The ODI XI of the decade

Jos Buttler (117 innings, 3843 runs, Avg:40.88, S/R: 119.83)

Jos Buttler hits out against South Africa

Since making his ODI debut in 2012, Jos Buttler has become one of the main symbols of his team’s resurgence in the format. Capable of not only providing a flourish at the end of the innings but also of holding an innings together with the tail, Buttler has been at his dominating best at the number 6 position, having made 4 centuries and 11 half-centuries from 64 innings at that position in the past decade.

More than 51% of his career ODI runs have come from that position, and he strikes at a cool 111.13. He remains the owner of the two fastest ODI centuries to be scored by an Englishman, off 46 and 50 balls respectively.

His primary weapons as a batsman are his fast hands, his shots over long-on and a nerveless ramp over the wicket-keeper’s head. While he primarily plays as wicket-keeper, he is also a superb fielder in the outfield.

With limited-overs cricket and especially ODIs being the main focus of English cricket post a historic maiden World Cup title, Buttler will be challenged further to maintain his status as the most dynamic and explosive lower-order player of our time.

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MS Dhoni (161 innings, 5640 runs, Avg: 50.36, 170 catches/ 72 stumpings)

MS Dhoni bats at the 2019 World Cup

The past decade has been one of two halves for the Indian legend behind the stumps. After having led an experienced team to the 2011 World Cup title at home, and a young team to the 2013 Champions Trophy title in England, he relinquished the captaincy of the team to Virat Kohli. However he remains a superbly capable wicketkeeper, probably the most able in the world despite his advancing age, and a capable batsman lower down the order.

MS Dhoni's most defining innings of the decade might have been his effort in the 2011 World Cup final (91 off 79 balls), but he has still been a crisis man for the team in many other situations since then, with innings such as his 92 off 86 balls to lift India from 165/7 in the 40th over to a match-winning 247/8 in 50 overs in an ODI against South Africa in 2015.

He has not played an ODI since India’s 2019 World Cup semi-final heartbreak, and at the age of 38, it may not be realistic for him to play much longer. However, there is no doubt of his capability as not only a wicketkeeper and a batsman but also a source of support and experience to all those around him.