In Cricket the Batting and Bowling has equal importance. There are some players in the Cricket History who succeed with both Bat and Ball. We will bring the greatest player who performed well with both bat and ball.
Here are the Top Five All-Rounders in Cricket History:
5. Ian Botham (England): Top All-Rounders in Cricket History
Ian Botham was a key figure in Cricket History. It was his Ashes heroics that in 1983 he was best remembered for, as he was the difference between the two teams in the series with that it became to be known as “Botham’s Ashes”, where England beat Australia 3-1. In his career, he averaged 33.54 with the bat, but showed that he was capable of building a big innings, scoring 14 centuries and 22 half-centuries. He was known to be a hard-hitting batsman, shown by his high strike rate of 60.71 at that time. As a bowler, he took 383 wickets at 28.40, but his ability was more than that as his average was near to 21 before felt to injuries frequently. Nicknamed “BEEFY” his 149* against Australia rated as one of the top 10 greatest test inning of all time.
4. Richard Hadlee (New Zealand): Top All-Rounders in Cricket History
New Zealand’s greatest cricketer by quite a long margin, Richard Hadlee was often the difference between New Zealand and other teams during his tenure at the top. As a bowler he is best remembered, picking up 431 wickets at an average of 22.29 which was then a world record. He began his career as a fast opening bowler, but shortened his run-up and concentrated more on moving the ball, which made him the greatest of all time. He showed his best in his 9/52 effort against Australia. He was a handy lower-order batsman who would come in and try to hit everything, ending up with a reasonable average of 27.16 which included two centuries and 15 half-centuries. This shows that he was undoubtedly a bowling all-rounder; he was a capable batsman who could provide crucial runs towards the end of innings. Very few players remain crucial in their team’s outcome, which justifies Hadlee’s place amongst the great all-rounders of the game.
3. Imran Khan (Pakistan): Top All-Rounders in Cricket History
Undoubtedly Pakistan’s finest cricketer ever, Imran Khan sneaks in at No. 3 in the list of all-time great all-rounders. He was primarily a bowler, taking 362 test wickets at an average of 22.81. He was a pacer who opened the bowling for Pakistan for many years. As his career progressed and he began to effect with injuries, his batting became more prevalent, to the point where he was in the team solely as a batsman by the end of his career. This showed that he could indeed make in 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, becoming one of eight players who achieve the ‘all-rounders triple’ of 300 wickets and 3000 runs. He was considered as Pakistan’s most successful cricket captain, Imran Won the World Cup 1992 for Pakistan, after which he left the sport.
2. Jacques Kallis (South Africa): Top All-Rounders in Cricket History
Looking at the stats, Jacques Kallis is unquestionably the greatest all-rounder of the modern era and all-time list. As a batsman, there are few better than Kallis, averaging 57.02, including 41 centuries and 55 half-centuries. This average is the highest of any current player, higher than other present day superstars. Unlike most all-rounders, Kallis is a technically proficient batsman. Most all-rounders tend to score their runs in rather quick time, but Kallis has a very classical approach, playing controlled shots. Kallis was also a fast-medium bowler, who has taken 274 wickets at an average of 32.51. Though he is rated as 2nd greatest all-rounder in Test Cricket, he is the Greatest ever ODI all-rounder.
1. Garfield Sobers (West Indies): Top All-Rounders in Cricket History
As greatest on this list, few would dispute that Garfield Sobers is the greatest all-rounder of all time. Like Kallis, Richard and Khan, he was a true all-rounder, and a threat with both bat and ball. He could bowl both fast-medium and spin, being effective with both. But he was a spin bowler when was first picked for the West Indies team, often batting low in the order. He went on to take 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. However, as his career developed he continued to work on his batting, which improved to the extent that he is now remembered as one of the finest batsmen of all time. His average of 57.78 is the 10th-best on the all-time list. He scored 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries. But his most famous feat remains the 365 not out, scored in 1958 against Pakistan. At the time, this was a world record, which stood until it was broken by Brian Lara in 1994. It still ranks as the fifth highest score ever in test cricket. He remains Greatest All-Rounder in History, a threat for the opponents with both bat and ball he was also excellent fielder, captained the West Indies for many years.
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