Five established batsmen whose ODI high score is more than their Test best

#3 Faf du Plessis (Tests: 137, ODIs: 185)

Du Plessis flattened the Sri Lankan attack earlier this year with a sublime 185

Invariably a slow starter, Faf du Plessis looked in his element from the word go against Sri Lanka earlier this year in an ODI at Cape Town, piercing gaps with ease in the first 10 overs itself. He notched up his 25th ODI fifty with a picture perfect cover-drive, sending the alarm bells ringing for captain Upul Tharanga.

A Lahiru Kumara yorker came darting in on 98, but du Plessis skillfully dug it out to deep square leg to reach three figures. The happiness was writ large on his face, and on AB de Villiers’, who was by his side.

The intensity didn’t wane, as he conjured up unconventional strokes to race past 150. It was as if it was de Villiers batting with du Plessis’ jersey on. He went for one shot too many, perishing on 185, quite possibly in pursuit of a double hundred.

Exactly four years earlier, du Plessis had flattened the Kiwis with his best Test score, a 137 that helped the Proteas crush the visitors by an innings and 193 runs. Facing a strong attack featuring Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner, du Plessis, assisted by fellow centurions Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar, helped post over 500 for the Proteas. The Kiwis couldn’t manage even 250 in either innings.