Having a batting average in excess of 50 is generally considered to be exceptional in cricket, especially in big tournaments like the Asia Cup, ODI or T20 World Cup. The batting average indicates a player’s consistency and effectiveness as a batter. This kind of consistency shows that the player is pretty much able to make crucial contributions to the team’s score on a regular basis.
On top of that, batsmen with an incredible batting average often have a telling impact on the result of matches. They provide a rock-solid foundation for the team’s batting and can often play match-winning innings. Overall, maintaining a top batting average against top-tier bowling attacks and on challenging wickets is a testament to a player’s deftness and adaptability.
So far in the history of the Asia Cup (ODI) tournament, only two cricketers have scored 500+ runs while also maintaining a batting average of 50-plus and a strike rate of 100-plus. Let’s learn about them below.
1. Sanath Jayasuriya
Former Sri Lankan opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya plied as a left-handed opening batsman and left-arm orthodox spin bowler during the heydays of his cricketing career. The former Sri Lankan international is considered one of the greatest batters in the history of ODIs.
He is immensely praised for transforming the game with his attacking strokeplay. He is one of the two batters who scored 500 or more runs and maintained a batting average of 50-plus and a strike rate of 100-plus in the Asia Cup. Overall, he scored 1220 runs and is the leading run-scorer in Asia Cup history. He smashed six centuries and 3 fifties.
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2. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina was one of the integral players of the Indian cricket team during his playing days. He plied his trade as a left-handed middle-order batter and an occasional off-spin bowler. He was also an exceptional fielder. He is considered one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Twenty20 cricket.
Notably, he is the first Indian batsman to have scored a century in all three formats of international cricket. He scored 547 runs at an average of 60.77 including 2 centuries and 3 fifties.
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