Joe Root scored his 20th ODI hundred against Sri Lanka yesterday, moving his average close to 50 again. But, where does he rank among the all-time No.3s in the format? Sarah Waris crunches the numbers.
Talk of No.3s in ODI cricket, and you instantly think of the legend that is Virat Kohli. The most runs in the position, an average of 61.53, 47 hundreds, 67 fifties, 38 not outs, 35 of which have come in wins, a strike rate of 94.78, all accumulated after years of consistency and toil. While his reputation as the most dominant batter at No.3 - or, in fact of across all batters in the format - is unquestionable, who comes close to being the second-best No.3 batter?
A total of 10 players have scored more than 10 hundreds at No.3 - Kohli (47), Ricky Ponting (29), Babar Azam (20), Kumar Sangakkara (18), Root (14), Jacques Kallis (13), Kane Williamson (13), Brian Lara (12), Faf du Plessis (11) and Steve Smith (11). Of them, six - Kohli, Babar, Root, Williamson, du Plessis and Smith - average over 50. But raw numbers tell only a part of the story, with all four who have been excluded from the list above belonging to the previous era, the first indication of how the game has evolved in a short period of time.
So, to judge No.3s fairly, their numbers must be weighted against the conditions they batted in.
Who was the best ODI No.3 between 1995 and 2010?
We have divided our analysis into two eras: between 1995 and 2010, and 2011 onwards. Between 1995 and 2010, ODI cricket was played at a markedly lower scoring pace, with the average run rate at 4.80 per over. More tellingly, the top three batters in that period scored at an average of 32.57, underlining how difficult run-scoring was. The No.3s scored slightly above that, at 32.64. In those 15 years, 37 batters made over 5,000 runs, but just two averaged over 50 - Michael Bevan (53.55) and MS Dhoni (50.28), both of whom were middle-order finishers. Sachin Tendulkar had the highest average among the top three batters with at least 5,000 runs in this period (47.68), followed by Kallis (46.35). Ponting (43.50) was the only other player in the top five who also batted mostly at No.3.
Kallis and Ponting were the only No.3s who made more than 5,000 runs between 1995 and 2010. Ponting also has the fewest innings for every hundred he scored among the shortlisted players. While Lara took 14.13 innings between each three-figure score, Ponting and Kallis were more consistent with scoring runs in between big scores. Sangakkara, however, had a more prolific run-scoring spree after 2011.
Who is the best ODI No.3 after 2011?
We can apply the same lens to the post-2011 era. Over the last 15 years, the top three batters in ODI cricket have averaged 35.67, while those operating specifically at No.3 have an average of 38.21 - a contrast that neatly captures the gradual easing of run-scoring in the modern game. In this period, 26 players have crossed the 5,000-run mark, a slight decrease in volume compared to the previous era. Yet, quality has risen sharply. Where fifty-plus averages were once rare, nine batters have now paired 5,000 runs with an average above 50. At No.3 alone, that figure stands at five.
Kohli requires just five innings per hundred at No.3 and is closely followed by Babar Azam, who reaches an ODI century every 5.8 innings. His average of 57.53 further sets him apart and, on raw numbers alone, makes a compelling case for him as the second-best No.3 in ODI history after Kohli.
However, there is an important caveat. Babar made his ODI debut in May 2015 and began batting regularly at No.3 a year later. Any meaningful assessment of his record must therefore be restricted to the post-2015 era, a period that only partially overlaps with the quality, depth and variety of bowling attacks faced by the previous generation of No.3 batters.
To ensure a fairer comparison, we also narrow the pool to batters with at least 10 hundreds and 5,000 runs at No.3. That filter leaves the debate of Kohli's heir resting among Ponting, Kallis, Sangakkara, Root and Williamson.
ALSO READ: Joe Root's Test tons, ranked from worst to best
Home vs away ODI performances
Home and away records often reveal far more about a batter’s true quality than aggregate numbers ever can. While favourable conditions, familiar surfaces and crowd support tend to inflate returns at home, it is performance overseas that tests technique, temperament and adaptability against varying pitches, climates and bowling styles. For a No.3 batter expected to stabilise innings across conditions, consistency away from home becomes a crucial marker of greatness, with which the finest first-drop players can be separated.
While a smaller difference between the averages at home and away truly reflects adaptability, the data shows that Williamson, Ponting and Sangakkara maintain identical or stronger returns overseas. Root and Kallis experienced sharper drops away from home, indicating greater comfort in familiar conditions. At the same time, Root’s away average of 45.68 remains higher than Ponting’s home average, and is comfortably elite by any standard, underlining how run-scoring benchmarks have shifted upward in the modern era. Kohli also suffers a steep drop, but his staggering averages easily put him above the curve.
Who is the best No.3 batter in wins and in ICC events?
This is particularly significant because runs in wins point directly to match-defining impact rather than accumulation in low-pressure scenarios. Kohli remains in a league of his own. Root averages 18.18 more than his career average at No.3 in wins, with Kohli close behind.
Among the post-2010 generation, Root emerges as the most compelling contender for the next-best No.3. His career average of 51.95 at the spot, combined with an extraordinary average of 70.13 in victories, shows his ability to deliver when it matters most. Home and away records show consistent adaptability, and his conversion rate, 14 hundreds from just over 5,000 runs at the position, highlights his capacity to turn innings into match-defining contributions. Another factor to consider here is the difference in batting strike rate between Williamson and Root. The global strike rate for the No.3 batter since January 2011 is 80.98 - Williamson strikes close to that, at 82.62, while Root has the third-best strike rate (89.63) among No.3 batters with at least 1,000 runs in this period.
Williamson, with a similar career average at No.3 (51.61) to Root's and with an exceptional overseas record (56.29), is a very close contemporary, but his ICC event performances (59.74) slightly edge ahead of him. Yet when considering the complete modern package - consistency, impact in wins, run-scoring rate and adaptability, Root’s profile positions him as the leading candidate for second-best No.3 in ODIs. Equally, Root was a vital part of England's 2019 World Cup win, averaging 61.77 in the tournament and scoring two hundreds.
The earlier generation, Ponting, Kallis, and Sangakkara, produced extraordinary numbers under tougher scoring conditions, but direct comparisons are complicated by differences in eras. Modern No.3s, however, have combined higher run output with greater match-winning impact. ICC events and World Cups remain the ultimate measure, and a strong showing in the 2027 World Cup could further cement Root’s standing among the elite.
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