NZ vs SA: 'He's The Best..'- Graeme Smith Shocks The World As He Snubs Virat Kohli To Name The Best White-Ball Batter In World Cricket

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has hailed Heinrich Klaasen as the best white-ball middle-order batter in the world.

A number of batsmen have shown their hard-hitting abilities in the ongoing ICC Men???s Cricket World Cup 2023. The likes of Aiden Markram, Glenn Maxwell, Heinrich Klaasen, KL Rahul, David Miller, and Mohammad Rizwan are some of the best middle-order batters in the ongoing tournament. And Graeme Smith believes Heinrich Klaasen is the best of the lot.

He is the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in the ongoing World Cup. In 6 games, the right-handed batter has smashed 300 runs at an average of 50 and a stunning strike-rate of almost 150. Among batsmen who have scored more than 150 runs, no batter has a better strike rate than him.

He has already played a couple of whirlwind knocks in the competition and would be looking to continue his red-hot form. Against England, Klaasen smashed 109 runs off just 67 balls before scoring 90 off just 49 balls against Bangladesh.

Graeme Smith hails Heinrich Klaasen:

Speaking to ICC, Graeme Smith heaped praise on Heinrich Klaasen and called him the best middle-order batsman in the world in limited-overs cricket. The South African legend stated that not many teams have players who can match Klaasen???s qualities.

???To me, he???s the sort of best white-ball middle-order batter in the world. His ability to be destructive and to dominate those back end, sort of middle [overs]. He got a hundred the other day against England and when he gets a hundred like that, I don???t think there are many teams that have other players that can match him in those positions,??? said Graeme Smith.

???So if he performs like that, South Africa will win more often than not. That???s obviously an exciting player to have in your line-up. That destructive middle-order is key to South Africa???s success,??? he added.

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Meanwhile, South Africa are currently at the second spot in the points table after winning 5 of their opening six games. They will be in action next on Wednesday (November 1) when they take on New Zealand. A win against the Black Caps will all but seal the Proteas??? passage to the semifinal.