5 batsmen who would walk into any side in any of the three formats

Here are the five batsmen who can be the first choice picks in any top side in any format.

Rarely in the history of the game of cricket in modern times, you might find a batsman who is well rounded off. There have been instances of a batsman being perfect for either one or two of the three international formats of the game, but there are only a handful of batsmen in the current era, that can claim to be able to play all the three formats equally well.

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One needs to have the perfect technique, game awareness, confidence in his own skills and ability to absorb pressure to have that killer instinct that forms a perfect batsman. Then the said batsman needs to have the presence of mind to modify his game according to the format he is playing and that is something that easier said than done.

Therefore, Team COC, today looks at five such batsmen of the current era, who have the skills and talent to walk into any of the top sides and play in any or all of the three formats.

Check out the 5 batsmen who would fetch a spot in any side in any format

QUINTON DE KOCK (SA)

The 27-year-old new captain of the South African team, Quinton de Kock has fast become a dangerous batsman in all three formats of the game. Owner of a beautiful looking technique, De Kock is all about scoring runs without taking many risks and square of the wicket on the off-side is his favorite place to score runs.

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De Kock has strong numbers in all formats with 2934 runs in 47 Tests, 5135 runs in 121 ODIs and 1226 runs in 44 T20I matches with a total of 20 international centuries to his name. He is also safe and athletic behind the wicket with the gloves and has a total of 425 victims cumulative of all formats. The southpaw has been brilliant in forms and having the captaincy has made him more responsible.  

The Proteas batsman-keeper can easily walk into any top tier team on basis of his batting along, but his keeping is just the cherry on the top.

BABAR AZAM (PAK)

Babar Azam is in the top 5 of the official ICC batting rankings in all three formats and since his debut in 2015, has captivated the imagination of every fan and expert with his array of silky ground shots everywhere in the field. The 25-year-old has often been compared to India’s Virat Kohli in terms of technique and temperament at the international level.

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Babar has 1850 runs in 26 Tests, 3359 runs in 74 ODIs and 1471 runs in 38 T20I matches with 16 centuries all over in international cricket. Azam’s strokeplay has captivated audiences and experts alike and he has even managed to reign on top of T20I rankings for a long time, despite being a proper batsman with an array of proper shots, instead of innovations and trick shots.

The right-hander has fast become the favorite of everyone who follows the game closely and his skills make him eligible for any top team in any of the three or all formats.

BEN STOKES (ENG)

Yes, you might think, what an all-rounder like Ben Stokes is doing in this list. After all, he is England’s most prized possession and he has repaid the trust put on him by playing some magnificent innings and picking important wickets at crucial times.

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However, we are talking about Ben Stokes the batsman, who often comes in the middle order and either power the innings to a blazing finish or rebuilds it with help of top-order batsmen or tail-enders. His record is very good just as a batsman itself. 4056 runs in 63 Tests, 2682 runs in 95 ODIs and 305 runs in 26 T20I matches, is what Ben Stokes boasts of; which is not bad for someone who bats at no.6 most of the times.

Stokes has the ability to keep his cool and calm and take the team to a victory or he can also blast the opposition to smithereens with big shots, as he showed in his epic 135* at Headingly during the 2019 Ashes series. Also, no one can forget his innings which won the World Cup for England in the finals when he almost single-handedly kept England in the game until the end.

DAVID WARNER (AUS)

Australia’s dashing opener David Warner has won the hearts of his fans once again after the ball-tampering scandal. He had made his debut in 2009 and since then has become an indispensable part of the Kangaroos’ team. After serving his ban of one year, Warner made a strong comeback in the 2019 World Cup and even hit a triple hundred against Pakistan in a Test.

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He has an envious record of 7244 runs in 84 Tests, 5267 runs in 123 ODIs and 2207 runs in 79 T20I matches with a total of 43 international centuries to his name. He has hundreds in all the three international formats and boasts of an average in the high forties in Tests and ODIs. Even his strike-rate is amazing, 95 in the one-day format, 73 in Tests and 140 in the 20-over game.

Warner is also an amazing competitor and a brilliant captain as well, as seen in his exploits for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Australia. He leads from the front and can easily walk into any top tier team without opposition as the opener.  

VIRAT KOHLI (IND)

Indian captain Virat Kohli is widely considered to be one of the best batsmen of this era and has dominated every format he has played. He has an amazing 7240 runs in 86 Test matches, 11867 runs in 248 one-day matches and 2794 runs in 82 T20Is. He has an envious record of 70 international centuries to his name, behind only to Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar.

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The Delhi-born batsman has been leading the Indian team with aplomb and is easily the best batsman when it comes to chasing down a total. He is unanimously considered the best batsmen may be of this era, alongside the likes of Steve Smith and Kane Williamson. Kohli’s energy rubs off onto other players as well and he has made the Indian team one of the fittest in the world since taking over.

The right-hander is focused on being the best and so far he can claim to be the contender to walk-in into any team as a batsman and may even captain it.