three formats of the game, and his form will play a vital role in New Zealand’s campaign.

Williamson has scored the highest number of runs (640 runs) among the foreign players to have played in England, with an average of 80. Right after the World Cup 2015, he was the player of the series in a bilateral series against England.

He scored a splendid 93 at the Oval as the Black Caps piled up 398, and followed it up with a magnificent 118 at Southampton as New Zealand chased down a target of 303 comfortably.

In New Zealand’s opening match of the 2017 Champions Trophy, Williamson scored a century in 97 balls on a track that was not suited for batting.

When it comes to technique and temperament to survive in English conditions there is no better player than Williamson, and there is a good chance of him topping the run charts in the upcoming World Cup.