Who's the Best All-Round Batsman in the World Right Now? October 2014

Most cricket lovers have an opinion on who is the best batsman in the world, but what do the numbers say?

It's time to take our quarterly survey of the best in batsmanship using nothing but cold, hard, statistics.

The ICC Player Rankings will form the basis of our ratings, which will encompass Test, one-day international and Twenty20 international cricket.

Since the last time we looked at the rankings in July, India have been on a ridiculously scheduled tour of England. There have also been Test series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Bangladesh. Australia have also been involved in ODIs and T20s ahead of their trip to the United Arab Emirates to face Pakistan.

Just how has the recent action shaken up the rankings? Read on to find out.

All stats courtesy of ICC Player Rankings, correct as of 10 October 2014.

Methodology

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As previously mentioned in the opening slide, the statistical data we will be basing our number-crunching on is the ICC Player Rankings:

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The Reliance ICC Player Rankings are a sophisticated moving average. Players are rated on a scale of 0 to 1,000 points. If a player’s performance is improving on his past record, his points increase; if his performance is declining his points will go down.
The value of each player’s performance within a match is calculated using an algorithm, a series of calculations (all pre-programmed) based on various circumstances in the match.
All of the calculations are carried out using pre-programmed formulae, using the information published in a Test match scorecard. There is no human intervention in this calculation process, and no subjective assessment is made.

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The ICC Rankings may take no notice of entertainment, style and flair but they do consider factors such as strike rate, the proportion of runs scored in each innings and the quality of the opposition.

The statistical gurus at the ICC then come up with a precise figure for Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

We have played around with these numbers for the Bleacher Report scores. As Test cricket is still the pinnacle of cricket, the numbers from the five-day game have been doubled.

ODI cricket is considered the second trickiest format so ratings from the 50-over game have been multiplied by 1.5.

Highly skilled it may be, but the T20 game doesn't test a batsman's technique and temperament as much as ODI or Test cricket. For this reason, the T20 numbers have not be adjusted at all.

Of course, no system will be completely foolproof. Our rankings should, though, give a pretty good indication as to who are the top all-round performers in the game.

Limitations

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The fact that Alastair Cook topped the bowling averages in England's recent series against India doesn't of course mean that he was England's best bowler. Statistics can sometimes provide some strange anomalies and our rankings are no exception.

Our criteria favour players who are consistent performers in all forms of cricket. The downside to this is that players who are great in one or two formats of the game but don't play the other get downgraded.

Just like our last ratings, the poster-boy for the Test specialists is the ageless Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The crab-like left-hander has recently moved up from fifth to third in the Test rankings but as he no longer plays international limited-overs cricket, he's only at number 36 in the overall rankings.

At 40, the Guyanese remains one of Test cricket's premier performers, but his lack of action in the shorter forms have harmed his rating as an all-round batsman.

Previous Findings

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There was South African domination at the top of the rankings the last time we rated the world's best batsmen in July. AB de Villiers was in top spot, followed by Hashim Amla at No. 2.

Virat Kohli's form in the ODI and T20 games put him in third spot followed by big-hitting David Warner in fourth.

Perhaps a little surprisingly, New Zealand, in Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and the emerging Kane Williamson, had three players in the top 10.

Despite not appearing in T20 internationals, Kumar Sangakkara's form in Tests and ODIs was still good enough to get him to sixth overall.

Looking a little further down the rankings, every country had at least one batsman in the top 20 bar one. Bangladesh? Zimbabwe? In fact it was England. Joe Root was their top performer in 21st place.

How will their successful Test series against India change things?

Notable Omissions

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There are some class acts bubbling under the top 20 in the latest rankings. First and foremost is the aforementioned Shivnarine Chanderpaul who shows no signs of slowing down despite reaching veteran status.

Up-and-coming Aussie Steve Smith moved up a place to No. 31 thanks largely to his Test record. After impressing following his recall to the ODI fold, he's likely to shoot up the rankings next time out.

Indian opener Ajinkya Rahane also moved up the rankings from No. 33 to No. 29 following a decent summer in England.

West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has also progressed slightly from No. 38 to No. 36 after a succession of good performances.

The highest new entry in the top 50 is Gary Ballance. The England left-hander went straight in at No. 37 following an excellent Test series against India. This despite not featuring in the T20 rankings.

Players Ranked 20-11

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Name	Test x2	ODI x1.5	T20	Average	Overall Rank
MS Dhoni	1214	1156.5	512	960.83	11
Brendan Taylor	1304	901.5	584	929.83	12
Shane Watson	1172	988.5	609	923.17	13
Joe Root	1578	903	272	917.67	14
J-P Duminy	1134	907.5	698	913.17	15
Shakib Al Hasan	1164	898.5	585	882.5	16
Chris Gayle	1204	801	636	880.33	17
Michael Clarke	1636	985.5	0	873.83	18
Misbah-ul-Haq	1524	1044	0	856	19
Rohit Sharma	1008	921	566	831.67	20

The personnel in positions 20-11 is broadly similar to July's rankings with a couple of exceptions. MS Dhoni has dropped into this section and been replaced in the top 10 by South Africa's Faf du Plessis.

Marlon Samuels has moved in the opposite direction, dropping from No. 20 to No. 22. A strong showing in India following his recent recall to the West Indies side could soon see the big-hitting Jamaican back in the top 20, though.

The most notable mover is Joe Root. An unbeaten 149 plus three other scores of over fifty in the recent series against India have seen the Yorkshireman reach number nine in the Test rankings. The 23-year-old hasn't quite hit those dizzy heights in the shorter forms of the game, but his form has been good enough to move him up from No. 22 to No. 14 in our overall rankings.

It's as you were for the rest of the line-up. Brendan Taylor, J-P Duminy and Michael Clarke have made small jumps. Shane Watson, Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Gayle, Misbah-ul-Haq and Rohit Sharma have dropped slightly but stay in the top 20.

Players Ranked 10-4

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Name	Test x2	ODI x1.5	T20	Average	Overall Rank
David Warner	1742	823.5	703	1089.5	4
Angelo Mathews	1746	976.5	485	1069.17	5
Faf du Plessis	1414	1051.5	714	1059.83	6
Ross Taylor	1590	1069.5	497	1052.17	7
Kumar Sangakkara	1830	1200	0	1010	8
Brendon McCullum	1302	922.5	782	1002.17	9
Kane Williamson	1456	1032	459	982.33	10

Angelo Mathews has continued his ascent up the rankings. The Sri Lankan was at No. 13 at the start of the year and has now cracked the top five.

Also edging closer to the summit is Faf du Plessis. The South African's excellent run has seen him move from No. 12 in July up to No. 6.

The New Zealand trio of Taylor, McCullum and Williamson retain their spots in the top 10, as does David Warner who is the highest-placed Aussie.

Perhaps most impressive is Kumar Sangakkara. The top-rated batsman in Test cricket sits at number eight in the overall rankings despite no longer playing T20Is.

The Top 3

Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Name	Test x2	ODI x1.5	T20	Average	Overall Rank
Hashim Amla	1726	1272	611	1203	1
AB De Villiers	1776	1303.5	498	1192.5	2
Virat Kohli	1236	1267.5	897	1133.5	3

Eagle-eyed observers will have noticed that top three is the same trio that featured in July. There has been a slight changing of the guard though.

Despite a hugely disappointing tour of England, Virat Kohli retains his place at No. 3. The 25-year-old is ranked only No.25 in Tests but rankings of No. 3 and No. 1 in ODIs and T20s are enough to keep him so high.

It's tight at the top but Hashim Amla just pips his South African teammate and former No. 1 AB de Villiers.

De Villiers has a slight edge in Tests and ODIs, but Amla's impressive form in the T20 game has given him the overall lead.

There are only 10.5 points between the top two and it's entirely possible that they'll swap places again the next time we look at the Best Batsmen in the World Today.

Conclusions

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Centuries in recent Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have cemented Amla's position at the head of the rankings.

His South African colleague AB de Villiers has been snapping at his heels following a couple of impressive ODI performances against Australia.

Neither have had the chance to improve their T20 stats as South Africa haven't had a game since the World Twenty20 in April.

Imperfect though the ranking system is, few would argue that Amla and De Villiers are deserving of their places at the head of the pack.

And what of the challengers? If Virat Kohli is to break the South African ascendancy he'll have to up his game in Test cricket. A good ODI run could see Australia's David Warner crack the top three.

It will be a while yet but youngsters Joe Root and Gary Ballance offer England supporters some hope for the future.