World Cup batsmen
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CWC 2019: Top five ‘one down’ batsmen to watch out for

Mustafa Ismail·
One Day International (ODI)
·2 Comments·

With the World Cup kicking off at the end of the month, we take a look at the five best batsmen occupying the infamous ‘one down’ position…

At number 3, a batsman is faced with a variety of situations. He could be going in after the fall of an early wicket – which emphasises the need to consolidate the innings. On the other hand, he could also come in on the back of a marvellous opening partnership, compelling him to maintain momentum and score at a rapid pace. Ultimately, the position requires you to assess the prevailing conditions and adapt quickly. That’s why we see cricket’s most skilful batsmen take up the spot – and this carries through to the World Cup.

Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of legendary batsmen play at number 3, winning matches and tournaments for their side. The current landscape is no different. With the World Cup fast approaching, it’s only fitting that we analyse the five best batsmen occupying this position right now. There may be a difference of opinion among cricketing faithful and that’s absolutely fine, with everyone welcome to mention their preferred choices in the comments section below.

The best in the business

5. Babar Azam

Pakistan’s form has been erratic since their Champions Trophy success, but they’ve retained one knight in shining armour. Babar Azam has made the number 3 position his own and displayed incredible consistency in recent times. His ability to rotate strike, coupled with his impeccable timing, make him a delight to watch. Unlike the batsmen around him, he also puts a price on his wicket and proves difficult to dislodge. In his ODI career, Babar has batted 62 times, while accumulating 2739 runs at an impressive average of 51.68. He’s scored nine hundreds and twelve fifties thus far, reinforcing his knack for big scores.

Babar has copped a lot of criticism regarding his strike-rate, with many accusing him of slowing down for his own benefit. This is something he’ll definitely improve on with the passage of time – but the batsmen at the other end must share the scoring burden. By playing big shots, they’ll take the pressure off Babar and allow him to bat till the very end. If he has a great World Cup, Pakistan’s chances will improve significantly. With a solid bowling line-up at Pakistan’s disposal, someone like Babar Azam undoubtedly bolsters their batting options as well.

4. Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson has taken on the role of captain with aplomb. His composure on the field has laid the foundation for some positive performances by New Zealand in the last few years. Replacing Brendon McCullum is no mean feat, but Williamson took up the mantle and is now the best batsman in the country. He’s not as explosive a batsman as his predecessor, but his timing and stroke-play are both pleasing to the eye and extremely effective. Williamson rotates the strike brilliantly in the early stages of his innings, which takes the pressure off him and his batting partner as the game progresses.

In 2018’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), he added another gear to his batting. Williamson had a strike-rate of 143 over 17 games and averaged 52.60. This means that in addition to being a great touch player, he also has enough shots in his locker to clear the boundary. For the national side, Williamson averages 45.90 in ODI’s, having scored 11 hundreds and 37 fifties. New Zealand will be hoping that Kane has an impressive tournament with the bat and on the field as his performances under testing circumstances could define his team’s success.

3. Joe Root

Joe Root is the definition of a touch player. He rotates the strike with ease and plays delicate shots past the keeper to leave fans awestruck. Root seems to have a lot a of time on the ball and his calmness is anomalous to England’s extremely aggressive batting line-up. Like his counterparts on this list, Root has been criticized for slowing the team’s run-rate in the middle overs. However, with the likes of Jos Butler, Ben Stokes, Jason Roy, and Jonny Bairstow batting at the other end, you don’t really need to worry about your strike-rate.

Even so, Root has a decent strike-rate of 87.15 in ODI’s and an impressive average of 50.47, illustrating his consistency with the side. By all means, he’s the glue holding the English middle order together. During the World Cup, it’ll be important for him to stay at the wicket for as long as possible so his fellow batsmen can play around him and post big totals.

2. Steve Smith

The man who’s been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons over the past year is finally back in his natural habitat. The World Cup will be the first time Steve Smith (and David Warner) will play for Australia since Sandpaper Gate and what a tournament to make your comeback in. It’ll be difficult for Smith to reintegrate but Australians are known for their mental toughness and he’s probably prepared himself for this moment. Before the ban, Smith was touted as the best batsman in the world alongside Virat Kohli – and who would argue against that with a Test average of 61.37 and an ODI average of 41.84. Given that Smith was initially picked for Australia as a leg-spinner, these figures are all the more astonishing.

He has an awkward stance and technique with the bat, and his shuffle can put you off. However, it’s extremely effective and allows him to score plenty of runs. With Usman Khawaja also in the side, there are murmurs that Smith could move down to number 4 – but whatever the case, he’ll be the batsman to watch out for. If he gets a couple of hundreds in the opening stages, it’ll ease the nerves and could propel him towards a memorable World Cup. Despite being away from the game for so long, Steve Smith still possesses the talent to perform and should bat in his favoured position. He can provide a solid platform for his fellow batsmen to build on, having demonstrated his prowess through match-winning knocks in the past – including a hundred in the 2015 World Cup semi-final against India.

1. Virat Kohli

The fact that Virat Kohli still hasn’t had a remarkable fifty-over World Cup is a scary thought for opposing teams. As the best batsman in the world, he continues to amaze fans with jaw-dropping shots and clinical batting performances. His dedication towards the game is second to none and we’ve seen how hard he’s worked on his weaknesses to evolve as a player. Kohli is India’s key to success, both as captain and as a batsman, with a ton of responsibilities on his shoulders. He’s probably at the peak of his career right now and with the experience of two World Cups on his side, he can use that knowledge to his advantage.

India’s hopes are dependent on him, much like the days when Sachin Tendulkar carried the burden. Kohli has a tremendous ODI average of 59.58 and also has the best strike-rate among those on this list at 92.96. He has the ability to counter-attack when a wicket has fallen to try and repair the damage, an uncommon trait for Indian batsmen. If chasing is an art, then Virat Kohli is its Pablo Picasso. The man loves a big chase and he sets out with all the permutations and combinations sorted in his head. Form is not something Kohli seems to worry about, following up the odd string of low scores with impressive hundreds. India will be expecting some big scores from the best of their batsmen during the World Cup – and if he plays to his potential, it’s hard to see anyone stopping them.