AB de Villiers record-breaking 31-ball century lit up the cricket world yesterday. The fastest one-day international ton, scored from just 31 balls, was an ominous show of form from the South African captain and number one ranked ODI batsmen ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Labelled the “most valuable player on the planet” by Adam Gilchrist just last week, fans in Hamilton, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra Auckland and Wellington will be treated to the de Villiers show when the tournament kicks off next month.
But de Villiers is not the only scintillating prospect heading to cricket’s biggest event.
Here’s a look at some of biggest hitters, including New Zealand’s Corey Anderson who held the record for fastest ODI ton until yesterday, bound for #CWC15.
AB de Villiers, South Africa: 31 balls
One of the world’s leading batsmen, AB de Villiers will strike fear into the hearts of bowlers after smashing 149 from 44 balls on January 18.
De Villiers, who sat on top of the ICC one-day international batting rankings throughout 2014, sent 16 balls into the crowd during the majestic innings, equalling Rohit Sharma’s record for most sixes in an innings.
Corey Anderson New Zealand: 36 balls
Allrounder Anderson notched the previous fastest ODI century in January 2014 when he reached three figures off 36 balls against West Indies.
His unbeaten 131 off 47 balls remains his best performance to date and with a strike rate of 131.85 after 21 matches, this talented young player is one to watch on home turf at the World Cup.
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan: 37 balls
Veteran Afridi, known for his aggressive batting, held the record for the fastest one-day century for more than seventeen years before the title was taken by Corey Anderson in January 2014.
His 37-ball ton came in his first ODI innings, against Sri Lanka in 1996.
Afridi’s name appears several times on the fastest ton list. He also smashed a 45-ball century against India in 2005, and another from 53 balls against Bangladesh in 2008.
Kevin O’Brien, Ireland: 50 balls (fastest CWC century)
O’Brien’s classic century scored against England in the 2011 Cricket World Cup was one of the highlights of the tournament.
His knock of 113 from 63 balls featured the fastest century in World Cup history, and included 13 fours and six sixes.
Virat Kohli, India: 52 balls (fastest by an Indian player)
Kohli holds the record for fastest ODI century scored by an Indian player, having smashed a 52-ball ton against Australia in 2013.
His aggressive and consistent batting has seen him remain close to the top of the one-day international batting rankings since early 2010 and the 26-year-old now has more than 20 one-day hundreds and more than 30 fifties to his name.
His high-score of 183 came against Pakistan in 2012 and he scored four ODI centuries in 2014.
James Faulkner, Australia: 57 balls (fastest by an Australian player)
James Faulkner’s star is quickly rising as the allrounder builds a reputation as an exciting batsman.
After an incredible rear-guard innings of 64 from just 29 balls against India in 2013, Faulkner plundered his maiden international century just two weeks later, an innings of 116 from 73 balls in a losing cause in Bangalore.
He reached three figures from 57 balls, posting the fastest ODI century by an Australian.
Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 63 (fastest by a Bangladesh player)
Statistically the most successful player in Bangladesh’s history, veteran allrounder Shakib Al Hasan holds his country’s record for fastest ODI century, having reached three figures from 63 balls against Zimbabwe in 2009.
Shakib’s World Cup performances to date include three fifties, with a top score of 57* against England in 2007.
Chris Gayle, West Indies:
A damaging allrounder, Gayle has scored more than 8800 ODI runs and claimed 158 wickets in ODI cricket.
From his 21 centuries, Gayle’s two fastest were scored off 69 and 70 balls.
David Warner, Australia:
Warner is fast earning a reputation as one of the world’s most exciting batsmen. The swashbuckling opener already has more than 1500 ODI runs to his name and the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup will be his first appearance at cricket’s biggest tournament.
From 11 ODIs in 2014, Warner scored 406 runs including four fifties while he started 2015 in style, smashing 127 from 115 balls against England at the SCG.
Rohit Sharma, India:
An exciting batsman, Sharma’s his biggest feat to date came in late 2014, when he blitzed Sri Lanka scoring 264 from 173 balls – the highest individual ODI score in history.
He became the first player in history to score two ODI double-tons, having previously scored 209 in late 2013.
