The bowlers and batsmen are crucial to the team and frequently the ones who decide games. But what separates the two teams is the ability—or, in some circumstances, the mere existence of an all-rounder. An all-rounder is one of a cricket team’s most important player. Every team makes an effort to have an all-rounder in their lineup in order to reach the ideal team balance. An all-rounder player is a team saviour who help team to win matches at any stage of the game.
Here’s a list of Best All Rounder In The World –
- Jaques Kallis
Unquestionably, Kallis is one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders of all time. He would be regarded as one of the greatest South African players of all time. When his team needed him, the all-rounder delivered for his side. When batting against some of the top teams, he displayed sound technique. When it came to holding the innings from one end in both forms (Test & ODI), his adaptability was simply amazing. In addition, Kallis is regarded as one of South Africa’s most reliable players with the ball and the bat. The all-rounder bowled with his right arm, medium pace, and struck the deck hard to surprise the batters. With his shrewd seam movement, Kallis effectively shifted the ball. In 166 Test matches, he scored 13289 runs by scoring 45 centuries, 58 half-centuries, and a highest total of 224. In his Test career, he averaged 55.37, which is truly remarkable. His best bowling performance in tests was 6/54 with 292 wickets taken. With an average of 44.36, a best score of 139, and 17 centuries and 86 half-centuries, he scored 11579 runs in 328 ODIs. He had a career-best 5/30 in ODIs while taking 273 wickets.
- Imran Khan
Imran Khan, who is one of the greatest all-rounders and captains in Pakistani cricket history, influenced tens of thousands of players during his career. The legendary cricketer oversaw the group with a firm determination, guiding them to victory in the 1992 World Cup for limited overs. He was a great bowler who used his seaming deliveries and his line outside the off stump to end partnerships. He was a master of the reverse swing because, with his swing and speed, he could catch even a batter who was well-positioned. The right-hander consistently delivered as a batsman when his team required it. In 88 Test matches, he recorded 362 wickets, with the best bowling statistics of 8/58. In his Test career, he scored 3807 runs, including a best score of 146, while recording 6 centuries and 18 half-centuries. He recorded 182 wickets in 175 ODIs, with a best bowling average of 6/14. and scored 3709 runs, the best of which was an unbeaten 102, by recording one century and 19 half-centuries.
- Ian Botham
One of the greatest all-around cricket players in history is Ian Botham. A generation of English cricketers were impressed by Botham, particularly by this accomplishment. The all-around player is regarded as having one of the strongest personalities in English athletic history. Botham posed a danger as a pacer in cloudy conditions thanks to his quick outswings. Botham employed in-swingers in addition to his deft leg cutters to confuse batsmen. With his powerful hitting, Botham was a destructive batsman who had the ability to alter a game’s result. In 102 Test matches, he scored 5200 runs, with a 208 as his highest, 14 hundreds and 22 half-centuries. In his Test career, Botham recorded the highest bowling statistics of 8/34 while taking 383 wickets. Both, as he was affectionately known, claimed 145 wickets in 116 ODIs, with the best bowling figures of 4/31. In his ODI career, he scored 2113 runs by recording 9 half-centuries, with his best score coming at 79.
- Kapil Dev
A group of Indian cricket players were greatly influenced by Kapil Dev. When his team won the world championship for India in 1983, the “Haryana Hurricane,” as he is affectionately known, brought about a significant shift in Indian cricket. In terms of his bowling, Kapil showed remarkable flexibility to a variety of situations. The batsmen were taken aback by the all-rounder’s speed and bounce. In cloudy environments like England and on wickets like Australia, he frequently delivered fast back-of-length deliveries. Kapil Dev was a batsman who always held his own against the other bowlers. His tenacious attitude and fighting spirit were praised all over the globe. On fast wickets, he could successfully pull even hard-length short balls, and he drove his drives hard. He played in 131 Tests, scoring 5248 runs with a best score of 163, 8 centuries, and 27 half-centuries. In his Test career, he recorded the highest bowling figures of 9/83 and claimed 434 wickets. He played in 225 ODIs and scored 3783 runs, the highest of which was an unbeaten 175 runs. He also made 1 century and 14 half-centuries.
- Garry Sobers
Garry Sobers is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the world. He was an excellent fielder, a fierce batsman, and a highly trained bowler. He primarily began his career as a bowler, but he quickly moved up the hitting order. Sobers flicked the ball with ease and drove the ball wonderfully with his graceful timing. In his Test career, he took 235 wickets and had the highest bowling line of 6/73. In test, Sobers scored triple century against Pakistan in 1958, moving him to 365 not out and breaking the previous record for the highest individual total in an innings. Before Brian Lara scored 375 in 1994, his mark stood. For the West Indies, Sobers played in 93 Test matches, amassing 8032 runs at an average of 57.78 and 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. He has the fifth-highest Test batting average with more than 5,000 runs. His average of 57.78 is the all time best and uncomparable with any batsman in the history of test cricket, with the exception of the great Sir Donald Bradman.
- Chris Cairns
Chris Cairns is regarded one of the greatest all-rounder ever that New Zealand has ever produced. He was a fast-medium pace bowler who was also a powerful middle order batsman with the ability to smash huge sixes straight down the field. He assisted his side in the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy final by scoring an unbeaten century against India to lead them to victory. For New Zealand, he played in 62 Test Matches, scored 3320 test runs, averaging 33.54, and had five test hundreds. Additionally, he had 13 five wicket hauls in tests, 218 test wickets taken at a very respectable average of 29.40. He played in 215 one-day internationals, where he scored 4950 runs, four hundreds, and 201 wickets at an average of 32.81 with four 5-wicket hauls. He formerly held the world record for most sixes in Test cricket (87). He was one of the best all-rounders in the world, and in March 2004 he became just the sixth cricketer to record an all-rounder’s double by taking 200 wickets and scoring 3000 runs.
- Lance Klusener
Lance Klusener is regarded as one of the best all-rounders to have ever played for South Africa. Klusener represented South Africa in both formats, he is primarily remembered for his enormous contribution in the ODIs, where he cultivated his reputation as an aggressive batsman. He showed signs of big-hitting on the route to the 1999 World Cup, which led to him being chosen as the player of the tournament. In 2000, he was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year for his outstanding international cricketing performance. Klusener played in 49 Test matches, scoring 1906 runs (four hundreds and eight half-centuries) in total. His excellent 174-run Test innings was his highest score, and in the same format, he took 80 wickets, with best 8/64. (against India). In terms of his ODI career, he scored 3567 runs in 171 games. He made 2 hundreds and 19 half-centuries while maintaining a batting average of 41.10 in ODIs. His career-best figures were 6/12, which he racked up 192 wickets.
- Andrew Flintoff
The flamboyant all-rounder will be regarded as one of English cricket’s top all-rounders. Flintoff’s batting and bowling would have set a lot of milestones. His unpredictable length and ability to move the ball with deft seam moves off the field gave him the ability to break partnerships. The right-hander had a devastating swing with the bat as a batsman. Flintoff had a strong bottom hand that he used to cut the ball, and he had the ability to strike the ball into the stands by striking the ground. When he single-handedly defeated Australia in the game, “Freddie,” as he was affectionately known, was the reason England won the Ashes in 2005.Flintoff played in 79 Test matches, total 3845 runs with a best score of 167, 5 centuries, and 26 half-centuries. In his Test career, he recorded the best bowling stats of 5/58 while taking 226 wickets. Flintoff scored 3394 runs in 141 ODIs, with a top score of 123. He also recorded 3 centuries and 18 half-centuries. In ODI matches, he had a best bowling average of 5/18 and took 169 wickets.
- Abdul Razzaq
Abdul Razzaq is one of the greatest all-rounder who was fantastic right-handed batter and a right-arm medium quick bowler. Razzaq was the only player on the team with the ability to ignite the new ball and the composure to bat at any position. Abdul Razzaq is one of the best cricket ball hitters that cricket world has ever seen. He was awarded man of the series in the 1999–2000 Carlton and United Series for his all-around performance. After the legendary Imran Khan, he became one of Pakistan’s top all-rounders thanks to his ability to swing the ball both ways as well as the strength and versatility he takes to the plate. Nobody will ever forget his performance in throughout 1999 world cup. Razzaq scored 112, his highest score against South Africa in 2002. Additionally memorable was Razzaq’s contribution to the 2009 T20 World Cup’s victory. In the final match, Razzaq got 3 wickets against Sri Lanka conceded 20 runs. On 2010, in the second ODI against South Africa, Razzaq played a match-winning innings of 109 not out off 72 balls at a strike rate of 151.38, his third One Day International century. Razzaq played in 265 ODI matches and scored 5080 runs which include three hundreds and taken 269 wickets with best figures of 6/35.
10. Richard Hadlee
With Hadlee’s focused attitude both on and off the field, the all-around player set a great standard. Hadlee did a good job of adjusting as a pacer to the surroundings and tracks he faced. Even on flat batting tracks, Hadlee bowled with incredible speed and produced uneven bounce with his hard-length deliveries. He was a capable batsman who could play at positions 6, 7, and even 8. Hadlee could cut the ball well in the gaps and perform precise backfoot punches. In 86 Test matches, he recorded 431 wickets, with a 9/52 bowling average being his highest. In his Test career, he scored 3124 runs by recording 2 hundreds and 15 half-centuries. Hadlee recorded the highest bowling statistics of 5/25 while taking 158 wickets in 115 ODIs. In his ODI career, he scored 1751 runs by recording 4 half-centuries, with the best score being 79.
