Many cricket experts and viewers evaluate batters' performance on their batting averages. In modern-day, batters like Virat Kohli and Babar Azam have an ODI batting average of more than 50. Many established and well-known batters have won many matches for their team. But some established batsmen have low batting averages in ODI cricket, and it's quite shocking as well. So, let's look at ten surprising low batting averages of established batters in ODIs.
1. Aravinda de Silva
Aravinda de Silva is a former right-handed batsman of Sri Lanka. No one can forget his exceptional innings at the 1996 World Cup finals against Australia. Aravinda de Silva has played over 300 ODI matches and scored over 9,000 runs. But regarding batting averages, Aravinda de Silva has a decent ODI average of 34.9, which is not even worthy for batters like him. Strangely, batters like him average at most 40. Aravinda de Silva has played 308 ODIs in his career, scoring 9,284 runs.
2. Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh is one of the best skippers Australian cricket has ever seen. In fact, under his captaincy, Australia won their 2nd World Cup. Steve Waugh had a great ability to lead his team in a very effective manner. Apart from his captaincy, he was also a technically compact batsman who never gave up on the field. Steve Waugh averages 51.1 in test cricket, which is impressive for any batsman. But regarding ODI averages, Steve Waugh has a poor average of 32.9. Steve Waugh played 325 ODI matches in his career, scoring 7,569 runs.
3. Saleem Malik
Saleem Malik is a former right-handed batsman from Pakistan. During the '90s, he was one of the main pillars of Pakistan's team. Saleem Malik won many matches on his own. Saleem Malik was the backbone of the Pakistani middle order, and his test cricket stats prove the same. Saleem Malik has an average of 43.7 in test cricket and a poor batting average in ODI cricket. In 283 ODI matches, Saleem Malik scored 7,170 runs with a decent average of 32.9, below average for a player like him.
4. Marlon Samuels
Marlon Samuels used to be one of the most important batsmen for West Indies. No one can forget his match-winning innings in the T20 World Cup finals. In every important match, Marlon Samuels has performed for his team. Marlon Samuels has played over 200 ODI matches, scoring 5,606 runs for West Indies. Marlon Samuels has a disappointing batting average of 33, which is not impressive for any prominent batsman.
5. Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene is one of the best batsmen Sri Lanka has ever produced. He is the second-highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in international cricket. Even in the 2011 World Cup, Mahela Jayawardene scored a century and gave India a challenging target. No one can doubt his batting skills, as he has been one of the biggest match-winners for Sri Lanka. Especially in ODI cricket, Mahela Jayawardene scored 12,650 runs, the sixth-highest by any batsman in ODIs. Despite having so many runs in ODIs, Mahela Jayawardene has a batting average of only 33.4.
6. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi is a former right-handed batsman from Pakistan. He is one of the most destructive batsmen Pakistan has ever seen. In his prime, Shahid Afridi used to smash every bowler out of the stadium. There are many matches that Shahid Afridi has won in his ability. In ODI cricket, very few batsmen have a strike rate of more than 100, and he is one of them. But Shahid Afridi needs better stats when it comes to his ODI batting. Shahid Afridi played 398 ODI matches in his career, scoring 8,064 runs with an average of 23.6.
7. Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum is one of the most dangerous batsmen that New Zealand has ever produced. In every format of cricket, he used to play aggressively. Under his coaching, Brendon McCullum invented the Bazball style of playing cricket. Throughout his career, he had been the nightmare of every bowler. In fact, in the 2015 World Cup, Brendon McCullum played a different style of cricket from the one every bowler used to fear. Despite being a destructive batsman, he has a decent batting average of 30.41, which is pathetic for his stature. In his career, Brendon McCullum played 260 ODIs, scoring 6,083 runs.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya is a former left-handed aggressive opener of Sri Lanka. He was the first batsman who started playing aggressively from the very first over of the game and decided to maximize the powerplay overs. In the 1996 World Cup, Sanath Jayasuriya played an important role for his team and was also the player of the 1996 World Cup. Sanath Jayasuriya is considered one of the finest batters of the ODI. But he also has a decent batting average of 32.4, which does not suit him. In his career, Sanath Jayasuriya played 445 ODI matches in which he scored 13,430 runs.
9. Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming is a former left-handed batsman from New Zealand. He has one of the sharpest cricketing brains, and that's why Stephen Fleming captained New Zealand for three world cups, which is the most by any New Zealand captain. In his career, Stephen Fleming has won many memorable matches for New Zealand. Under his captaincy, New Zealand won their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy, beating India in the finals. In his ODI batting career, he scored 8,037 runs with a poor average of 32.4.
10. Allan Border
Allan Border is one of the most respected players in Australia. He was the first captain who won the World Cup for Australia. Undoubtedly, Allan Border is one of the best leaders that Australia has ever produced. In his batting career, he scored 11,174 test runs with an impeccable average of 50.6. But this legendary cricketer has a decent batting average for white-ball cricket. In his ODI career, Allan Border played 273 matches, where he scored 6,524 runs with an average of 30.6.
