World Cricket has been fascinated by some wonderful all-rounders over the eras. The presence of an all-rounder often enhances a team's potential and balances the dynamics of the team beautifully. Today we will be talking about 10 best all-rounders who have graced the game of cricket.
To ascertain the best all-rounders the test stats have been given utmost priority as it is the only existing format of all time.
So here we go:
1. Gary Sobers. (West Indies).
Matches: 94.
International Runs: 8032.
International Wickets: 236.
Before there was anyone, there was Gary Sobers. Sir Garfield Sobers was a gem of an all-rounder. Often hailed as a 5-in-1 cricketer, Sir Gary Sobers was a left-arm swing bowler who could even bowl spin. With the ball he took 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. He was electric on the field and a great leader of men apart from being a handy lower order batsman. Sobers was exceptional with the bat too and scored at an average of 57.78 with a highest score of 365* broken by fellow compatriot Brian Charles Lara in 1994. He scored 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries. Sobers finished his career with 8032 runs and 236 wickets.
2. Jacques Kallis. (South Africa).
Matches: 519.
International Runs: 24534.
International Wickets: 577.
Jacques Kallis is undoubtedly one of the greatest all-rounders of all time and is the best modern day all-rounder. As a batsman, Kallis boasts of an average of 55.37 in Tests, higher than batting legends that include Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid. Unlike other all-rounders, Kallis was a technically gifted batsman and batted at top 3. He has scored 13289 test runs that includes 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries with a highest score of 224. A fast-medium bowler, Kallis has taken 292 wickets at an average of 32.65. His best bowling figures in Tests is 6/54.
3. Sir Richard Hadlee. (New Zealand).
Matches: 201.
International Runs: 4875.
International Wickets: 589.
New Zealand's Richard Hadlee is probably the greatest cricketer of all time for the Black Caps. A quick bowler who transitioned himself into a swing bowler, Hadlee scalped a world record of 431 wickets at an average of 22.29. Hailed as the greatest of all time, Hadlee is well known for his 9 wickets for 52 runs against Australia. Hadlee was also a handy lower-order batsman who would slog at everything averaged 27.16 which included 2 centuries and 15 half-centuries.
4. Kapil Dev. (India).
Matches: 356.
International Runs: 9031.
International Wickets: 687.
Kapil Dev is proudly India's greatest all-rounder ever, and indeed the greatest fast bowler India has ever produced. Kapil Dev became just the second bowler in the history of the game to take 400 wickets. He ended up surpassing Sir Richard Hadlee's world record in his final test, to finish with 434 wickets at an average of 29.64 in his 16 year long test career. His best bowling figures is 9 wickets for 83 runs. The greatest career highlight of Kapil Dev's career has to be the 1983 World Cup where he led India to its maiden World Cup Triumph. His 175 not out against Zimbabwe at the 1983 World Cup is often rated as the best ODI Innings of all time. Kapil averaged 31.05 with the bat and scored 8 centuries and 27 half-centuries.
5. Imran Khan. (Pakistan).
Matches: 263.
International Runs: 7516.
International Wickets: 544.
Pakistan's finest cricketer and the only World Cup Winning Captain, Imran Khan is the next entrant in our list.Imran started of as a swing bowler and picked 362 test wickets at an average of 22.81. He was a genuine quick bowler and opened the bowling for Pakistan for many years. A handy late order batsman, Imran was known for his massive hits. This showed that he could indeed make the team as both a bowler and a batsman. He finished his test career with an average 37.69, including 6 centuries and 18 half-centuries and ended up being one of only eight players to achieve the 'all-rounders triple' of 300 wickets and 3000 runs.
6. Sir Ian Botham. (England).
Matches: 228.
International Runs: 7313.
International Wickets: 528.
England's resurgence to top tier cricket is done by the hand holding of Sir Ian Botham. Botham was an indispensable part of the Famous 1981 Ashes Series that England won 3-1. From earning a pair in Lord's test and being ousted from captaincy, Botham returned to form in Headingley Test by taking 6 wickets and 50 runs in the first innings and following it up with a 149* in the second innings. He averaged 33.54 with the bat and scored 14 centuries and 22 half-centuries. He was a hard hitting batsman and had a high strike rate of 60.71.With the ball, he took 383 wickets at an average of 28.40. His best bowling figures is 8/34.
7. Ben Stokes. (England).
Matches: 211.
International Runs: 8280.
International Wickets: 260.
Ben Stokes is one of the most prolific all-rounders of modern day cricket. Stokes has been England's 3rd generation of all-rounder behind Sir Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff. Stokes has already won the World Cup and Ashes in his career, a feat many English cricketers would be envious of. Stokes has prioritized Test Cricket over the limited overs cricket and that is something that sets him apart from others. Stokes averages 36.05 in tests and has scored 4867 runs in Tests. He has also taken 167 Test wickets.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya. (Srilanka).
Matches: 586.
International Runs: 21022.
International Wickets: 440.
Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the rarest breed of cricketers whose career blasted off in Limited Overs Format but his Test career hasn't been flourished as expected. Jayasuriya has scored over 13000 runs in ODI cricket and has scalped 323 wickets. He is also a World Cup Winnner. But in Tests he averages 40.07 and has 6973 runs. He also has a triple century in his name with a score of 340. He also has taken 98 wickets.
9. Shakib Al Hasan. (Bangladesh).
Matches: 373.
International Runs: 12583.
International Wickets: 614.
Shakib al Hasan's stats as an all-rounder look highly impressive and eclipse the stats of many other modern day greats. But the only fact that he represents Bangladesh and has played most of his matches against minnows underplay his achievements. Shakib is arguably Bangaldesh's best cricketer and a lot of Bangaldesh's ascent to the top is because of him. Shakib has scored 4029 Test runs with an average of 39.50. He has also taken 215 wickets in 59 tests with an average of 31.30.
10. Andrew Flintoff. (England).
Matches: 227.
International Runs: 7312.
International Wickets: 400.
Freddie as he was popularly called Andrew Flintoff is hailed as one of the best all-rounders in Modern Day cricket. Flintoff's shot to fame came with the 2005 Ashes where he played a pivotal role with the bat and ball and defeated the Mighty Australians
Flintoff was a quick bowler who could extract bounce from any surface. Bowling at an average speed of 140 kmph, Flintoff took 226 wickets at an average of 32.78. Known for his quick stroke play, Flintoff averaged 31.07 with the bat and scored runs including five centuries and 26 half-centuries.
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