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).