When England was knocked out in the group stage of the 2015 World Cup, they were in a bad place. Their highest run scorer, Ian Bell, was 27th on the list of the tournament’s top run-getters. Shaiman Anwar of the UAE scored more runs and had a superior average than his by miles. No disrespect to Shaiman and the UAE, but that’s not the plac🧔e you want to be if you want to win a title.
The 2019 edition of the 50-over World Cup told a different story. This time around, England had four batters in the top 10. Three of them averaged north of 50 and Johnny Bairstow, who had a great campaign, averaged 48.36. Let’s take a look at who is the best bet on scoring the most runs for the defending champions before England’s match with South Africa on October 21.
Joe Root
A lot is spoken about when it comes to Jason Roy and Johnny Bairstow’s opening pair. They consistently gave England good starts. But not enough is said about Joe Root, who was the point man in England’s engine room. Root took control of th🎀e middle overs, where he averaged 68 runs at a healthy strike rate of 89.87. Johnny Bairstow, who scored the second-most runs in ⭕the middle overs for England, scored 94 runs less than Root.
Root finished the tournament with 556 runs at an average of 61.77 and a strike rate of 89.53. He had five scores of 50 or more runs, two of whi꧅ch he converted to triple figures.
During the World Cu🌳p cycle, England tried a number of combinations in their team, and when Root played, he wasn’t at his best. He averaged 27.86 in 16 innings. But, he looks to have rediscovered his touch with an impressive 77 off 86 in England’s opener at this year’s World Cup.
The online cricket bookmakers have him as 2.62 to 1 top-scoring for England.
Johnny Bairstow
The Yorkshire-man was responsible for England’s numerous great starts during the 2019 World Cup by bossi🔜ng the powerplay where he amassed 218 runs in 11 innings at an average of 72.67 and a strike rate of 82.26. Bairstow finished the 2019 showcase as England’s second-highest run-scorer after Joe Root.
As in 2019, Bairstow’s ability to give England good starts will go a long way in ensuring their success. In the 2019 to 2023 cycle, Bairstow has the thir✱d-most runs for England am꧂ong the batters at the World Cup. He has 792 runs in 21 games at an average of 37.71 and a strike rate of 103.39. Top-order batters have a better shot at becoming leading run-scorers and given his talents and record, Bairstow is well-placed to lead the charts for England.
The odds have Johnny Bairstow at 4 to 1.
Jos Buttler
The England captain and wicketkeeper, Jos Buttler, is chasing his second 50-over World Cup title in a land he is familiar with. Buttler is one of the most coveted players in the IPL, with good rea🔯son. Buttler 37.92 at a strike rate of 148.32. But, this is not T20. It’s ODI cricket.
In ODIs, Buttler’s recent record is not shabby either. He scored 312 runs in nine innings at an average of 34.66 and a strike rate of 122.83, coming in at number six. During the 2019 to 2023 World Cup cycle, Buttler has the second-most runs for England with 980 runs in innings at a strike rate of 111.24 for an average of 44.55.🐲 He has struck the most sixes for England in the period.
Despite being a middle-order batter, Buttler’s power and consistency put him in a position to be able to be England’s top run-scorer. The oddꦡs have him at 7 to 1.
Dawid Malan
In 2020, Dawid Malan was touted as the perfec൩t replacement for Jason Roy, should the need arise. Being next in line meant that he had to prove his worth each time he was handed an opportunity. Malan gave his best at each turn. The result has been a phenomenal run for England.
During the 2019 to 2023 World Cup cycle, Malan was the leading run-scorer for England with 1022 runs in 20 inning🐻s for an average of 63,88 at a strike rate of 96.6. The opener is not as explosive as Jason Roy in the powerplay, he picks up the pace as the innings progresses rather than attacking from ball one. Malan’s stability and consistency allows other batters to bat with freedom around him.
Malan also has one of the best conversion rates in ODI cricket. He has scored 50 or more runs 10 times and has converted fi🌄ve of those into triple-figure scores. His highest score over the past three years was 134. During the 2023 tournament, Malan is perfectly positioned to be England’s leading run-scorer. The odds have him at 4.75 to 1.
Read more from Jarrod Kimber:
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
Read our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to Cricket Times. 18+. T&Cs apply.
