Cricket all-rounders are considered some of the most valuable players in the sport. They are players who can bat, bowl, and field – and do all three well.
In a game that is often dominated by batsmen and bowlers, all-rounders provide a much-needed balance to the team. They are the players who can change the course of a game and are often the difference between winning and losing.
All-rounders are often the most popular players in a team and some of the most successful players in the game have been all-rounders. In this article, we will take a look at the top 7 all-rounders of all time.
1. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Jacques Kallis is the best all-rounder South Africa has ever produced, and many believe that he is one of the most talented all-rounders of all time, and his stats back that up. He had an amazing Test average of 55.4, with 13,289 runs including 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries. He took 292 wickets with 7 four-wicket hauls and 5 five-wicket hauls at an average of 32.6. He also has an excellent ODI record, with 11,479 runs at an average of 44.5 including 17 centuries and 85 half-centuries. He took 259 wickets at an average of 32. His batting was his strongest suit, but he was also a very effective bowler and helped his team win many matches.
2. Shaun Pollock (South Africa)
Shaun Pollock is, again, one of the finest players South Africa has ever produced. In his 108 Tests, he scored 3781 runs at an average of 32.3 including 2 centuries and 16 half-centuries. He took 421 wickets with the ball, including 23 four-wicket hauls and 16 five-wicket hauls, making him the controller of the game, who could win matches with both bat and ball. There can be no doubt that Shaun is one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game. In his ODI career, he scored 3519 runs with the bat and took 393 wickets with the ball.
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3. Ian Botham (England)
Ian Botham is considered by many to be the most talented all-rounder England has produced. With the bat, his Test average stands at 33.5, with 5200 runs, including 14 centuries and 22 half-centuries. While the ball was in hand, he took 383 wickets at an average of 28.4 with 17 four-wicket hauls and 27 five-wicket hauls. In ODIs, he has 145 wickets to his name an average of 28.5, and scored 2113 runs at an average of 23.2 including 9 half-centuries. Despite his low batting average, he had many match-winning innings, making him a legend.
4. Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
Richard Hadlee is the greatest Test all-rounder New Zealand has ever produced, and in fact, he is one of the finest players in the history of the game, not just all-rounders. In 86 Tests, he took 431 wickets at an average of 22.3, with 25 four-wicket hauls and 36 five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he scored 3,124 runs at an average of 27.2. As good as his Test matches were, his ODIs were also excellent. In 115 ODIs, he took 158 wickets at 21.6 and scored 1751 runs at an average close to 21.
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5. Kapil Dev (India)
Kapil Dev led India to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1983. In 131 Test matches, he has 434 wickets at an average of 29.6 with 17 four-wicket hauls and 23 five-wicket hauls. He saved India from a certain defeat on many occasions with his bat as well. He has amassed 5248 runs at an average of 31.1 including 8 centuries and 27 half-centuries. In ODIs, he took 253 wickets at an average of 27.4 and scored 3783 runs at an average of 23.8.
6. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
Imran Khan led Pakistan to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1992. He is among the finest all-rounders of all time. In Tests, he took 362 wickets at an average of 22.8 with 17 four-wicket hauls and 23 five-wicket hauls. With the bat in his hand, he scored 3807 runs at an average of 37.7 including 6 centuries and 18 half-centuries. In ODIs, he took 182 wickets and scored 3709 runs. He is the only bowler captain to win the World Cup, Wisden Cricketer of the Year, and Man of the Match in the world cup final in the same year, 1992.
7. Andrew Flintoff (England)
Not many players have made such a huge impact on the international stage as Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff did with England. In 79 Tests, he scored 3,845 runs at an average of 31.8 and hit 5 centuries and 26 half-centuries. With the ball, he took 226 wickets at an average of 32.8 including 11 four-wicket hauls and 3 five-wicket hauls. When it comes to ODIs, he scored 3394 runs with the bat at an average of 32 including 3 centuries and 18 half-centuries. With the ball, he took 169 wickets at an average of 24.4 featuring 6 four-wicket hauls and 2 five-wicket hauls.
