Top ODI batsmen of the decade (2010s)

[Joseph Gomes]

Cutoff- 75 matches (trying to be fair to Root, and especially Warner who has been brilliant recently)



As expected, ABD is at the top by HUGE margin. One can only guess what would his average might have been had he played in similar fashion before 2010 !

Even if you don't count the not outs, ABD still scores whoopin 51.73 every innings. That's right, he scored over 51 runs on average in the last 110 innings. Amla is second with 48.54 runs

Only surprising entry for me was Michael Clarke, he really tried his best to carry Australia during transition in both ODIs and test

 

[ahmadharis1]

They're all playing at great strike rates, especially AB de Villiers.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Underrate AB at your own peril in this format. He is nothing less than an ATG in it.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Underrate AB at your own peril in this format. He is nothing less than an ATG in it.

Nobody questions ABD's class in ODIs, he is head and shoulders above the rest since 2010. However many people are by ABD's attitude towards test matches.

 

[sajeebmcj]

a very underrated ine in odi. easily one of the best 3 batsman ever in odi.
was one if my favourite batsman but now i can't rolerate him.

 

[Ankit007]

Great analysis...AB and Virat are really like the Messi and Ronaldo...

 

[Madplayer]

Clarke is very under rated as well.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Statistically ABD towering over the rest.

Can't even bring not outs to explain away his average cos he averages 51 runs per innings.

Just wow.

Just needs to have a good WC and some proper knockout performances.

 

[Square Drive]

AB is an absolute monster.

Kohli's chasing ability and the fact that he's clutch, along with the fact that he's an absolute beasts in T20s, and lastly longevity still puts him over the former, though.

Anyways let's not digress; great to see AB up there, and everyone who deserves to be there is there. Also nice to see a couple of Kiwis in there.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

The amount of 6s from AB is ridiculous as well

 

[Red Devil]

More runs than balls faced lol, absolutely crazy stuff.

And some people still think he doesn't deserve to be in the top 5 greatest ODI players of all time.

 

[Fahdi]

AB Devillers is an absolute beast in ODIs. He is overrated in Tests but there should be no doubt about his ability in ODIs.

Still as a player Kohli is worth more than AB Devillers due to his ability to control an innings and lead a chase from the top.


AB on the other hand is a different sort of beast. He does not have the ability of Kohli to control the innings at the start but he makes arguably the greatest number 5 in ODI history. Give him a bit of momentum at the start the innings and he can multiply it by ten fold. He has also batted his team out of a rut on many occasions. When it comes to the slog overs AB's hitting abilities are practically unmatched.

In an all time ODI 11 I will have both AB and Kohli.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Always loved AB but didn't know he was such a beast statistically. Not sure how long he can go on for though. Kohli, however has at least a decade and a half ahead of him. Although I expect him to retire around 35.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Statistically ABD towering over the rest.

Can't even bring not outs to explain away his average cos he averages 51 runs per innings.

Just wow.

Just needs to have a good WC and some proper knockout performances.

ABD's average has been hurt by his first 4 years when he played 76 matches at a mediocre average of 36.40 (mediocre by his standard, anyway). Since 2009 he averages 65.05 over 133 matches (excluding not outs, 50.82)



It's like he became a completely new player after 2008. BTW, he has scored only a single duck since then o.o

 

[SL_Fan]

Apart from King Viv in terms of pure skill can't say that I've seen a better ODI bat than AB. Pretty much the modern-day Viv.

 

[SL_Fan]

Did this some time back

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...verage-x-strike-rate-ratios-across-eras/page3

ODI Batsmen With The Best Ave x SR Ratios Across Eras - Min 6000 ODI runs

Obviously both the average and the strike rate are important in ODIs. These ratios are calculated by dividing the individual Ave x SR by the overall Ave x SR during their time (numbers 1-7). Basically the ratios show how far ahead they were/are compared to their peers given a one-to-one weighting for Ave and SR.

Viv 2.19

187 ODIs 6721 runs
Ave x SR = 47.00 X 90.20 = 42.39
Overall Ave x SR = 29.38 X 65.96 = 19.38

AB de Viliiers 2.1

195 ODIs 8403 runs
Ave x SR = 54.21 x 100.28 = 54.36
Overall Ave x SR = 32.48 x 79.58 = 25.85

Dhoni 1.8

270 ODIs 8832 runs
Ave x SR = 52.26 x 89.1 = 46.56
Overall Ave x SR = 32.46 x 79.54 = 25.82

Amla 1.77

126 ODIs 6008 runs
Ave x SR = 52.7 x 89.36 = 47.09
Overall Ave x SR = 32.89 x 80.87 = 26.6

Bevan 1.76

232 ODIs 6912 runs
Ave x SR = 53.58 x 74.16 = 39.73
Overall Ave x SR = 31.04 x 72.63 = 22.54

Kohli 1.7

166 ODIs 6831 runs
Ave x SR = 50.6 x 89.5 = 45.29
Overall Ave x SR = 32.93 x 80.92 = 26.65

Sachin 1.68

463 ODIs 18426 runs
Ave x SR = 44.83 x 86.23 = 38.66
Overall Ave x SR = 31.12 x 73.95 = 23.01

Dean Jones 1.64

164 ODIs 6068 runs
Ave x SR = 44.61 X 72.56 = 32.37
Overall Ave x SR = 29.65 X 66.56 = 19.74

Overall Average and Strike rate figures for the top seven batsmen during their time

Viv

AB de Viliiers

Dhoni

Amla

Bevan

Kohli

Sachin

Dean Jones

 

[Naim]

AFTER READING TITLE first name blinked in my mind was ABd and 2nd was kohli. and stats shows same

 

[Stallion__]

Pakistan and South Africa played each other 14 times in 2013, and all five Pakistani bowlers (Ajmal, Hafeez, Afridi, Junaid & Irfan) were among top 20-25 in rankings. AB was the only player who scored fluently against that bowling attack. Quality wise, he is without a doubt, best batsman of this decade.

Taylor is a surprise tbh. He looks edgy at the start of his innings and has a pretty ordinary off side game. I won't be much perturbed after looking at his name in the opposition team. But he surely knows how to score despite looking vulnerable.

 

[Hasan123]

ABD is a monster of an odi player. No suprises about the other names other than Clarke. Never knew pup was so good in odis during this period. Surely an underated odi player.

 

[Bilal7]

Great analysis...AB and Virat are really like the Messi and Ronaldo...

Don't even try to put them in the same class. ABD is up there by himself and a tier below are guys like Kohli, Amla and Dhoni. Sangakkara too but his overall numbers are not as shiny.

Statistically ABD towering over the rest.

Can't even bring not outs to explain away his average cos he averages 51 runs per innings.

Just wow.

Just needs to have a good WC and some proper knockout performances.

He already has. The 2015 WC. ABD is the second greatest batsman in ODIs.

 

[Ab Fan]

Already mentioned it many times that statistically, AB's numbers in odis are freakishly outstanding. An avg of 66 at a Strike Rate of 110 is unbelievable for a period of 7 years.

He has got 24 hundreds in 200 matches and that too playing most of the matches at 4-5. So his not outs cant be avoided or argued of against him.

One should also not forget the first few years of AB's career came in non batting friendly +non field restriction era which makes it even tougher for him to average 50+ without having too many not-outs.

Has an avg of 60+ in World Cups at a freak SR and has performed against the limited top quality bowling attacks he has faced.

 

[khurram39]

Apart from Amla and Warner all played in the middle Thus making NO to count.

 

[Pantani]

I am really surprised to not see Dilshan on this list, he was like our best batsman alongside Sanga for so many years. Steve Smith also.

Inzaghi seriously?

A glorified tap-it-in striker

Inzaghi is a definite ATG, they don't make strikers like him anymore. Literally everything was mental about him, his intelligence off the ball, making runs and taking good positions, expert at springing the offside trap. He had no pace, no strength, no dribbling skills; nothing to beat defenders except his brain - and once he beat them he had that lethal clinicalness, you could always count on him to put the chances away. The epitome of a clutch player.

Obviously he's nowhere near the Zidane's, Messi's and Ronaldo's but he was an outstanding player in his own right.

 

[Protea Fan]

AB is not underrated he has been rated very well in normal cricketing environment

His career starts normally and suddenly hits one of the greatest peaks of all time...It was similar to the peaks of ponting and sanga's in test

I hope he won't destroy his ecstatic stats in this last days like some legends in past...

And yes considering SA haven't had anything to invigorate in cricketing world winning a wc might make his career more enthralling but even if not he is a bonafide ATG.......people who thinks otherway also may have an opinion that lionel messi is not an ATG

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Don't even try to put them in the same class. ABD is up there by himself and a tier below are guys like Kohli, Amla and Dhoni. Sangakkara too but his overall numbers are not as shiny.



He already has. The 2015 WC. ABD is the second greatest batsman in ODIs.

Nah.

Quite a way to go.

A guy who reaches the QF/SF in 30 Grand Slams (but bows out) doesn't become better than the guy who reaches QF/SF in just 15 Grandslams and wins 7 of them (I mean the entire tourney).

Its the winning that establishes your legacy as the best. Not the dominance in the earlier stages.

This isn't a direct "win the WC" reference. ABD does not need a WC win to be the 2nd best bat ever. But he needs solid iconic performances in knockouts. He is an ATG even without that but to go to the next, he has to have that. The top tier bats in ODI have mile long list of performances in knockouts in ODI.

As for best ODI bat of this generation, while ABD is supreme, there is no guarantee he would win a world wide poll against Kohli if it were conducted right now. That's the difference between stats and stature.

Both Kohli and ABD are supreme supreme ODI bats. Time will tell whether they will be regarded as one amongst the top 3.

 

[Bilal7]

Nah.

Quite a way to go.

A guy who reaches the QF/SF in 30 Grand Slams (but bows out) doesn't become better than the guy who reaches QF/SF in just 15 Grandslams and wins 7 of them (I mean the entire tourney).

Its the winning that establishes your legacy as the best. Not the dominance in the earlier stages.

This isn't a direct "win the WC" reference. ABD does not need a WC win to be the 2nd best bat ever. But he needs solid iconic performances in knockouts. He is an ATG even without that but to go to the next, he has to have that. The top tier bats in ODI have mile long list of performances in knockouts in ODI.

As for best ODI bat of this generation, while ABD is supreme, there is no guarantee he would win a world wide poll against Kohli if it were conducted right now. That's the difference between stats and stature.

Both Kohli and ABD are supreme supreme ODI bats. Time will tell whether they will be regarded as one amongst the top 3.

I can respect this but without being offensive, it is clear that the only reason people put Kohli alongside AB is their own national bias or their lack of knowledge about the actual performances of the two. AB beats Kohli on every single front as a batsman, apart from chasing. He's clearly a level above anyone else from this generation.

I don't really understand your Grand Slam reference. Cricket is a team sport unlike Tennis and one player cannot really win the World Cup for his team. ABD did all he could to win that semi-final for the South Africans, however his bowlers came up short and he had to go down with them. His innings in that match was as good as any and he kept performing throughout the tournament.

Yes, winning a World Cup is something he deserves but just like it was for Sachin, it's something he doesn't need. He's this generation's Viv Richards in that his numbers are so much better than the rest.

No shame in coming behind Viv and AB, doesn't matter if you're Sachin or Kohli or someone else. Of course Sachin has things going for him but one thing I believe that most people agree on is that AB is arguably the second best ODI batsman of all time. We can settle that debate some other time.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

AB de Villiers.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I can respect this but without being offensive, it is clear that the only reason people put Kohli alongside AB is their own national bias or their lack of knowledge about the actual performances of the two. AB beats Kohli on every single front as a batsman, apart from chasing. He's clearly a level above anyone else from this generation.

I don't really understand your Grand Slam reference. Cricket is a team sport unlike Tennis and one player cannot really win the World Cup for his team. ABD did all he could to win that semi-final for the South Africans, however his bowlers came up short and he had to go down with them. His innings in that match was as good as any and he kept performing throughout the tournament.

Yes, winning a World Cup is something he deserves but just like it was for Sachin, it's something he doesn't need. He's this generation's Viv Richards in that his numbers are so much better than the rest.

No shame in coming behind Viv and AB, doesn't matter if you're Sachin or Kohli or someone else. Of course Sachin has things going for him but one thing I believe that most people agree on is that AB is arguably the second best ODI batsman of all time. We can settle that debate some other time.

1. Many Pakistanis themselves rate Kohli ahead of ABD. English and Aussie commies rave about Kohli. Don't see where the nationalist bias is from there. I can understand bias from fans of the player's own country but there is massive support for Kohli outside of India too.

2. Grand Slam reference was not about winning WCs but about iconic performances that people talk about. Viv and Sachin have a mile long list of great performances. Its not ABD's fault that he has got little chances in WCs to perform (and the fact that there are few tri series these days) but at some point he has to perform in tourneys to be rated ahead.

Can you name 2-3 iconic knocks that define ABD?

Kohli inspite of having inferior stats has more iconic knocks than him (in fact, Kohli has otherwise been so good that inspite of his poor WCs, he gets compared to legends....such has been his dominance).

I am a huge fan of both and want them to do well but at this stage, neither are better than Viv, Sachin or even Ponting.

 

[Mamoon]

Not interested in stats. Kohli and Dhoni are the top two ODI batsmen of the 2010 era for me. de Villiers has flash stats but he lacks the capacity to win big games for his country irrespective of his individual performance. He has not won SA a single knockout match with his batting in any ICC tournament (World Cup, Champions Trophy, World T20).

He has put SA in a winning position many times only to throw his wicket away at a crucial moment which has always changed the course of the match. He is not a match-winner like Kohli and Dhoni, who rarely surrender matches from winning positions. When they are in the zone, they take India home. Same cannot be said about de Villiers, but his definitely the most entertaining and unique batsman I have ever seen.

He is not in the top 5 of all time for me, but Dhoni certainly is. As far as Kohli is concerned, I back him to become the greatest of all time. He is second only to Viv as things stand.

de Villiers is certainly the best South African ODI batsman of all time, but in due time, QdK can overtake him. Amla is an average ODI batsman.

 

[Drreddymd]

That is what u call real 50 average players and the rest for whom it is padded by not outs

 

[Chief Destroyer]

1. Many Pakistanis themselves rate Kohli ahead of ABD. English and Aussie commies rave about Kohli. Don't see where the nationalist bias is from there. I can understand bias from fans of the player's own country but there is massive support for Kohli outside of India too.

2. Grand Slam reference was not about winning WCs but about iconic performances that people talk about. Viv and Sachin have a mile long list of great performances. Its not ABD's fault that he has got little chances in WCs to perform (and the fact that there are few tri series these days) but at some point he has to perform in tourneys to be rated ahead.

Can you name 2-3 iconic knocks that define ABD?

Kohli inspite of having inferior stats has more iconic knocks than him (in fact, Kohli has otherwise been so good that inspite of his poor WCs, he gets compared to legends....such has been his dominance).

I am a huge fan of both and want them to do well but at this stage, neither are better than Viv, Sachin or even Ponting.

What iconic knocks has Kohli played?

 

[Drreddymd]

Not interested in stats. Kohli and Dhoni are the top two ODI batsmen of the 2010 era for me. de Villiers has flash stats but he lacks the capacity to win big games for his country irrespective of his individual performance. He has not won SA a single knockout match with his batting in any ICC tournament (World Cup, Champions Trophy, World T20).

He has put SA in a winning position many times only to throw his wicket away at a crucial moment which has always changed the course of the match. He is not a match-winner like Kohli and Dhoni, who rarely surrender matches from winning positions. When they are in the zone, they take India home. Same cannot be said about de Villiers, but his definitely the most entertaining and unique batsman I have ever seen.

He is not in the top 5 of all time for me, but Dhoni certainly is. As far as Kohli is concerned, I back him to become the greatest of all time. He is second only to Viv as things stand.

de Villiers is certainly the best South African ODI batsman of all time, but in due time, QdK can overtake him. Amla is an average ODI batsman.

I strongly disagree regarding dhoni. He is a passenger and not match winner in icc tournaments for india. If u compare jamodis then ab is miles ahead of dhoni there

 

[Mamoon]

I strongly disagree regarding dhoni. He is a passenger and not match winner in icc tournaments for india. If u compare jamodis then ab is miles ahead of dhoni there

Dhoni is the best finisher of all time and has a match-winning iconic innings in a World Cup final. de Villers is brilliant in bilaterals but he doesn't have a match-winning performance in any ICC tournament, even though his record in World Cups is brilliant. That is his problem, he is not able to win big matches for his team in spite of performing really well.

 

[Drreddymd]

Dhoni is the best finisher of all time and has a match-winning iconic innings in a World Cup final. de Villers is brilliant in bilaterals but he doesn't have a match-winning performance in any ICC tournament, even though his record in World Cups is brilliant. That is his problem, he is not able to win big matches for his team in spite of performing really well.

I agree with what u say but apart fom one knock dhoni has done zilch in 12 icc tournaments

 

[Mamoon]

I agree with what u say but apart fom one knock dhoni has done zilch in 12 icc tournaments

Yeah, but performing in World Cup final is a massive deal. It can turn a good player into a legend.

 

[Drreddymd]

Yeah, but performing in World Cup final is a massive deal. It can turn a good player into a legend.

I agree that ab cannot finish the game even when he takes it to the brink because he is too frenetic in chases and makes silly mistakes and gets runout too often and plays high risk shots as well but in first innings he is a beast.

He is the antithesis of kohli in odis

 

[Bilal7]

1. Many Pakistanis themselves rate Kohli ahead of ABD. English and Aussie commies rave about Kohli. Don't see where the nationalist bias is from there. I can understand bias from fans of the player's own country but there is massive support for Kohli outside of India too.

2. Grand Slam reference was not about winning WCs but about iconic performances that people talk about. Viv and Sachin have a mile long list of great performances. Its not ABD's fault that he has got little chances in WCs to perform (and the fact that there are few tri series these days) but at some point he has to perform in tourneys to be rated ahead.

Can you name 2-3 iconic knocks that define ABD?

Kohli inspite of having inferior stats has more iconic knocks than him (in fact, Kohli has otherwise been so good that inspite of his poor WCs, he gets compared to legends....such has been his dominance).

I am a huge fan of both and want them to do well but at this stage, neither are better than Viv, Sachin or even Ponting.

Like I said, lack of knowledge also plays a huge part. When you have people coming out and hailing Kohli and Dhoni as the best batsmen of this decade, claiming they are not interested in stats and then being completely oblivious to the lack of impact that these two have had in England, Australia and South Africa, against the home teams, you can clearly tell that these sort of people don't know what they are talking about. You don't have to look anywhere else, I didn't know how poor Dhoni has been outside of Asia before it was pointed out in a thread.

Well, his smashing of the West Indies, a near-chase against Pakistan and the half century against New Zealand from the last World Cup were pretty memorable performances. Yes, he doesn't have as many memorable knocks compared to Sachin but this is only one criteria. This is besides the point though, this thread is about ABD versus the rest of the batsmen playing in this era, not ABD vs Sachin or Viv.

Kohli has zero iconic knocks in World Cups. If you're talking about career-wide innings then AB has been a much more memorable batsman to watch and has more memorable innings as a result. Every AB innings is an event.

Kohli is being compared to legends because of bias and a lack of knowledge, like I said. ABD is being rated ahead of many of those legends because putting all bias aside, there is no arguing with his numbers of performances. Man is a legend. He may not be better than those three but he's a level above Kohli or anyone else from this generation.

 

[Bilal7]

What iconic knocks has Kohli played?

Not many, if you be honest with yourself and admit that bullying Sri Lanka and smashing good bowlers around on absolute roads isn't all that impressive. I'd reckon Rohit Sharma and David Warner have more iconic knocks than anybody if it is.

 

[Syed1]

Not many, if you be honest with yourself and admit that bullying Sri Lanka and smashing good bowlers around on absolute roads isn't all that impressive. I'd reckon Rohit Sharma and David Warner have more iconic knocks than anybody if it is.

Now that is a very, very biased opinion. Kohli has played several iconic knocks.

 

[Sachin136]

Not many, if you be honest with yourself and admit that bullying Sri Lanka and smashing good bowlers around on absolute roads isn't all that impressive. I'd reckon Rohit Sharma and David Warner have more iconic knocks than anybody if it is.

You just listed AB's innings against WI and Pakistan (on "absolute roads" against terrible bowlers) as iconic ones, and then bash Kohli for doing well against SL?

 

[Bilal7]

You just listed AB's innings against WI and Pakistan (on "absolute roads" against terrible bowlers) as iconic ones, and then bash Kohli for doing well against SL?

Are you kidding me? Neither team was able to make 250 and somehow the pitch used in the game between Pakistan and South Africa was a road?

Now that is a very, very biased opinion. Kohli has played several iconic knocks.

List five that were not scored against Sri Lanka or on flat roads. I honestly can't think of any, especially since I know he has been mediocre in England and South Africa, against the home attacks.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

1. Many Pakistanis themselves rate Kohli ahead of ABD. English and Aussie commies rave about Kohli. Don't see where the nationalist bias is from there. I can understand bias from fans of the player's own country but there is massive support for Kohli outside of India too.

2. Grand Slam reference was not about winning WCs but about iconic performances that people talk about. Viv and Sachin have a mile long list of great performances. Its not ABD's fault that he has got little chances in WCs to perform (and the fact that there are few tri series these days) but at some point he has to perform in tourneys to be rated ahead.

Can you name 2-3 iconic knocks that define ABD?

Kohli inspite of having inferior stats has more iconic knocks than him (in fact, Kohli has otherwise been so good that inspite of his poor WCs, he gets compared to legends....such has been his dominance).

I am a huge fan of both and want them to do well but at this stage, neither are better than Viv, Sachin or even Ponting.

If you can't name three you probably weren't watching

1. http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-england-2015-16/engine/match/800477.html
2. http://www.espncricinfo.com/action-cricket-t20-2011/engine/match/656491.html
3. http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-west-indies-2014-15/engine/match/722341.html

Those are just ODIs from recent times and from the top of my head. We have the heroic effort, the tragedy and the absolute destruction. The story of AB in 3 innings.

 

[Sachin136]

Are you kidding me? Neither team was able to make 250 and somehow the pitch used in the game between Pakistan and South Africa was a road?

Referring to his innings against WI.

 

[soso_killer]

AB and Amla have been consistent home and away. Standout players for me.

 

[Sachin136]

If you can't name three you probably weren't watching

1. http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-england-2015-16/engine/match/800477.html
2. http://www.espncricinfo.com/action-cricket-t20-2011/engine/match/656491.html
3. http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-west-indies-2014-15/engine/match/722341.html

Those are just ODIs from recent times and from the top of my head. We have the heroic effort, the tragedy and the absolute destruction. The story of AB in 3 innings.

The innings against England was great.

Against NZ, he hid behind du Plessis and Rossouw when the conditions were difficult for batting, and then came out to slog for a few overs (even though he knew that it was going to rain). The third one was just a slogfest.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

The innings against England was great.

Against NZ, he hid behind du Plessis and Rossouw when the conditions were difficult for batting, and then came out to slog for a few overs (even though he knew that it was going to rain). The third one was just a slogfest.

Regardless of your opinion about "hiding" and slogging, I get the feeling you didn't actually watch the WI innings, or just the one during the WC. It was something to behold. The feelings it evoked in me were last felt during Klusener's time.

The other thing I see people mention, if that WI attack was so "crap" why did Pakistan lose to essentially same attack?

 

[Ab Fan]

Regardless of your opinion about "hiding" and slogging, I get the feeling you didn't actually watch the WI innings, or just the one during the WC. It was something to behold. The feelings it evoked in me were last felt during Klusener's time.

The other thing I see people mention, if that WI attack was so "crap" why did Pakistan lose to essentially same attack?

WI almost got the better of Indian batting line up in a World Cup league match.

 

[Rotoman]

I am a massive Ab fan but one thing that I will acknowledge is that he's not as massive a mental freak as Kohli. Kohli won India the match against England after they were 60-4 chasing 350. I've followed all of Ab's career and he's never shown balls-to-the-wall moxie like that. He usually knocks the ball around a couple of times and then plays a really daft shot. It has been a weakness for most of his career and not for lack of skills either.

 

[Bilal7]

Referring to his innings against WI.

For a World Cup innings, it was pretty great. Career-wise, AB has played several more memorable ones.

 

[Bilal7]

Still waiting for five great Kohli innings that were not against his favorite minnow attack, Sri Lanka, and were not played on flat roads.

 

[Bilal7]

The innings against England was great.

Against NZ, he hid behind du Plessis and Rossouw when the conditions were difficult for batting, and then came out to slog for a few overs (even though he knew that it was going to rain). The third one was just a slogfest.

Dhoni hid down the order all his life. AB was batting at the position where he has had the most impact throughout his career.

 

[Obstructing_the_field]

love him or hate him but Kholi has out-shown every1 in recent past.. for the decade, ABd would still top for me but he lacks tht killer mentality... my list would be
Kholi
ABD
Amla
Sangakara (still )
Warner
Dhoni

 

[Sachin136]

For a World Cup innings, it was pretty great. Career-wise, AB has played several more memorable ones.

Some examples would be great.

Dhoni hid down the order all his life. AB was batting at the position where he has had the most impact throughout his career.

Dhoni averages 80 with a SR of 100 batting at #3 and 60 with a SR of 95 batting at #4. He started playing down the order because that is what India needed, otherwise he would have been a much more prolific batsman. In the match against NZ, South Africa needed AB to come up the order and score some quick runs. Even in that match, despite coming so late, Faf, Miller, McCullum, Elliott and Anderson played more impactful innings.

 

[Hawkeye]

The difference between AB and the rest is quite big.

Kohli cannot do anything in World Cup knockouts and has already failed in 2 world cups.

I'm bringing this up because people have double standards and want to underrate AB because of this.

While AB has done overall much better than Kohli in world cups. Better average at better strike rate.

Both haven't won it for their team in WC knockouts but by ability, existing performances de Villiers is freakishly good.

 

[Bilal7]

Some examples would be great.



Dhoni averages 80 with a SR of 100 batting at #3 and 60 with a SR of 95 batting at #4. He started playing down the order because that is what India needed, otherwise he would have been a much more prolific batsman. In the match against NZ, South Africa needed AB to come up the order and score some quick runs. Even in that match, despite coming so late, Faf, Miller, McCullum, Elliott and Anderson played more impactful innings.

Which is exactly the reason AB bats at #4 and #5. No, they didn't need AB to come up the order in that match, they needed him to fire from the platform he was given and he did just that.

 

[Sub-Zero]

AB is miles ahead of everyone else

 

[TestMatch]

Look how many games Kohli has played, compared to the others. Do India really play that many more ODI games than other nations?

 

[Sachin136]

Look how many games Kohli has played, compared to the others. Do India really play that many more ODI games than other nations?

SL, India, Australia, Pakistan and England have played a comparable amount of ODIs in the last 7 years.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...2010;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team

 

[Messiah]

Kohli is a freak in chases. But he can't score 149 from 44 balls against a top 8 team. So both have their strength and weakness. And some people are mentioning icc tournaments. I don't remember kohli doing anything big either. I will go with the guy with the much higher average. Kohli 2nd.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

Babar Azam

 

[anoop]

Kohli has 133 against srilanka with Malinga
183 against Pakistan
100 in 52 balls against Australia chasing 360
115 in 66 balls chasing 350 against australia
Recent 100 vs england after losing quick 4 wickets chasing 350

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

Kohli has 133 against srilanka with Malinga
183 against Pakistan
100 in 52 balls against Australia chasing 360
115 in 66 balls chasing 350 against australia
Recent 100 vs england after losing quick 4 wickets chasing 350

But he doesn't have 64 in 62 balls against Sri Lanka at Cape Town. So AB is the best

 

[soso_killer]

Still waiting for five great Kohli innings that were not against his favorite minnow attack, Sri Lanka, and were not played on flat roads.

Kohli has done nothing away from home and in ICC tourney's but supposedly he's a GOAT. He's bullied Sri Lanka though. not just at home but globally.

 

[Statsman]

Kohli has done nothing away from home and in ICC tourney's but supposedly he's a GOAT. He's bullied Sri Lanka though. not just at home but globally.

Won us the Champions Trophy final against England after a collapse on a tricky pitch. Which ICC final did ABD win for SA?

 

[soso_killer]

Won us the Champions Trophy final against England after a collapse on a tricky pitch. Which ICC final did ABD win for SA?

was that the one reduced into a T20 slog fest?

 

[Statsman]

was that the one reduced into a T20 slog fest?

Was it not an ICC tournament?
Was it not a knock out?
Was it not outside India/ Asia?
Was it not against a team other than Sri Lanka?

A game that had 6 rpo was a slog fest.

Stop making excuses.

 

[soso_killer]

Was it not an ICC tournament?
Was it not a knock out?
Was it not outside India/ Asia?
Was it not against a team other than Sri Lanka?

A game that had 6 rpo was a slog fest.

Stop making excuses.

you didn't answer my question, was the game reduced into a T20 slog festival or not?

 

[Statsman]

you didn't answer my question, was the game reduced into a T20 slog festival or not?

No. It wasnt a slog festival. Happy?

Now tell me when did ABD win an ICC final for SA?

 

[R0H1T]

you didn't answer my question, was the game reduced into a T20 slog festival or not?

So what would a (T20) game reduced to 5 overs a side be called? You're making it sound as if this was the first time an ODI was reduced, even in CT or WC events.

Also Kohli has many match winning/saving innings in the last two WT20, a good innings in the CT final & two very good innings in the last 2 WC, in the final vs SL & the hundred vs Pak.

You remember the last time ABD won his side a tight or meaningful game in WC/CT/WT20

Obviously not, since he hasn't anything of that sort.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

So what would a (T20) game reduced to 5 overs a side be called? You're making it sound as if this was the first time an ODI was reduced, even in CT or WC events.

Also Kohli has many match winning/saving innings in the last two WT20, a good innings in the CT final & two very good innings in the last 2 WC, in the final vs SL & the hundred vs Pak.

You remember the last time ABD won his side a tight or meaningful game in WC/CT/WT20

Obviously not, since he hasn't anything of that sort.

You're distorting the truth and you know it. AB's 65* in the WC was brilliant and could have easily been a legendary knock if the rain didn't arrive. It could have been an utter failure as well.

You're trying to turn AB into a choker, which he isn't. He has the best average of anyone who's played 20+ WC games. That, to me, speaks volumes.

 

[R0H1T]

You're distorting the truth and you know it. AB's 65* in the WC was brilliant and could have easily been a legendary knock if the rain didn't arrive. It could have been an utter failure as well.

You're trying to turn AB into a choker, which he isn't. He has the best average of anyone who's played 20+ WC games. That, to me, speaks volumes.

He's not a choker, dunno where you got that from, but he hasn't really finished games which he could but more should have, even when there was some support at the other end. The WC game vs India, he was run out IIRC, same vs NZ in 2011. There's no reason to say he's the best LO bat, or even ODI bat in the 2010's unless of course you think bilaterals are of equal importance or have same the pressure as ICC events?

Just for the record I'll wait till the the decade finishes to see who's at the top, there's no clear cut winner atm, ABD & Virat are at the top IMO with Kohli having the edge with his performances in ICC events.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

He's not a choker, dunno where you got that from, but he hasn't really finished games which he could but more should have, even when there was some support at the other end. The WC game vs India, he was run out IIRC, same vs NZ in 2011. There's no reason to say he's the best LO bat, or even ODI bat in the 2010's unless of course you think bilaterals are of equal importance or have same the pressure as ICC events?

Since our TEAM (cricket is a team game, apparently) gets knocked out constantly, what should we use? You're referring to Faf running him out? AB has tried his damndest, some acknowledgement instead of constant insults would be great.

Regardless of who you consider to be the greatest of the decade, it's funny how AB's numbers and indeed name keeps topping lists.

I'm going to generalise here, but you guys seem infatuated with Kohli. Have some perspective, I think, is all people ask.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

Since our TEAM (cricket is a team game, apparently) gets knocked out constantly, what should we use? You're referring to Faf running him out? AB has tried his damndest, some acknowledgement instead of constant insults would be great.

Regardless of who you consider to be the greatest of the decade, it's funny how AB's numbers and indeed name keeps topping lists.

I'm going to generalise here, but you guys seem infatuated with Kohli. Have some perspective, I think, is all people ask.

There are obvious reasons in this forum to discredit Kohli when the competition is between him and Player X . So currently 'infatuation' is outrun by those reasons. Therefore AB is topping the list.

 

[R0H1T]

Since our TEAM (cricket is a team game, apparently) gets knocked out constantly, what should we use? You're referring to Faf running him out? AB has tried his damndest, some acknowledgement instead of constant insults would be great.

Regardless of who you consider to be the greatest of the decade, it's funny how AB's numbers and indeed name keeps topping lists.

I'm going to generalise here, but you guys seem infatuated with Kohli. Have some perspective, I think, is all people ask.

It can happen once but twice? That's on AB, certainly the game vs India in 2015, also the Pak game when Wahab(?) bounced him out.

I know cricket is a team game, but Kohli has shown that when you play percentage strokes & take less risks you're more likely to win games, even (near) impossible ones. That AB still hasn't figured this out is a real shame, he's also half a decade senior to Virat so really he should've sorted (t)his game out by now.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I repeat again. AB is being criminally underrated these days by some people in ODIs. The poster above me saying AB should "sort his game out" is just hilarious. This guy is a master and the greatest ODI batsman of the last 5 years. I am a massive Kohli fan but those who discredit AB and say Kohli has been superior in ODIs arent fooling anyone. AB has simply been better in both ICC tournaments (which the blind Kohli fans seem to bring up so often) and in bilaterals. Kohli will most probably surpass him but he isn't at that level yet in this format. AB is among the top 5 ODI batsmen of all time.

 

[R0H1T]

I repeat again. AB is being criminally underrated these days by some people in ODIs. The poster above me saying AB should "sort his game out" is just hilarious. This guy is a master and the greatest ODI batsman of the last 5 years. I am a massive Kohli fan but those who discredit AB and say Kohli has been superior in ODIs arent fooling anyone. AB has simply been better in both ICC tournaments (which the blind Kohli fans seem to bring up so often) and in bilaterals. Kohli will most probably surpass him but he isn't at that level yet in this format. AB is among the top 5 ODI batsmen of all time.

Just listen to yourself, you hear an echo chamber? Also wth is a "greatest ODI batsman of the last 5 years" or did you forget the ODI rule change 5yrs back, surely that couldn't have helped AB nudge his stats up?

Come back to us when you've watched cricket for 20+ years, till then keep bringing up stats (without context) to support an argument!

 

[Ozymandiasza]

It can happen once but twice? That's on AB, certainly the game vs India in 2015, also the Pak game when Wahab(?) bounced him out.

I know cricket is a team game, but Kohli has shown that when you play percentage strokes & take less risks you're more likely to win games, even (near) impossible ones. That AB still hasn't figured this out is a real shame, he's also half a decade senior to Virat so really he should've sorted (t)his game out by now.

Are you referring to this match: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/engine/current/match/656455.html

I recall the match and how angry I was afterwards. I do however also see AB was the top scorer and essentially only batsman to contribute in that match. Once again, the TEAM leaves AB to do everything and then he gets insulted for trying his best.

I'm not arrogant enough to assume to know what lessons AB should learn. Since he has a far superior record to Kohli in WCs I'll trust him, thanks.

 

[R0H1T]

Are you referring to this match: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/engine/current/match/656455.html

I recall the match and how angry I was afterwards. I do however also see AB was the top scorer and essentially only batsman to contribute in that match. Once again, the TEAM leaves AB to do everything and then he gets insulted for trying his best.

I'm not arrogant enough to assume to know what lessons AB should learn. Since he has a far superior record to Kohli in WCs I'll trust him, thanks.

Yes & had he not run down the pitch to have a swipe at Wahab SA could still have won that game, is that not on AB sure if that's what you think? I didn't bring in the NZ semi because it wasn't his fault, his couple of brain fades earlier in the tournament were indeed his fault.

He still plays too many swipes & slogs for a proper test match player, he should know better.

You mean the one WC where 400's were scored for fun, is that what makes AB's recored far superior to Kohli?

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Yes & had he not run down the pitch to have a swipe at Wahab SA could still have won that game, is that not on AB sure if that's what you think? I didn't bring in the NZ semi because it wasn't his fault, his couple of brain fades earlier in the tournament were indeed his fault.

He still plays too many swipes & slogs for a proper test match player, he should know better.

You mean the one WC where 400's were scored for fun, is that what makes AB's recored far superior to Kohli?

I thought Kohli played in that WC? My bad

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Just listen to yourself, you hear an echo chamber? Also wth is a "greatest ODI batsman of the last 5 years" or did you forget the ODI rule change 5yrs back, surely that couldn't have helped AB nudge his stats up?

Come back to us when you've watched cricket for 20+ years, till then keep bringing up stats (without context) to support an argument!

I didn't even mention any stats. What a laughable post.. Don't think it's even worth responding to this. So I say that AB is the best batsman of the last 5 years and you bring up rules that changed 5 years ago? So why couldn't Kohli nudge his stats up because of these rule changes? Some blind Kohli fans are starting to become the new blind Tendulkar fans. I guess 20+ years of watching cricket doesn't cure blind hero worship. I admire Kohli more than any other cricketer in the world and in my opinion he will surpass AB but he hasn't yet in ODIs. But I guess that still isn't enough for some of you guys. If Kohli played for South Africa and AB for India then I gurantee that these guys would be using the same arguments that they are trying to fallaciously counter. Apart from his batting position which could've been higher, AB has been near perfect in ODI cricket as a batsman.