One Day Internationals have long been a batsmen's game, and it is getting to be overwhelmingly so with the bats getting broader, boundaries getting shorter and the men manning the boundaries shrinking.
To say that this World Cup has been dominated by batsmen would be an understatement. We have witnessed three 400 plus scores, a double century, partnership records and even a 150 plus score by an associate team batsmen for the first time. AB de Villiers also smashed the fastest ever 150 in an ODI.
Of course, there was that one incredibly close game between Australia and New Zealand on the last day of February that may have you thinking otherwise and New Zealand's demolition of England. But those are exceptions. Otherwise, records have been routinely smashed and balls have been whacked out of the ground. Bowlers aren’t a very happy lot of people at the moment.
Team scores
Just the other day, Australia pummelled 417 runs against Afghanistan. This came shortly after South Africa scored 411 against Ireland, which followed their 408 against the West Indies. In fact, three of the four highest team totals ever in World Cups came within just six days of the ongoing tournament. There have been 19 instances of 300 plus totals so far in this tournament, with West Indies and South Africa contributing three each.
That the World Cup is no exception and has only continued the trend of the bat walloping the ball is also apparent from the fact that including the three in this tournament, there have already been four instances of 400 plus scores in ODIs in 2015.
During the Australian innings against Afghanistan, David Warner and Steven Smith put on a 260 run partnership for the second wicket. This is Australia’s highest stand for any wicket in One-Day Internationals. This is the 6th 200-plus stand in this World Cup. There have been only 18 such stands in World Cups with 10 of them coming in the 2011 and 2015 editions.
Individual records
There have already been 21 centuries from 27 matches in this World Cup, including a double century from the West Indian Chris Gayle. Kyle Coetzer is the first batsman to score 150 plus runs from an Associate side in World Cup history. Coetzer’s 156 is the highest score by a batsman in a losing effort. Couple that with Shaiman Anwar’s century against Ireland, the first World Cup century by a United Arab Emirates’ batsman. Anwar has so far scored the most runs in this World Cup with 270 runs in 4 innings.
This World Cup is on pace for the most number of centuries since the last edition in which 24 centuries were scored in 49 matches.
Bangladesh’s chase of 319 against Scotland was the 11th successful chase in the ongoing World Cup with 3 of them being above 300.
There have been 17 instances when 20 or more runs have been conceded in an over. In the recent South Africa vs West Indies match, AB de Villiers smashed Jason Holder around the park for 34 runs in an over, the second most in World Cup history.
Chris Gayle may have hit the first ever double century in a World Cup match but it was a certain South African, by the name of AB de Villiers who has stolen the show by smashing the fastest ever 150 in One-Day Internationals. He managed to hit 150 runs in just 64 balls against a depleted West Indian team.
To say that this World Cup has been dominated by batsmen would be an understatement. We have witnessed three 400 plus scores, a double century, partnership records and even a 150 plus score by an associate team batsmen for the first time. AB de Villiers also smashed the fastest ever 150 in an ODI.
Of course, there was that one incredibly close game between Australia and New Zealand on the last day of February that may have you thinking otherwise and New Zealand's demolition of England. But those are exceptions. Otherwise, records have been routinely smashed and balls have been whacked out of the ground. Bowlers aren’t a very happy lot of people at the moment.
Team scores
Just the other day, Australia pummelled 417 runs against Afghanistan. This came shortly after South Africa scored 411 against Ireland, which followed their 408 against the West Indies. In fact, three of the four highest team totals ever in World Cups came within just six days of the ongoing tournament. There have been 19 instances of 300 plus totals so far in this tournament, with West Indies and South Africa contributing three each.
That the World Cup is no exception and has only continued the trend of the bat walloping the ball is also apparent from the fact that including the three in this tournament, there have already been four instances of 400 plus scores in ODIs in 2015.
During the Australian innings against Afghanistan, David Warner and Steven Smith put on a 260 run partnership for the second wicket. This is Australia’s highest stand for any wicket in One-Day Internationals. This is the 6th 200-plus stand in this World Cup. There have been only 18 such stands in World Cups with 10 of them coming in the 2011 and 2015 editions.
Individual records
There have already been 21 centuries from 27 matches in this World Cup, including a double century from the West Indian Chris Gayle. Kyle Coetzer is the first batsman to score 150 plus runs from an Associate side in World Cup history. Coetzer’s 156 is the highest score by a batsman in a losing effort. Couple that with Shaiman Anwar’s century against Ireland, the first World Cup century by a United Arab Emirates’ batsman. Anwar has so far scored the most runs in this World Cup with 270 runs in 4 innings.
This World Cup is on pace for the most number of centuries since the last edition in which 24 centuries were scored in 49 matches.
Bangladesh’s chase of 319 against Scotland was the 11th successful chase in the ongoing World Cup with 3 of them being above 300.
There have been 17 instances when 20 or more runs have been conceded in an over. In the recent South Africa vs West Indies match, AB de Villiers smashed Jason Holder around the park for 34 runs in an over, the second most in World Cup history.
Chris Gayle may have hit the first ever double century in a World Cup match but it was a certain South African, by the name of AB de Villiers who has stolen the show by smashing the fastest ever 150 in One-Day Internationals. He managed to hit 150 runs in just 64 balls against a depleted West Indian team.
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