Top 5 batters with most ODI runs in calendar year

On January 5, 1971, Australia and England took center stage at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first-ever One-day International match. It has been over 52 years since the historic moment, and many champion players have graced the sport and made the 50-over format their happy hunting ground.

However, there were certain top-drawer batters who took the international arena by storm and stamped their authority on the cricket field time and time again. These international stars have amassed truckloads of runs in ODIs in a single year and etched their names in history books.

Top five batters with the most ODI runs in a single calendar year

5. Matthew Hayden (1601 runs in 2007) 

Matthew Hayden was a brutal striker of a cricket ball and was known to destroy top-quality bowling attacks for fun with his marauding bat. Hayden featured in 103 Tests and scored 8625 runs at an average of 50.73. In the ODIs, he scored 6133 runs in 161 matches, averaging 43.80.

Hayden was quite phenomenal in the 50-over format in the year 2007. The former Australian cricketer made 32 appearances for Australia and hammered 1601 runs at a strike rate of 89.19, which included five centuries and six half-centuries.

Hayden put up a show with the bat in the 2007 ODI World Cup. The Queensland-born knocked the wind out of bowling attacks that came his way and were the leading run-getter of the marquee tournament, with 658 runs to his name in 11 matches at a strike rate of 101.07. His batting exploits were instrumental in Australia clinching their fourth World title.