6 current cricketers who boast a 50+ ODI batting average
An average of 40 was considered a benchmark for good batsmen till 2000s. 90% of the batsmen fell in the bandwagon of 20-40 average runs per match. However, there were cricketers who challenged themselves to come out of the ordinary and became the best.
Cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Mathew Hayden, Ricky Ponting maintained an average in the range of 40 to 45 runs per match. There was one exceptional player, Michael Bevan, who maintained 50+ average even during those days.
The change in cricketing rules in the past two decades have shifted the game predominantly in the favour of batsmen. The average runs per match have increased; the average hundreds per match have increased too.
Now, we have a set of cricketers who have crossed the magical mark of 50 runs per match. Here is the list of six current cricketers who have the average of more than 50 runs per match in ODI cricket.
Criteria: The batsman should have played at least 25 ODIs in his career.
#6 MS Dhoni - India - Average - 50.1
Since 2008, MS Dhoni's average has never gone below 50. Dhoni is currently averaging 50.11 from 281 innings he has played so far. The main reason for his extraordinary batting average despite batting predominantly at No. 6 is in his not-out percentage. Dhoni boasts a not-out percentage of more than 25% (i.e. 78 not out from his 281 innings).
The former Indian captain has been in bad form in 2018 and is at the risk of having his average nose-dive into 40s if he doesn't improve his performance in the upcoming ODI series against Australia and New Zealand.
Dhoni is averaging a dismal 25 from his 20 matches this year. He will be looking for a fresh 2019 where India will play 13 ODIs before flying to England for all the important World Cup.