The exhilarating feeling cricket fans experience when a batsman is hitting the ball all around the park for boundaries is simply inimitable. Standing alone at the crease, facing the bowler and also simultaneously being exposed to all the pressure the opposing team is trying to put on you, batting can be one of the toughest indeed. And if by any chance the pitch is offering some swing or spin to the bowlers, it becomes excruciatingly more difficult. Seeing the world’s finest bowlers going up against the world’s most extraordinary batters, the contest between them becomes thrilling to watch.
In this post, we will rank the top 5 batsmen in the world right now. These players have unparalleled batting skills and have proved their calibre time and time again by performing even in the most challenging of batting circumstances. So let us not waste any more time and jump right in.
- Babar Azam
The Pakistan cricket team captain, Babar Azam, is at the top of our list. His durable batting style looks both classy and easy on the eyes. Born on 15 October 1994, in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Babar played his first international match against Zimbabwe in a One-day international, back on 31 May 2015. Having represented Pakistan 207 times, the 27-year-old has scored over 10,000 runs, including 25 centuries and 70 half-centuries. Currently ranked number one in both One-day and T20 internationals, the Pakistani batsman boasts an average above 45 in all three formats. He also currently holds the record for most runs scored in an ODI series, most runs scored in an ODI series by a captain, most hundreds scored in an ODI series and also the most number of half-centuries scored in consecutive matches.
- Rohit Sharma
The current Indian team captain, Rohit Sharma, is ranked second on our list. Born on 30 April 1987 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, Rohit represented India for the first time against South Africa in a 2007 T20 World Cup group match. Being an excellent timer of the ball and blessed with an exceptional pull shot, Rohit had struggled in his early phases of international cricket, probably due to the pressure of all the expectations people had for him. Till now, Rohit Sharma has played 410 international matches across all formats and scored exactly 16,000 runs. Known as the ‘hitman’, the 35-year-old holds the record for most runs scored from fours and sixes in an innings, most fifties and second most runs scored in T20Is and also for hitting the second highest number of sixes throughout all formats.
- Joe Root
Applauded by many critics and experts as the best test batsman of the current era, the ex-captain of the England team, Joe root, hold our third spot. Born on 30 December 1990 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, Root played his first match against India in a test match back on the 13th of December, 2012. Known for his ability to play exceptionally well against spin bowling, Root has been highly successful in scoring runs even in Asian dusty and dry pitches, which are generally a nightmare for batsmen from SENA countries to play on because of the turning nature of the tracks. Currently number 1 in men’s test batting rankings, he also holds the record for the most number of hundreds scored in a test series along with the most number of runs scored by a captain in a test series. The 31-year-old English batsman has scored 17,752 runs and has played 312 matches in his international career. Root has scored 44 centuries and 95 half-centuries and also boasts an impressive average of over 50 in both tests and ODIs.
- Steve Smith
Capturing the fourth spot on our list is an Australian batsman, Steve Smith. Because of his unorthodox batting technique and loveable personality, he is a fan favourite among the audience who love watching him in action. Born on 2 June 1989, in Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia, Smith played the Pakistan cricket team in a t20 match on his debut back on 5 February 2010. With a staggering average of over 60 in test matches, the Aussie has played 274 international matches and scored 13,548 runs, including 39 centuries and 62 half-centuries. Currently ranked fourth in men’s test batting rankings, Steve Smith holds the record for the fastest batsman to reach both seven and eight thousand runs in test cricket. The year 2017 was incredible for Smith as he achieved a test batting rating landmark of 947, the highest rating of all time barring Don Bradman’s rating of 961. Even after the setback caused due to the ball-tampering incident, the 33-year-old has made a fierce comeback and has not looked out of touch since then.
- Kane Williamson
Occupying the last place on our list is the inaugural World Test Championship winning team captain, Kane Williamson. Born on 8 August 1990, in Tauranga, New Zealand, the 32-year-old kiwi played the first international match of his career against India in an ODI back on 10 August 2010. Williamson, because of his composure and maturity both on and off the field, is labelled as one of the nicer guys in world cricket and is loved for it. He has played over 300 international matches and scored over 15000 runs across all formats, including 37 centuries and 86 centuries. The captain of the black caps was a crucial cog in winning the WTC and in reaching multiple world cup finals. His ability to pull the team out of tricky situations through his batting prowess is acknowledgeable.
All of these great batsmen have the crucial ability to leave the good balls and punish the bad balls. And although with the rise of the new and upcoming talents, these players have held their ground and have continued scoring heaps of runs. For now, this is it from us. For more updates, you can very easily refer to world cricket news so that you have clear insights about this field very easily.
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