Stuart Broad has been England’s most valuable player in one day international cricket over the last five years, according to analysis by the Professional Cricketers’ Association.

The Nottinghamshire all-rounder is over 100 points clear of his nearest playing rival Jimmy Anderson in the FTI MVP Rankings, which compare the performances of the team in all forms of the game.

He has also taken 20 more wickets than his fellow opening bowler since their inception and contributed almost four times as many runs.

Fresh from captaining England to victory in the t20 international against West Indies at Trent Bridge, Broad will be raring to go in the forthcoming series against Australia.

And his county coach Mick Newell believes the tourists will be all too aware of his status as their host’s lynchpin in the battles ahead.

“Stuart has matured into one of the finest bowlers in the world in all types of cricket and has made great strides in the limited overs game in particular," said Newell.

“He is obviously valuable with the ball as one of England’s main strike bowlers, but his contribution in the field and with the bat are equally important to the make-up of the team.

“As his recent promotion to captaincy of the t20 side has shown he is also now capable of contributing strategically, which will help his team-mates too.

“He and England will need to be at their very best when they take on the Aussies, who are themselves top of the rankings in one day cricket, but they too will know they’re up against it.”

Broad’s career-best performance in the FTI MVPs came in August 2008 on his home ground at Trent Bridge against South Africa, who return to Nottinghamshire to face England in a NatWest Series One Day International on Wednesday 5 September.

The then 22-year-old produced a withering spell of fast bowling, returning 5 for 23 in a ten over spell that included three maidens. Four of his victims were top order batsmen, helping him record 32.27 ranking points, and ensured the tourists were skittled for just 83 runs.

England’s increasing strength in ODI cricket as they build towards the 2015 World Cup is reflected in them recording twice as many series victories as defeats (14 compared to 7) against the major nations since the tournament in Sri Lanka in 2007.

The top five players in the FTI MVPs have passed 500 points since then. But with Paul Collingwood still at number two and recently retired Kevin Pietersen at number 5 on the all-time list a new generation will need to meet the challenge.

Ian Bell leads the current rankings for one day international cricket this summer after his 289 runs against the West Indies in two victories, including 126 off 177 balls in the opener at the Ageas Bowl.

Skipper Alastair Cook is next, with Tim Bresnan and Jimmy Anderson fractionally above Broad, who currently sits in fifth position.

The FTI MVP rankings are a statistical benchmark used by the PCA, coaches and administrators to examine each aspect of a player’s game in relation to his peers at England or county level.

Now in their sixth season, the rankings reward players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held. There are also bonuses awarded to those whose runs and wickets contribute to a win for the team, with captains earning points for their command of the side.

Bowlers receive higher marks for among other things good economy rates, bowling maidens and for getting out batsmen higher up the order. There are also bonuses for five or more dismissals in an innings.

In addition, batting points are handed out for high run rates and the percentage of the team’s runs each batsman contributes. Fielding points are awarded for catches, run outs and stumpings.