Who is the best white-ball batsman in the world?

[Hyperion66]

So Babar got more votes than Rohit, Kohli, Warner. Good to see pandemic didn't have any effect on people's sense of humor.

 

[Mamoon]

In that case, I'll drop Smith and play Shakib at 4 - that makes a nice balance with a lefti in middle order.

Ross Taylor is one of the most under-rated players in PP and it's even more surprising for me because he had Bradman like ODI stats against PAK. He is the perfect No. 5 of modern ODI game - can blast from word go coming at 230/3, can build the innings as well coming at 30/3; also plays spin better than most white players.

Taylor is certainly very underrated. He is probably the best Kiwi Limited Overs batsman ever.

Kiwi players in general are underrated. Imagine the hype on PP if Boult or Lockie Ferguson were Pakistani, considering how people are selling the “talent” of Naseem, Rauf or Hasnain.

 

[Mesozoic]

So Babar got more votes than Rohit, Kohli, Warner. Good to see pandemic didn't have any effect on people's sense of humor.

Let's be fair here.. this is PP. Oviously Babar will get more votes.


I've seen Manish Pandey getting more poll votes than Kane Williamson on Indian platforms.

 

[Mamoon]

So Babar got more votes than Rohit, Kohli, Warner. Good to see pandemic didn't have any effect on people's sense of humor.

When your team is rubbish and you basically have 1 quality player, the fans will go overboard.

That is what is happening here. Pretty sure at some point some fans in Trinidad must have thought that Lara is better than Bradman and maybe some kid in Kabul today thinks that Rashid is better than Warne.

 

[MMHS]

Taylor is certainly very underrated. He is probably the best Kiwi Limited Overs batsman ever.

Kiwi players in general are underrated. Imagine the hype on PP if Boult or Lockie Ferguson were Pakistani, considering how people are selling the “talent” of Naseem, Rauf or Hasnain.

This is so true - they are a small nation, isolated in the corner of world, but probably the best sporting nation in world for that population. Not only Ross, most Kiwi greats are under-rated - Glen Turner, Hadlee, Howarth, Crowe, Cairns, Bond, Vettory, Will, SMith (WK) ..... even Fleming is massively under-rated both as a batsman & Captain. Only Kiwi guy that punches above weight in that regard is probably BMac.

 

[Mobashir]

When your team is rubbish and you basically have 1 quality player, the fans will go overboard.

That is what is happening here. Pretty sure at some point some fans in Trinidad must have thought that Lara is better than Bradman and maybe some kid in Kabul today thinks that Rashid is better than Warne.

To the Indians with Tendulkar in the 90's.
Ho sorry you can't say a word against India

 

[Mamoon]

This is so true - they are a small nation, isolated in the corner of world, but probably the best sporting nation in world for that population. Not only Ross, most Kiwi greats are under-rated - Glen Turner, Hadlee, Howarth, Crowe, Cairns, Bond, Vettory, Will, SMith (WK) ..... even Fleming is massively under-rated both as a batsman & Captain. Only Kiwi guy that punches above weight in that regard is probably BMac.

Time zone is also a factor. Have of their matches are over before cricket fans in the subcontinent wake up, and reading scoreboards is not the same as life experience.

Otherwise, what Glenn Phillips did the other day was worth 2-3 threads on PP.

 

[Hasan123]

Thread is about white ball cricket which has two formats so lets have stats of both first

T20s - Since 2018 Babar has scored 9 50s in 19 matches against Aus, Eng, NZ and SA. Scored 4 in 6 matches vs Aus.

ODIs - Since 2019: Babar has played 14 matches against Aus, Eng, NZ and SA and has scored 2 100s and 5 50s.

Overall he averaged 60 in ODI cricket in 2019 in 20 matches he has played. I am not even considering Zim series of 2020.

How many other batsmen have such stats against the these 4 teams in T20s since last two years and ODIs since last 1.5 years or so?

As said the thread is about best white ball batsman. Babar Azam's form in last two years against every team is there to be seen in both the white ball formats. His century against NZ in the WC 19 was one of the best I have seen in recent times under pressure and against a bowling attack which ousted a top batting side like India.

He is 26 and entering his peak, his first few matches agianst top teams when he entered international cricket cant define his current stature.

Even if you want to look at overall matches and centuries, then lets take an example of someone who I have rated higher, there can be many other examples as well. Rohit Sharma has played 102 matches against the 4 teams we are talking about and has 14 centuries which gives an average of 7.28 matches per 100 and this includes Rohit's peak period which we are yet to see Babar's. While Babar's total average as of now is 10 matches per 100 against these 4 teams at 26 yeas of age but, you can clearly see improvement to 7 matches per 100 in his last 14 matches against these 4 teams.

I stand by my pick and have put forward facts and stats.

Look I appreciate your stats but 3 centuries out of 11 against top teams is not good enough. Furthermore Babar clearly has an acceleration issue. The top ODI batters are able to adjust their game according to the situation. Once the RR is over 10, Babar is not able to keep up with it.

I don't want to get into a full debate with you. I just think your pick is biased and even if wasn't Pakistani you wouldn't be saying he is the 3rd best LO batter.

 

[Rana]

When your team is rubbish and you basically have 1 quality player, the fans will go overboard.

That is what is happening here. Pretty sure at some point some fans in Trinidad must have thought that Lara is better than Bradman and maybe some kid in Kabul today thinks that Rashid is better than Warne.

yeah, just like you did with Rishab Pant to become the next Adam Gilchrist.

 

[shaz619]

Ben Stokes and Rohit Sharma.

Honourable mention: Butler, Eoin Morgan, Babar Azam and Kohli

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

In order of merit.
1.Virat Kohli
2.Rohit Sharma
3.Jos Buttler
4.Babar Azam
5.David Warner
6.Joe Root
7.Steve Smith
8.Kane Williamson
9.Stokes
10.Dekock

 

[Titan24]

Look I appreciate your stats but 3 centuries out of 11 against top teams is not good enough. Furthermore Babar clearly has an acceleration issue. The top ODI batters are able to adjust their game according to the situation. Once the RR is over 10, Babar is not able to keep up with it.

I don't want to get into a full debate with you. I just think your pick is biased and even if wasn't Pakistani you wouldn't be saying he is the 3rd best LO batter.

Its your opinion if you think my pick is biased despite me providing the numbers to back that. You probably started the conversation with pre-formed opinion that if I am picking Babar than I am biased and you dont want to change that opinion even on the basis of provided numbers. You are yet to provide names of players with better consistency in T20 internationals along with ODIs than Babar’s in recent time against top teams. We are not talking about entire careers of players so the sample size in determining best white ball players should be of last couple of years or so. Otherwise you cant just compare 30 matches of Babar at 26 years of age against top sides vs 100+ matches of others well in their peaks heading towards twilight.

His performance against top teams since the start of 2019 is as good as top players in the business rather better than many around currently. In both the white ball formats he has scored against top teams in every second match (Around 50% of the times) which is exceptional (Stats provided in previous post). Yes his power game has roam to improve and have said that number of times but despite that he is comfortably scoring at good rate against top sides and competing with players who are well within their peak.

Kindly provide numbers (last couple of years) to prove your points and as always I am open to different views which and angles which I might be missing. Otherwise there is no point in keep on writing just personal opinions as in that case it would be better if we can just agree to disagree.

 

[shamaan]

Thread is about white ball cricket which has two formats so lets have stats of both first

T20s - Since 2018 Babar has scored 9 50s in 19 matches against Aus, Eng, NZ and SA. Scored 4 in 6 matches vs Aus.

ODIs - Since 2019: Babar has played 14 matches against Aus, Eng, NZ and SA and has scored 2 100s and 5 50s.

Overall he averaged 60 in ODI cricket in 2019 in 20 matches he has played. I am not even considering Zim series of 2020.

How many other batsmen have such stats against the these 4 teams in T20s since last two years and ODIs since last 1.5 years or so?

As said the thread is about best white ball batsman. Babar Azam's form in last two years against every team is there to be seen in both the white ball formats. His century against NZ in the WC 19 was one of the best I have seen in recent times under pressure and against a bowling attack which ousted a top batting side like India.

He is 26 and entering his peak, his first few matches agianst top teams when he entered international cricket cant define his current stature.

Even if you want to look at overall matches and centuries, then lets take an example of someone who I have rated higher, there can be many other examples as well. Rohit Sharma has played 102 matches against the 4 teams we are talking about and has 14 centuries which gives an average of 7.28 matches per 100 and this includes Rohit's peak period which we are yet to see Babar's. While Babar's total average as of now is 10 matches per 100 against these 4 teams at 26 yeas of age but, you can clearly see improvement to 7 matches per 100 in his last 14 matches against these 4 teams.

I stand by my pick and have put forward facts and stats.

Great post

 

[Mobashir]

Currently, no one can consider Virat better than Babar. In every format, whenever Babar comes in, he dominates the bowling and is on top of the game.

 

[The lone Ranger]

Currently, no one can consider Virat better than Babar. In every format, whenever Babar comes in, he dominates the bowling and is on top of the game.

Yep, he dominates bowlers like Muzarabani, Ngarava, Tripano etc!!

You have to admit that virat's worst year is on par with babar's best year. He still averages around 60 in this series.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Currently, no one can consider Virat better than Babar. In every format, whenever Babar comes in, he dominates the bowling and is on top of the game.

Just like his innings vs zim
Even though Kohli isn't at his best he is still averaging 60 this series with strike rate in 90s, quite similar to babar at his best. Don't know why anyone will put babar ahead, he can't accelerate even against zim

 

[Mesozoic]

Even not being at his best Kohli ends up averaging 58.

It's an insult to Kohli to mention him in the same breath as Babar Azam who even on most of his best days, scores cute little 50s and 60s. No matter how hard people try, Babar with a grand total of 5 hundreds against decent teams (that too only 2 match winning) will always remain a tier below the likes of Smith and Kohli.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Yep, he dominates bowlers like Muzarabani, Ngarava, Tripano etc!!

You have to admit that virat's worst year is on par with babar's best year. He still averages around 60 in this series.

He didn't dominate even zim bowlers
Scored 125 of 125

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Even not being at his best Kohli ends up averaging 58.

It's an insult to Kohli to mention him in the same breath as Babar Azam who even on most of his best days, scores cute little 50s and 60s. No matter how hard people try, Babar with a grand total of 5 hundreds against decent teams (that too only 2 match winning) will always remain a tier below the likes of Smith and Kohli.

Actually this version of kohli is quite similar to Azam.

 

[Mobashir]

Yep, he dominates bowlers like Muzarabani, Ngarava, Tripano etc!!

You have to admit that virat's worst year is on par with babar's best year. He still averages around 60 in this series.

Good stats for Kohli.