Ranking The Top 10 All-Rounder in Cricket History

In the universe of cricket, all-rounders stand apart as the most prized and venerated players. An all-rounder is one who excels at both batting and bowling, contributing with bat and ball to give their team an invaluable edge. The elusive ability to influence matches with both skillsets places truly great all-rounders among the pantheon of cricketing legends.

This article pays tribute to the Top 10 All-Rounder in Cricket History based on stats, achievements, impact and legacy. Read on to find out who makes the cut for best all-rounder ever and their exploits that redefined the game.

What Makes a Great All-Rounder in Cricket?

A top all-rounder possesses the following traits:

• Strong batting skills – ability to build long innings and accelerate scoring.
• Potent bowling skills – can take key wickets and restrict runs.
• Match-winning impact – turns games on their heads single-handedly.
• Consistency – performs with both bat and ball over a long period.
• Adaptability – shines across different formats and conditions.
• Fitness and athleticism – high work rate through long spells of bowling and batting.
• Leadership skills – galvanizes the team through inspirational efforts.
• Mental strength – seizes crucial moments and flourishes under pressure.

The finest all-rounders dominate Test cricket and limited overs through their consummate mastery of batting and bowling. They provide invaluable balance to the team and shape the outcome of matches.

Ranking Methodology for the Top 10 All-Rounders

This ranking is based on a metric calculating the cumulative rating of players across their batting and bowling careers in international cricket. Key factors weighted:

• Batting average and total runs scored
• Number of centuries and half-centuries
• Bowling average and total wickets taken
• Number of five and ten wicket hauls
• Performances in landmark Test matches and World Cups
• Longevity at the top level

Without further ado, let’s reveal the top 10 all-rounders in cricket history and their jaw-dropping records.

10. Shakib Al Hasan

** Career Span:** 2006-present

ODI Stats: 6,938 runs @ 39.40 | 273 wickets @ 31.12

Test Stats: 4,276 runs @ 39.40 | 215 wickets @ 31.12

Shakib Al Hasan is the greatest cricketing champian Bangladesh has produced. Since his debut in 2006, he has been the lynchpin of Bangladesh’s batting and bowling, especially in ODIs. Shakib’s immense consistency makes him one of the leading all-rounders in world cricket today.

His standout numbers in a career spanning 16 years proves why he is in the elite all-rounder category:

• Highest wicket-taker (92) and run-scorer (675) in ODI World Cups.
• Quickest to the double of 5000 runs and 200 wickets in ODIs.
• Only cricketer with 1000+ runs and 30+ wickets in three consecutive World Cups (2011, 2015 and 2019).

Shakib’s heroic all-round performances have been instrumental in Bangladesh’s rise as an ODI force. He continues to shine and has plenty more years left at the top.

9. Andrew Flintoff

Career Span: 1998-2009

ODI Stats: 3394 runs @32.01 | 169 wickets @24.38

Test Stats: 3845 runs @31.77 | 226 wickets @32.78

The burly England all-rounder Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was one of the most exciting cricketers of the 2000s famous for his big hitting and aggressive bowling. At his peak, he was England’s biggest match winner and helped them regain the Ashes after years of Australian domination.

Some notable feats of Flintoff’s rollercoaster career include:

• Top scoring batsman and leading wicket taker for England during the 2005 Ashes series.
• England Player of the Year 2004 & 2005.
• 3rd fastest ODI hundred for England (off 80 Bowls).

Though injuries cut his career short, Flintoff was colossal at his best and could take any game away single-handedly with bat or ball. His larger-than-life persona and consistency across formats makes him an all-time great.

8. Ian Botham

Career Span: 1977-1992

ODI Stats: 2113 runs @23.21 | 145 wickets @28.54

Test Stats: 5200 runs @33.54 | 383 wickets @28.40

The legendary Ian Botham combined sheer brilliance as a devastating fast bowler with explosive middle-order batting. He is fondly remembered for his swashbuckling match-winning efforts in an England shirt.

Salient features of Botham’s glittering career:

• Leading wicket taker (27 scalps) during England’s 1981 Ashes win.
• Scored a century and took 13 wickets in a single 1981 Test vs Australia.
• Leading run scorer and wicket taker for England in the 1992 World Cup.

Botham’s feats revived English cricket during the 1980s. He is universally regarded as England’s greatest ever all-rounder and finish among the top 10 of all time.

7. Richard Hadlee

Career Span: 1973-1990

ODI Stats: 1751 runs @ 16.01 | 158 wickets @ 21.56

Test Stats: 3416 runs @ 27.16 | 431 wickets @ 22.29

New Zealand’s finest cricketing product, Richard Hadlee, demolished opposition with pace bowling and middle-orderStrokeplay. He is one of only two players with 400+ Test wickets and 3000+ Test runs.

Hadlee’s phenomenal career highlights include:

• Top wicket taker in both ODI World Cups he played – 1975 & 1979.
• First bowler to breach 400 Test wickets.
• His 431 Test wickets was the world record at retirement.

Hadlee single-handedly made New Zealand a competitive force with match-winning spells. He is regarded among the greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders to play the game.

6. Kapil Dev

Career Span: 1978-1994

ODI Stats: 3783 runs @ 23.79 | 253 wickets @ 27.45

Test Stats: 5248 runs @31.05 | 434 wickets @29.64

India’s greatest match-winner Kapil Dev led a generation of Indian fast bowlers while also being a dashing middle-order batsman. He pioneered India’s rise as a force in world cricket during the 1980s.

Some notable achievements of Kapil Dev’s illustrious career:

• Guided India to its first-ever World Cup win in 1983 – named Man of the Tournament.
• Broke Richard Hadlee’s record for most Test wickets (434).
• At retirement, held the world record for most Test wickets by a pace bowler.

Kapil Dev’s heroic performances with bat and ball make him India’s best ever all-rounder. He paved the path for India’s dominance at the world stage.

5. Imran Khan

Career Span: 1971-1992

ODI Stats: 3709 runs @ 33.41 | 182 wickets @ 26.61

Test Stats: 3799 runs @ 37.69 | 362 wickets @ 22.81

The great Imran Khan is regarded as the finest cricketer produced by Pakistan due to his all-round brilliance and leadership. Under Imran’s captaincy, Pakistan won its first World Cup in 1992 where he was Player of the Tournament.

Some stellar feats of Imran Khan’s career:

• Leading wicket taker in the 1992 World Cup at 39 years of age.
• Captained Pakistan to its first-ever Test series win in England in 1987.
• Had the best bowling figures for Pakistan in an innings – 8/58 vs India in 1982.

Imran Khan is an iconic figure and his heroic efforts to lead Pakistan to glory as an all-rounder and captain cements his legacy.

4. Keith Miller

Career Span: 1946-1956

Test Stats: 2958 runs @ 36.97 | 170 wickets @ 22.97

The legendary Australian all-rounder Keith Miller was one of the greatest cricketers of the post-war era in the 1940s/50s. His swashbuckling batting and fast bowling laid the bedrock of the great Australian team of that period.

Some salient feats that defined Miller’s career:

• Match-winning innings of 53 and 7/60 in the Lord’s Test during Australia’s Ashes win of 1953.
• Scored two Test match centuries at number

3. Jacques Kallis

Career Span: 1995-2014

ODI Stats: 11,579 runs @ 44.36 | 273 wickets @ 31.79

Test Stats: 13,289 runs @ 55.37 | 292 wickets @ 32.65

The South African cricketing genius Jacques Kallis was an all-format colossus during his 19-year career. He is regarded as the greatest all-rounder of the modern era with staggering Test batting and bowling statistics.

Some notable achievements of Kallis’ illustrious career:

• Third-highest run scorer of all time in both Tests and ODIs.
• Took five wickets in an innings 5 times and had a best bowling of 6/54.
• Won the ICC Test Player of the Year in 2005.
• Instrumental in South Africa’s rise as a Test powerhouse.

Kallis’ incredible batting average combined with over 250 wickets in both formats puts him in a league of his own as an all-rounder. His consistency across conditions make him one of the greatest cricketers of all time.

2. Garfield Sobers

Career Span: 1954-1974

Test Stats: 8032 runs @ 57.78 | 235 wickets @ 34.03

Widely considered cricket’s greatest ever all-rounder, Gary Sobers could bat, bowl both spin and pace and field brilliantly. His versatility and flair made him the undisputed star of West Indies cricket during the 1960s and 70s.

Key feats that exemplify Sobers’ genius:

• Hit a then world record 365 not out in 1958 which stood for 36 years.
• First player to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket.
• Achieved the rare Test double of 3000 runs and 100 wickets.

Sobers’ record speaks for itself – over 8000 Test runs and 235 wickets. His impact on matches was unparalleled and statistics do not fully capture his true greatness as an all-rounder.

1. Sir Vivian Richards

Career Span: 1974-1991

ODI Stats: 6721 runs @ 47 | 118 wickets @ 35.83

Test Stats: 8540 runs @ 50.23 | 32 wickets @ 52.42

The undisputed king of all-rounders, Viv Richards was a devastating batsman and more than handy medium pace bowler. He dominated world cricket through the 70s and 80s with his aggressive batting style and iconic presence.

Richards’ salient contributions and records:

• Top run-getter and century maker during West Indies’ dominance in the 1980s.
• Scored a record-breaking 1815 runs in ODIs in 1976 alone.
• Had a highest Test score of 291 and batted at over 50 average.
• Took the first wicket to fall in ODI World Cup finals of 1979, 1983 and 1987.

Sir Viv’s staggering numbers prove why he is cricket’s greatest all-rounder. But his larger-than-life aura, match-winning dominance andtrue greatness as a cricketer ranks him at the very top.

There ends the recap of the finest all-rounders to grace cricket history whose exploits with bat and ball transcended the sport. Their incredible consistency and match-winning efforts make them the standard for cricket greatness. These players defined eras with their all-round brilliance and continue to inspire generations of fans.