Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Top Allrounders

(29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970)

 

Gary Sobers

Keith Miller

Richie Benaud

Trevor Goddard

Needless to say, Gary Sobers stood out like a colossus among allrounders in the period after World War II, and in the 1950s and 1960s. His 6776 runs at an average of 58.92, and 193 wickets with his myriad skills at 34.59 apiece, gave him an incredible quotient of 1.70. He was the only allrounder to score more than 5000 runs, and average above 50 with the bat.

Keith Miller was another from the top drawer in the pantheon of allrounders. Finishing just short of 3000 runs at 2958 runs with an average of 36.97, he ripped out 170 wickets at a brilliant average of 22.97. His quotient of 1.60 was second only to Sobers.

An unsung allrounder the history of Test cricket is the left-handed South African Trevor Goddard. He hit up 2516 runs at an average of 34.46, and bagged 123 wickets at the average of 26.22. He had a fine quotient of 1.31.

The only allrounder to aggregate 2000 runs and capture 200 wickets in this period was Richie Benaud. He scored 2201 runs, though at a modest average of 24.45. His 248 wickets came at an average of 27.03 for a quotient of 0.90. The great Gary Sobers, of course, went on to hit up the then record 8032 runs, averaging 57.78, and prise out 235 wickets for an average of 34.03. He finished with a quotient of 1.69. Benaud’s tally was a record for Australia until the great Dennis Lillee surpassed him in the early 1980s.

Benaud’s contemporary Alan Davidson, one of the greatest left-arm pacemen, had a similar batting average as Benaud, 24.59 for his 1328 runs. With one of the most elegant bowling actions, he knocked over 186 wickets, at a superb average of 20.53, among the best ever. His quotient, as a result, was a commendable 1.19.

Trevor Bailey topped 2000 runs and 100 wickets, 2290 runs (average 29.74) and 132 wickets (average 29.21), for a quotient in the positive, 1.01.

Vinoo Mankad was another with over 2000 runs and 100 wickets. His tally was 2109 runs (average 31.47) and 162 wickets (average 32.32). His quotient fell just short of 1, at 0.97.

The fast bowling prowess of Ray Lindwall put his batting ability in the shade. He was one of the greatest speedsters, and formed a fearsome duo with Keith Miller. His 228 wickets came at an average of 23.03. With the bat he knocked up over 1500 runs, 2 hundreds and 5 fifties. His aggregate was 1502 runs at an average of 21.15, and a quotient of 0.91.

Fred Titmus had scored 1311 runs, averaging 23.00, and taken 146 wickets at 31.30 for a quotient of 0.73 before an accident at sea resulting in him losing four toes sadly curtailed his career.

Two world-class batsmen, Ted Dexter and Frank Worrell, were proficient with the ball too. Dexter scored 4502 runs (average 47.89), and took 66 wickets (average 34.93). Worrell had 3860 runs (average 49.48) and 69 wickets (average 38.72) to his name. Their excellent batting averages earned them high quotients, Dexter with 1.37, and Worrell with 1.27.

Dattu Phadkar and Bapu Nadkarni were competent allrounders in their own different ways. Phadkar scored 1229 runs at an average of 32.34, and bagged 62 wickets at 36.85 apiece. His quotient was 0.87. Nadkarni had 1414 runs (average 25.70), and 88 wickets (average 29.07) to his credit. He signed off with a quotient of 0.88.

Chandu Borde completed the list of allrounders of this period. He was a fine batsman, having aggregated 3061 runs at an average of 35.59. He had picked up 52 wickets at 46.48 when shoulder problems forced him to give up bowling. His quotient was 0.76.

Later, Mushtaq Mohammad and Salim Durrani had fine allround skills to showcase.

The top allrounders with at least 1000 runs and 50 wickets in Test cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s were:

Gary Sobers (West Indies 1954-69), Left-hand bat, Left-arm fast, fast-medium, slow left-arm, chinaman and googly, Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, 100s 21, 50s 26, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 193, Average 34.59, 5WI 6, 10WM –, Quotient 1.70

Keith Miller (Australia 1946-56), Right-hand bat, Right-arm fast, Tests 55, Highest Score 147, Runs 2958, Average 36.97, 100s 7, 50s 13, Best bowling 7/60, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, 5WI 7, 10WM 1, Quotient 1.60

Ted Dexter (England 1958-68), Right-hand bat, Right-arm medium, Tests 62, Highest Score 205, Runs 4502, Average 47.89, 100s 9, 50s 27, Best bowling 4/10, Wickets 66, Average 34.93, 5WI -, 10WM -, Quotient 1.37

Trevor Goddard (South Africa 1955-70), Left-hand bat, Left-arm medium, Tests 41, Highest Score 112, Runs 2516, Average 34.46, 100s 1, 50s 18, Best bowling 6/53, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, 5WI 5, 10WM –, Quotient 1.31

Frank Worrell (West Indies 1948-63), Right-hand bat, Left-arm fast-medium, slow, Tests 51, Highest Score 261, Runs 3860, Average 49.48, Hundreds 9, Fifties 22, Best bowling 7/70, Wickets 69, Average 38.72, 5WI 2, 10WM –, Quotient 1.27

Alan Davidson (Australia 1953-63), Left-hand bat, left-arm fast, Tests 44, Highest Score 80, Runs 1328, Average 24.59, 100s -, 50s 5, Best bowling 7/93, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, 5WI 14, 10WM 2, Quotient 1.19

Trevor Bailey (England 1949-59), Right-hand bat, Right-arm fast-medium, Tests 61, Highest Score 134*, Runs 2290, Average 29.74, 100s 1, 50s 10, Best bowling 7/34, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, 5WI 5, 10WM 1, Quotient 1.01

Vinoo Mankad (India 1946-59), Right-hand bat, Slow left-arm, Tests 44, Highest Score 231, Runs 2109, Average 31.47, 100s 5, 50s 6, Best bowling 8/52, Wickets 162, Average 32.32, 5WI 8, 10WM 2, Quotient 0.97

Ray Lindwall (Australia  1946-60), Right-hand bat, Right-arm fast, Tests 61, Highest Score 118, Runs 1502, Average 21.15, 100s 2, 50s 5, Best bowling 7/38, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, 5WI 12, 10WM –, Quotient 0.91

Richie Benaud (Australia 1952-64), Right-hand bat, Right-arm legbreak-googly, Tests 63, Highest Score 122, Runs 2201, Average 24.45, 100s 3, 50s 9, Best bowling 7/72, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, 5WI 16, 10WM 1, Quotient 0.90

Bapu Nadkarni (India 1955-68), Left-hand bat, Slow left-arm, Tests 41, Highest Score 122*, Runs 1414, Average 25.70, 100s 1, 50s 7, Best bowling 6/43, Wickets 88, Average 29.07, 5WI 4, 10WM 1, Quotient 0.88

Dattu Phadkar (India 1947-59), Right-hand bat, Right-arm fast-medium, off-break, Tests 31, Highest Score 123, Runs 1229, Average 32.34, 100s 2, 50s 8, Best bowling 7/159, Wickets 62, Average 36.85, 5WI 3, 10WM –, Quotient 0.87

Chandu Borde (India 1958-69), Right-hand bat, Right-arm legbreak, Tests 55, Highest Score 177*, Runs 3061, Average 35.59, 100s 5, 50s 18, Best bowling 5/88, Wickets 52, Average 46.48, 5WI 1, 10WM –, Quotient 0.76

Fred Titmus (England 1955-68) Right-hand bat, Right-arm off-break, Tests 49, Highest Score 84*, Runs 1311, Average 23.00, 100s -, 50s 9, Best bowling 7/79, Wickets 146, Average 31.30, 5WI 7, 10WM –, Quotient 0.73

Full Test Career

Gary Sobers (West Indies 1954-74), Left-hand bat, Left-arm fast, fast-medium, slow left-arm, chinaman and googly, Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, 100s 26, 50s 30, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 235, Average 34.03, 5WI 6, 10WM –, Quotient 1.69

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan 1959-79), Right-hand bat, Right-arm legbreak-googly, Tests 57, Highest Score 201, Runs 3643, Average 39.17, 100s 10, 50s 19, Best bowling 5/28, Wickets 79, Average 29.22, 5WI 5, 10WM -, Quotient 1.34

Salim Durrani (India 1960-73), Left-hand bat, Slow left-arm, Tests 29, Highest Score 104, Runs 1202, Average 25.04, 100s 1, 50s 7, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 75, Average 35.42, 5WI 3, 10WM 1, Quotient 0.70

(Quotient is batting average divided by bowling average). 

Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Top Bowlers

29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970

The fearsome Australian post-World War II pair of pacemen Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller with their record-breaking successor Dennis Lillee.

The devastating English fast bowling duo of the 1950s and 1960s Fred Trueman and Brian Statham chat with greats of yesteryear Sydney Barnes and Frank Woolley, with Colin Cowdrey in the background, 1960.

The post-World War II period saw some top-class bowlers emerge, pacemen as well as spinners. In many ways, it was also an era of great pairs of bowlers. The English new-ball duo of Fred Trueman and Brian Statham were the top wicket-takers, with 307 and 252 wickets respectively. Needless to say, Trueman also held the record of most wickets in Test history at that time. Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson created havoc alongside them for five years, capturing 76 wickets in his 17 Tests at a terrific average of 18.56.

The Australian Richie Benaud followed with his leg-spin and googlies, bagging 248 wickets, which was the highest for his country until the legendary Dennis Lillee went past him in the early 1980s. Benaud’s Test career coincided with one of the greatest left-arm pacemen ever, Alan Davidson. He prised out 186 wickets of his own. Their compatriot, the fast bowler Graham McKenzie was next after Benaud with 239 wickets. McKenzie played another three Tests in the home Ashes series after this period, capturing 7 more wickets.

England’s fast-medium Alec Bedser troubled even the greatest of them all, Don Bradman, for some time, getting the great man caught at short-leg by Len Hutton a number of times. He had 236 wickets to his name.

Aussie speedster Ray Lindwall came next with 228 wickets. In tandem with the mercurial allrounder Keith Miller, conjured one of the most fearsome duets. Miller scalped 170 batsmen.

The lanky West Indies off-spinner Lance Gibbs picked up 209 wickets during this time. He added another 100 victims to his tally upto 1976, going past Trueman’s record that stood for more than a decade.

The first to snare 10 wickets in a Test innings, with still a record 19 wickets in a Test to his name, was the English off-spinner Jim Laker. He finished with 193 wickets. For a number of years, the left-armer Tony Lock partnered him. Lock took 174 wickets.

The inimitable and multi-faceted Gary Sobers also captured 193 wickets in this period, but went on to bag 235 wickets before he retired in 1974.

His fellow Barbadian, the colourful fast bowler Wesley Hall, with a long-loping run-up grabbed 192 wickets. Another Barbadian Charlie Griffith was his devastating partner with the new ball. Griffith’s career got mired in the chucking controversy, and he ended up with 94 Test wickets. The controversial Roy Gilchrist operated with Hall for a while, before the arrival of Griffith, snaring 57 wickets.

From South Africa came the top-class off-spinner Hugh Tayfield. He took 170 wickets. A number of other spinners too thrived at this time. Indian left-armer Vinoo Mankad and leg-spinner Subhash Gupte operated in each other’s company for many years in the 1950s, picking up 162 and 149 wickets respectively. The Caribbean spin-twins, Sonny Ramadhin - few batsmen could decipher his off-spin from his leg-spin - and left-armer Alf Valentine played a significant part in the rise of the West Indies as a powerhouse in Test cricket. They had tallies of 158 and 139 victims respectively. The English off-spinners Fred Titmus and David Allen had 146 wickets and 122 wickets respectively to their names.  

Tucked in between these tweakers was the left-armer Bill Johnston, who bowled fast-medium as well as orthodox spin, with 160 wickets. He was joined by the off-spinner Ian Johnson who accounted for 109 batsmen. They were part of Don Bradman’s Invincibles of 1948 as were, of course, Lindwall and Miller. Pakistan produced a right-arm fast-medium bowler of quality in Fazal Mahmood, a handful on matting wickets. He took 139 wickets. The right-arm swing bowler Khan Mohammad took the new-ball with him for a number of years, taking 54 wickets.

Two allrounders followed, England’s right-arm fast-medium Trevor Bailey with 132 wickets, and the South African left-arm medium-pacer Trevor Goddard who made 123 strikes. The latter’s compatriots, right-arm pacemen Peter Pollock and Neil Adcock prised out 116 and 104 wickets respectively. Adcock’s new-ball partner Peter Heine accounted for 58 dismissals.

Indian off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna was the first of what became the famous quartet of spinners along with Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishan Singh Bedi. In this period, Prasanna had 113 wickets to his credit. He eventually tallied 189.

Two right-arm pacemen from the Antipodes, Australia’s Alan Connolly and New Zealand’s Richard ‘Dick’ Motz bagged 101 and 100 wickets respectively.

The other bowler in the list of bowlers with 100 wickets and more in this period was England’s left-armer Johnny Wardle who bowled orthodox as well as wrist-spin. His 102 wickets came at the best average of 20.39 among these bowlers.

English fast bowler John Snow was on 99 wickets at this stage. He went on to tally 202 wickets. Ken Higgs partnered him for a few years, and finished with 71 wickets. The Australian fast-medium Neil Hawke finished with 91 wickets.    

Next to Wardle in terms of averages was Davidson at 20.53. They were followed by Adcock, Laker and Trueman at 21.10, 21.24 and 21.57 respectively. Miller was next at 22.97, with his compatriots Lindwall and Johnston at 23.03 and 23.91 respectively. The others who had averages less than 25 were Peter Pollock (24.18), Fazal Mahmood (24.70, Brian Statham (24.84) and Alec Bedser (24.89).

It was indeed an era when several great bowlers regaled the cricketing world with their myriad skills, often in tandem. Many of these names will never be forgotten in the annals of Test cricket.

TOP WICKET-TAKERS (minimum 100 wickets)

Fred Trueman (England, right-arm fast) 1952-65, Tests 67, Balls 15178, Wickets 307, Average 21.57, BBI 8/31, BBM 12/119, 5WI 17, 10WM 3

Brian Statham (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1951-65, Tests 70, Balls 16056, Wickets 252, Average 24.84, BBI 7/39, BBM 11/97, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Richie Benaud (Australia, right-arm legbreak-googly) 1952-64, Tests 63, Balls 19108, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, BBI 7/72, BBM 11/105, 5WI 16, 10WM 1

Graham McKenzie (Australia, right-arm fast) 1961-70, Tests 57, Balls 16797, Wickets 239, Average 29.19, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Alec Bedser (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1946-55, Tests 51, Balls 15918, Wickets 236, Average 24.89, BBI 7/44, BBM 14/99, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Ray Lindwall (Australia, right-arm fast) 1946-60, Tests 61, Balls 13650, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, BBI 7/38, BBM 9/70, 5WI 12, 10WM –

Lance Gibbs (West Indies, right-arm off-break) 1958-69, Tests 50, Balls 17229, Wickets 209, Average 27.54, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Jim Laker (England, right-arm off-break) 1948-59, Tests 46, Balls 12027, Wickets 193, Average 21.24, BBI 10/53, BBM 19/90, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Gary Sobers (West Indies, left-arm fast, fast-medium, slow left-arm, chinaman and googly) 1954-69, Tests 76, Balls 17366, Wickets 193, Average 34.59, BBI 6/73, BBM 8/80, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Wesley Hall (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1958-69, Tests 48, Balls 10421, Wickets 192, Average 26.38, BBI 7/69, BBM 11/126, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Alan Davidson (Australia, left-arm fast) 1953-63, Tests 44, Balls 11587, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, BBI 7/93, BBM 12/124, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Tony Lock (England, slow left-arm) 1952-68, Tests 49, Balls 13147, Wickets 174, Average 25.58, BBI 7/35, BBM 11/48, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Keith Miller (Australia, right-arm fast) 1946-56, Tests 55, Balls 10461, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, BBI 7/60, BBM 10/152, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Hugh Tayfield (South Africa, right-arm off-break) 1949-60, Tests 37, Balls 13568, Wickets 170, Average 25.91, BBI 9/113, BBM 13/165, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Vinoo Mankad (India, slow left-arm) 1946-59, Tests 44, Balls 14686, Wickets 162, Average 32.32, BBI 8/52, BBM 13/131, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Bill Johnston (Australia, left-arm fast-medium, slow left-arm) 1947-55, Tests 40, Balls 11048, Wickets 160, Average 23.91, BBI 6/44, BBM 9/183, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies, right-arm offbreak and legbreak) 1950-61, Tests 43, Balls 13939, Wickets 158, Average 28.98, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/152, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Subhash Gupte (India, right-arm legbreak googly) 1951-61, Tests 36, Balls 11284, Wickets 149, Average 29.55, BBI 9/102, BBM 10/223, 5WI 12, 10WM 1

Fred Titmus (England, right-arm off-break) 1955-68, Tests 49, Balls 14139, Wickets 146, Average 31.30, BBI 7/79, BBM 9/162, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Fazal Mahmood (Pakistan, right-arm fast-medium) 1952-62, Tests 34, Balls 9834, Wickets 139, Average 24.70, BBI 7/42, BBM 13/114, 5WI 13, 10WM 4

Alf Valentine (West Indies, slow left-arm) 1950-62, Tests 36, Balls 12953, Wickets 139, Average 30.32, BBI 8/104, BBM 11/204, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Trevor Bailey (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1949-59, Tests 61, Balls 9712, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, BBI 7/34, BBM 11/98, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Trevor Goddard (South Africa, left-arm medium) 1955-70, Tests 41, Balls 11736, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, BBI 6/53, BBM 8/92, 5WI 5, 10WM –

David Allen (England, right-arm off-break) 1960-66, Tests 39, Balls 11297, Wickets 122, Average 30.97, BBI 5/30, BBM 9/162, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Peter Pollock (South Africa, right-arm fast) 1961-70, Tests 28, Balls 6522, Wickets 116, Average 24.18, BBI 6/38, BBM 10/87, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Erapalli Prasanna (India, right-arm offbreak googly) 1962-69, Tests 22, Balls 7556, Wickets 113, Average 27.05, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/174, 5WI 8, 10WM 1

Ian Johnson (Australia, right-arm offbreak) 1946-56, Tests 45, Balls 8780, Wickets 109, Average 29.19, BBI 7/44, BBM 8/86, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Neil Adcock (South Africa, right-arm fast) 1953-62, Tests 26, Balls 6391, Wickets 104, Average 21.10, BBI 6/43, BBM 8/87, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Johnny Wardle (England, slow left-arm, chinaman) 1948-57, Tests 28, Balls 6597, Wickets 102, Average 20.39, BBI 7/36, BBM 12/89, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Alan Connolly (Australia, right-arm fast-medium) 1963-70, Tests 28, Balls 7602, Wickets 101, Average 28.71, BBI 6/47, BBM 7/109, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Richard ‘Dick’ Motz (New Zealand, right-arm fast) 1961-69, Tests 32, Balls 7034, Wickets 100, Average 31.48, BBI 6/63, BBM 8/113, 5WI 5, 10WM –

BEST AVERAGES (minimum 100 wickets)

Johnny Wardle (England) 1948-57, Tests 28, Balls 6597, Wickets 102, Average 20.39, BBI 7/36, BBM 12/89, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Alan Davidson (Australia) 1953-63, Tests 44, Balls 11587, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, BBI 7/93, BBM 12/124, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Neil Adcock (South Africa) 1953-62, Tests 26, Balls 6391, Wickets 104, Average 21.10, BBI 6/43, BBM 8/87, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Jim Laker (England) 1948-59, Tests 46, Balls 12027, Wickets 193, Average 21.24, BBI 10/53, BBM 19/90, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Fred Trueman (England) 1952-65, Tests 67, Balls 15178, Wickets 307, Average 21.57, BBI 8/31, BBM 12/119, 5WI 17, 10WM 3

Keith Miller (Australia) 1946-56, Tests 55, Balls 10461, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, BBI 7/60, BBM 10/152, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Ray Lindwall (Australia) 1946-60, Tests 61, Balls 13650, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, BBI 7/38, BBM 9/70, 5WI 12, 10WM –

Bill Johnston (Australia) 1947-55, Tests 40, Balls 11048, Wickets 160, Average 23.91, BBI 6/44, BBM 9/183, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Peter Pollock (South Africa) 1961-70, Tests 28, Balls 6522, Wickets 116, Average 24.18, BBI 6/38, BBM 10/87, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Fazal Mahmood (Pakistan) 1952-62, Tests 34, Balls 9834, Wickets 139, Average 24.70, BBI 7/42, BBM 13/114, 5WI 13, 10WM 4

Brian Statham (England) 1951-65, Tests 70, Balls 16056, Wickets 252, Average 24.84, BBI 7/39, BBM 11/97, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Alec Bedser (England) 1946-55, Tests 51, Balls 15918, Wickets 236, Average 24.89, BBI 7/44, BBM 14/99, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Tony Lock (England) 1952-68, Tests 49, Balls 13147, Wickets 174, Average 25.58, BBI 7/35, BBM 11/48, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Hugh Tayfield (South Africa) 1949-60, Tests 37, Balls 13568, Wickets 170, Average 25.91, BBI 9/113, BBM 13/165, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Trevor Goddard (South Africa) 1955-70, Tests 41, Balls 11736, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, BBI 6/53, BBM 8/92, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Wesley Hall (West Indies) 1958-69, Tests 48, Balls 10421, Wickets 192, Average 26.38, BBI 7/69, BBM 11/126, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Richie Benaud (Australia) 1952-64, Tests 63, Balls 19108, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, BBI 7/72, BBM 11/105, 5WI 16, 10WM 1

Erapalli Prasanna (India) 1962-69, Tests 22, Balls 7556, Wickets 113, Average 27.05, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/174, 5WI 8, 10WM 1

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1958-69, Tests 50, Balls 17229, Wickets 209, Average 27.54, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Alan Connolly (Australia) 1963-70, Tests 28, Balls 7602, Wickets 101, Average 28.71, BBI 6/47, BBM 7/109, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies) 1950-61, Tests 43, Balls 13939, Wickets 158, Average 28.98, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/152, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Graham McKenzie (Australia) 1961-70, Tests 57, Balls 16797, Wickets 239, Average 29.19, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Ian Johnson (Australia) 1946-56, Tests 45, Balls 8780, Wickets 109, Average 29.19, BBI 7/44, BBM 8/86, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Trevor Bailey (England) 1949-59, Tests 61, Balls 9712, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, BBI 7/34, BBM 11/98, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Subhash Gupte (India) 1951-61, Tests 36, Balls 11284, Wickets 149, Average 29.55, BBI 9/102, BBM 10/223, 5WI 12, 10WM 1

FULL CAREER

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1958-76, Tests 79, Balls 27115, Wickets 309, Average 29.09, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 18, 10WM 2

Graham McKenzie (Australia) 1961-71, Tests 60, Balls 17681, Wickets 246, Average 29.78, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Gary Sobers (West Indies) 1954-74, Tests 93, Balls 21599, Wickets 235, Average 34.03, BBI 6/73, BBM 8/80, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Erapalli Prasanna (India) 1962-78, Tests 49, Balls 14353, Wickets 189, Average 30.38, BBI 8/76, BBM 11/140, 5WI 10, 10WM 2

Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Top Batsmen

 Even though he played just 15 Tests over three series in two years at the age of 38 to 40 after the War, the name Bradman keeps cropping up even when talking about an era that spanned more than two decades after his retirement. He hit up nearly 2000 runs in this time, 1903 to be precise, at an astounding average of 105.72, even higher than in his prime, with 8 hundreds and 5 fifties. But then The Don essentially belongs to the era between the Wars, and in any case he is on a pedestal far higher than any other batsman…..past, present or future.

 

Gary Sobers

Len Hutton

The 3 Ws.....(from left) Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott

Colin Cowdrey

Ken Barrington

Graeme Pollock

Doug Walters

So then let us confine ourselves to other great batsmen, more human in stature. There were seven batsmen in this period after the Second World War and in the 1950s and 1960s, ending in the banishment of South Africa, for reasons other than cricket. We saw the emergence of more and more brilliant batsmen from the West Indies, and from South Africa, some of whom could not, sadly, see their careers in full bloom. England’s Colin Cowdrey scored the most runs, the only one to top 7000, at 7228, closely followed by compatriot Ken Barrington and the inimitable West Indies allrounder Gary Sobers with 6808 and 6776. Australian left-hander Neil Harvey completed the 6000 runs club. Two English batsmen synonymous with each other, top-class opener Len Hutton and the debonair Denis Compton, along with the exquisite little West Indies strokeplayer Rohan Kanhai aggregated above 5000.

Turning to averages among batsmen who scored 2000 runs and more, the South African left-hander Graeme Pollock was on top at 60.97 for his 2256 runs in 23 Tests. The Australian star batsman Doug Walters was next at 59.21 for his 2250 runs in 25 Tests. They were followed by Gary Sobers and Ken Barrington at 58.92 and 58.67 respectively. Two of the famous Caribbean Ws, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott finished at 58.61 and 56.68. Len Hutton completed the list of averages of 50 at 54.62.

In the 45-plus category there are some very illustrious names, Denis Compton, Lindsay Hassett, Frank Worrell, Bobby Simpson, Neil Harvey, Rohan Kanhai, Ted Dexter, Bill Lawry, Vijay Hazare, Seymour Nurse, Bob Cowper, Peter May, Conrad Hunte, Arthur Morris, Colin Cowdrey, John Edrich, Eddie Barlow and Norman O’Neill.

Top Rungetters

(minimum 2000 runs)

Colin Cowdrey (England), Tests 104, Highest Score 182, Runs 7228, Average 46.33, Hundreds 22, Fifties 37

Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256, Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, Hundreds 21, Fifties 26

Neil Harvey (Australia), Tests 79, Highest Score 205, Runs 6149, Average 48.41, Hundreds 21, Fifties 24

Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30

Denis Compton (England), Tests 70, Highest Score 278, Runs 5339, Average 49.89, Hundreds 15, Fifties 26

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies), Tests 61, Highest Score 256, Runs 5056, Average 48.15, Hundreds 12, Fifties 22

Bill Lawry (Australia), Tests 62, Highest Score 210, Runs 4910, Average 47.66, Hundreds 13, Fifties 24

Tom Graveney (England), Tests 79, Highest Score 258, Runs 4882, Average 44.38, Hundreds 11, Fifties 20

Peter May (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 285*, Runs 4537, Average 46.77, Hundreds 13, Fifties 22

Ted Dexter (England), Tests 62, Highest Score 205, Runs 4502, Average 47.89, Hundreds 9, Fifties 27

Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score 207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19

Bobby Simpson (Australia), Tests 52, Highest Score 311, Runs 4131, Average 48.60, Hundreds 8, Fifties 24

Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 55, Highest Score 337, Runs 3915, Average 43.98, Hundreds 12, Fifties 15

Frank Worrell (West Indies), Tests 51, Highest Score 261, Runs 3860, Average 49.48, Hundreds 9, Fifties 22

Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14

Polly Umrigar (India), Tests 59, Highest Score 223, Runs 3631, Average 42.22, Hundreds 12, Fifties 14

Arthur Morris (Australia), Tests 46, Highest Score 206, Runs 3533, Average 46.48, Hundreds 12, Fifties 12

John Reid (New Zealand), Tests 58, Highest Score 142, Runs 3428, Average 33.28, Hundreds 6, Fifties 22

Conrad Hunte (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 260, Runs 3245, Average 45.06, Hundreds 8, Fifties 13

Vijay Manjrekar (India), Tests 55, Highest Score 189*, Runs 3208, Average 39.12, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Colin McDonald (Australia), Tests 47, Highest Score 170, Runs 3107, Average 39.32, Hundreds 5, Fifties 17

Basil Butcher (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 209*, Runs 3104, Average 43.11, Hundreds 7, Fifties 16

Chandu Borde (India), Tests 55, Highest Score 177*, Runs 3061, Average 35.59, Hundreds 5, Fifties 18

Keith Miller (Australia), Tests 55, Highest Score 147, Runs 2958, Average 36.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 13

Lindsay Hassett (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 198*, Runs 2874, Average 49.55, Hundreds 10, Fifties 10

Saeed Ahmed (Pakistan), Tests 38, Highest Score 172, Runs 2833, Average 41.66, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15

Norman O’Neill (Australia), Tests 42, Highest Score 181, Runs 2779, Average 45.55, Hundreds 6, Fifties 15

Bert Sutcliffe (New Zealand), Tests 42, Highest Score 230*, Runs 2727, Average 40.10, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15

John Edrich (England), Tests 40, Highest Score 310*, Runs 2711, Average 45.94, Hundreds 8, Fifties 10

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 41, Highest Score 246*, Runs 2609, Average 42.77, Hundreds 8, Fifties 10

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (India), Tests 39, Highest Score 203*, Runs 2552, Average 36.98, Hundreds 6, Fifties 14

Cyril Washbrook (England), Tests 36, Highest Score 195, Runs 2552, Average 43.25, Hundreds 6, Fifties 12

Seymour Nurse (West Indies) Tests 29, Highest Score 258, Runs 2523, Average 47.60, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10

Eddie Barlow (South Africa), Tests 30, Highest Score 210, Runs 2516, Average 45.74, Hundreds 6, Fifties 15

Trevor Goddard (South Africa), Tests 41, Highest Score 112, Runs 2516, Average 34.46, Hundreds 1, Fifties 18

Pankaj Roy (India), Tests 43, Highest Score 173, Runs 2442, Average 32.56, Hundreds 5, Fifties 9

Jackie McGlew (South Africa), Tests 34, Highest Score 255*, Runs 2440, Average 42.06, Hundreds 7, Fifties 10

Godfrey Evans (England), Tests 91, Highest Score 104, Runs 2439, Average 20.49, Hundreds 2, Fifties 8

Johnny Waite (South Africa), Tests 50, Highest Score 134, Runs 2405, Average 30.44, Hundreds 4, Fifties 16

Trevor Bailey (England), Tests 61, Highest Score 134*, Runs 2290, Average 29.74, Hundreds 1, Fifties 10

Peter Burge (Australia), Tests 42, Highest Score 181, Runs 2290, Average 38.16, Hundreds 4, Fifties 12

Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242, Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Richie Benaud (Australia), Tests 63, Highest Score 122, Runs 2201, Average 24.45, Hundreds 3, Fifties 9

Vijay Hazare (India), Tests 30, Highest Score 164*, Runs 2192, Average 47.65, Hundreds 7, Fifties 9

Graham Dowling (New Zealand), Tests 35, Highest Score 239, Runs 2163, Average 32.28, Hundreds 3, Fifties 10

Ian Redpath (Australia), Tests 37, Highest Score 132, Runs 2159, Average 37.22, Hundreds 1, Fifties 16

Mike Smith (England), Tests 47, Highest Score 121, Runs 2138, Average 32.39, Hundreds 3, Fifties 11

Bill Edrich (England), Tests 30, Highest Score 191, Runs 2133, Average 43.53, Hundreds 5, Fifties 13

Roy McLean (South Africa), Tests 40, Highest Score 142, Runs 2120, Average 30.28, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10

Vinoo Mankad (India), Tests 44, Highest Score 231, Runs 2109, Average 31.47, Hundreds 5, Fifties 6

Imtiaz Ahmed (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score 209, Runs 2079, Average 29.28, Hundreds 3, Fifties 11

Bob Cowper (Australia), Tests 27, Highest Score 307, Runs 2061, Average 46.84, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10

Peter Richardson (England), Tests 34, Highest Score 126, Runs 2061, Average 37.47, Hundreds 5, Fifties 9

Jeff Stollmeyer (West Indies), Tests 29, Highest Score 160, Runs 2066, Average 44.04, Hundreds 4, Fifties 10

ML Jaisimha (India), Tests 36, Highest Score 129, Runs 2013, Average 32.46, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12

Highest Averages

(minimum 2000 runs with average of 50 and above)

Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242, Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, Hundreds 21, Fifties 26

Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256, Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35

Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score 207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19

Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14

Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30

Highest Averages

(less than 2000 runs but above 1000 runs with average of 50 and above)

Don Bradman (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 234, Runs 1903, Average 105.72, Hundreds 8, Fifties 5

Bruce Mitchell (South Africa), Tests 10, Highest Score 189*, Runs 1072, Average 59.55, Hundreds 3, Fifties 6

Dudley Nourse (South Africa), Tests 20, Highest Score 208, Runs 1863, Average 56.45, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10

Eric Rowan (South Africa), Tests 14, Highest Score 236, Runs 1238, Average 51.58, Hundreds 3, Fifties 7

Highest Averages

(less than 1000 runs but above 500 runs with average of 50 and above)

Barry Richards (South Africa), Tests 4, Highest Score 140, Runs 508, Average 72.57, Hundreds 2, Fifties 2

Sidney Barnes (Australia), Tests 12, Highest Score 234, Runs 998, Average 66.53, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5

Alan Melville (South Africa), Tests 6, Highest Score 189, Runs 608, Average 55.27, Hundreds 3, Fifties 1

Full Test career figures of some of these top batsmen whose careers spanned other periods as well:

Don Bradman, span 1928-48, Tests 52, Highest Score 334, Runs 6996, Average 99.94, Hundreds 29, Fifties 13

Sidney Barnes 1938-48, Tests 13, Highest Score 234, Runs 1072, Average 63.05, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5

Gary Sobers, span 1957-74, Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30

Len Hutton, span 1937-55, Tests 79, Highest Score 364, Runs 6971, Average 56.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 33

Dudley Nourse, span 1935-51, Tests 34, Highest Score 231, Runs 2960, Average 53.81, Hundreds 9, Fifties 14

Alan Melville, span 1938-49, Tests 11, Highest Score 189, Runs 894, Average 52.58, Hundreds 4, Fifties 3

Denis Compton, span 1937-57, Tests 78, Highest Score 278, Runs 5807, Average 50.06, Hundreds 17, Fifties 28

Bruce Mitchell, span 1929-49, Tests 42, Highest Score 189*, Runs 3471, Average 48.88, Hundreds 8, Fifties 21

Doug Walters, span 1965-81, Tests 74, Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33

Geoff Boycott, span 1964-82, Tests 108, Highest Score 246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42

Rohan Kanhai, span 1957-74, Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Bill Lawry, span 1961-71, Tests 67, Highest Score 210, Runs 5234, Average 47.15, Hundreds 13, Fifties 27

Bobby Simpson, span 1957-78, Tests 62, Highest Score 311, Runs 4869, Average 46.81, Hundreds 10, Fifties 27

Colin Cowdrey, span 1954-75, Tests 114, Highest Score 182, Runs 7624, Average 44.06, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Eric Rowan, span 1935-51, Tests 26, Highest Score 236, Runs 1965, Average 43.66, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12

John Edrich, span 1963-76, Tests 77, Highest Score 310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24

Ian Redpath, span 1964-76, Tests 66, Highest Score 171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31

Saeed Ahmed, span 1958-72, Tests 41, Highest Score 172, Runs 2991, Average 40.41, Hundreds 5, Fifties 16

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, span 1961-75, Tests 46, Highest Score 203*, Runs 2793, Average 34.91, Hundreds 6, Fifties 16

ML Jaisimha, span 1959-71, Tests 39, Highest Score 129, Runs 2056, Average 30.68, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12