A long-standing and significant global record in fifty-over cricket (List A) has officially been broken. England domestic batsman and Worcestershire captain Jake Libby has surpassed India’s international star Ruturaj Gaikwad to set a new world record for the highest career batting average in List A cricket history.
Libby achieved this landmark feat thanks to his impressive form during the Metro Bank One Day Cup in England, where he scored three consecutive centuries against Sussex, Essex, and Middlesex. This explosive run of runs significantly elevated his career stats, taking his List A average past Gaikwad’s and setting a new world record.
The Statistics Behind the World Record
Despite being 33 years old and yet to play a single senior international match for England, Libby has achieved remarkable figures in his List A career. In 56 matches, the Worcestershire captain has scored 2,456 runs in 53 innings and remained unbeaten on 13 occasions. His record includes six centuries, with a best score of 126.
With his latest century, Libby’s career List A average reached 61.40, surpassing Gaikwad’s average of 58.61. Gaikwad previously held the world’s top spot with 5,334 runs in 104 List A matches.
Highest batting average in List A cricket (all-time leaders)
Jake Libby (England): 56 matches, 2,456 runs, average 61.40
Rituraj Gaikwad (India): 104 matches, 5,334 runs, average 58.61
Sam Hain (England): 65 matches, 3,084 runs, average 58.18
Michael Bevan (Australia): 427 matches, 15,103 runs, average 57.86
Virat Kohli (India): 350 matches, 16,591 runs, average 57.80
Gaikwad is among the main contenders for the vacant No. 3 slot.
Even though his List A world record has been broken, Gaikwad remains a key part of the Indian team’s plans across all formats, including the roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Following the news of top-order batsman Sai Sudharsan being ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a foot injury, Gaikwad has emerged as one of the three leading domestic contenders being considered by the selectors to bolster the top-order ahead of the first Test starting in Galle on August 15.
The selection committee and team management are considering three different batting options:
Sarfaraz Khan: A prolific batsman from Mumbai, he made his senior international debut in 2024 and has scored 371 runs in six Tests. Known for his advanced footwork and excellent skills against spinners, Sarfaraz presents a very logical choice for Asian pitches.
Rituraj Gaikwad: The 29-year-old batsman from Maharashtra has centuries in both ODIs and T20 Internationals. Gaikwad has established himself as a strong red-ball batsman with successful innings at number three and four for India A, providing technical composure and versatility.
Karun Nair: An experienced international batsman who has previously played at the number three slot for India during England’s overseas tour. Nair has an excellent track record in domestic red-ball competitions and provides technical stability.
Updated Indian squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka:
Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnur Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Aqib Nabi.