Test Cricket 1970s and 1980s - Top Bowlers

 (27 November 1970 to 16 April 1990)

The terrifying duo of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

The fearsome foursome of Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft.

Marshall compounded the miseries of the batsmen.

This epoch of the decades of the 1970s and 1980s saw fast bowling like no other. It was also the time when some of the greatest allrounders in history paraded their wares. In fact, the leading wicket-takers in this period were four of these top-class allrounders. Richard Hadlee became the first bowler to capture 400 Test wickets. Ian Botham had 376 wickets to his name, Kapil Dev 364 and Imran Khan 358. All of them added to their tally, Hadlee finishing with a record 431 scalps. Kapil Dev pipped him towards the end of his career with 434 victims. Botham ended with 383 wickets, and Imran with 362, an era not likely to return.

One of the fiercest fast bowlers ever, Dennis Lillee had the record of 355 wickets to his name when he hung up his boots. The much-feared Malcolm Marshall and the tall and gangling Bob Willis also topped 300 wickets in this time, 329 and 325 respectively. Marshall rounded off his career with 376 wickets. Six bowlers grabbed at least 200 wickets, four of them pacemen, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Jeff Thomson, and two spinners Derek Underwood and Abdul Qadir.

Among those who appeared in this time, six bowlers ripped out more than 200 wickets in their entire careers, a myriad collection of three pacemen, one of them a left-armer, and three spinners of different varieties. Courtney Walsh had taken the record with 519 scalps, Wasim Akram called it a day 414 wickets, while Lance Gibbs too was a record-holder with a bag of 309. Bishan SinghBedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and John Snow were other members of the 200 wickets club.

Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner registered some of the best averages ever. Marshall expended 20.76 runs for each of his 329 wickets, while Garner was just a wee bit behind with 20.97 for his 259 wickets. Marshall finally walked away with an average of 20.94, having blasted out 376 wielders of the willow.

Richard Hadlee’s average was 22.23 while he prised out 415 wickets. Imran Khan was close on his heels at 22.87, having claimed 358 victims. Hadlee eventually had an average of 22.29 for his 431 wickets, while Imran’s was 22.81 in his final count of 362 wickets. Colin Croft (125 wickets at 23.30), Holding (249 wickets at 23.68) and Lillee (355 wickets at 23.92) had career averages below 24. Walsh averaged 23.88 for his 134 wickets in this period, and finally gave away 24.44 runs for each of his 519 wickets.

They were followed by Bob Willis (325 wickets at 25.20) and Andy Roberts (202 wickets at 25.61). John Snow averaged 25.85 as he snapped up 103 wickets in this person, while he finally bowed out at 26.66 for his 202 wickets.

These were the top bowlers in the decades of the 1970s and 1980s ruled by speed, speed and more speed, with spin finding it exceedingly difficult to keep pace (pun unintended). While the West Indies speed merchants were spine-chilling, every other team had great fast bowlers in their ranks.

TOP WICKET-TAKERS (minimum 100 wickets)

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand, right-arm fast) 1973-90, Tests 83, Balls 21115, Wickets 415, Average 22.23, BBI 9/52, BBM 15/123, 5WI 35, 10WM 9

Ian Botham (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1977-89, Tests 97, Balls 21281, Wickets 376, Average 28.27, BBI 8/34, BBM 13/106, 5WI 27, 10WM 4

Kapil Dev (India, right-arm fast-medium) 1978-90, Tests 106, Balls 22269, Wickets 364, Average 29.54, BBI 9/83, BBM 11/146, 5WI 21, 10WM 2

Imran Khan (Pakistan, right-arm fast) 1971-90, Tests 82, Balls 19290, Wickets 358, Average 22.87, BBI 8/58, BBM 14/116, 5WI 23, 10WM 6

Dennis Lillee (Australia, right-arm fast) 1971-84, Tests 70, Balls 18467, Wickets 355, Average 23.92, BBI 7/83, BBM 11/123, 5WI 23, 10WM 7

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1978-90, Tests 68, Balls 15221, Wickets 329, Average 20.76, BBI 7/22, BBM 11/89, 5WI 22, 10WM 4

Bob Willis (England, right-arm fast) 1971-84, Tests 90, Balls 17357, Wickets 325, Average 25.20, BBI 8/43, BBM 9/92, 5WI 16, 10WM –

Joel Garner (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1977-87, Tests 58, Balls 13169, Wickets 259, Average 20.97, BBI 6/56, BBM 9/108, 5WI 7, 10WM -

Michael Holding (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1975-87, Tests 60, Balls 12680, Wickets 249, Average 23.68, BBI 8/92, BBM 14/149, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Derek Underwood (England, slow left-arm) 1970-82, Tests 70, Balls 17939, Wickets 230, Average 28.46, BBI 8/51, BBM 13/71, 5WI 11, 10WM 4

Abdul Qadir (Pakistan, right-arm legbreak-googly) 1977-89, Tests 63, Balls 16592, Wickets 230, Average 32.42, BBI 9/56, BBM 13/101, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Andy Roberts (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1974-83, Tests 47, Balls 11135, Wickets 202, Average 25.61, BBI 7/54, BBM 12/121, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

Jeff Thomson (Australia, right-arm fast) 1972-85, Tests 51, Balls 10535, Wickets 200, Average 28.00, BBI 6/46, BBM 9/105, 5WI 8, 10WM –

Bishan Singh Bedi (India, slow left-arm) 1971-79, Tests 48, Balls 15824, Wickets 196, Average 29.79, BBI 6/71, BBM 10/194, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India, legbreak-googly) 1971-79, Tests 42, Balls 11212, Wickets 180, Average 29.20, BBI 8/79, BBM 12/104, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Geoff Lawson (Australia, right-arm fast) 1980-89, Tests 46, Balls 11118, Wickets 180, Average 30.56, BBI 8/112, BBM 11/134, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-84, Tests 54, Balls 13747, Wickets 177, Average 32.31, BBI 9/86, BBM 11/125, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Iqbal Qasim (Pakistan, slow left-arm) 1976-88, Tests 50, Balls 13019, Wickets 171, Average 28.11, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/118, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Terry Alderman (Australia, right-arm fast-medium) 1981-90, Tests 36, Balls 9152, Wickets 153, Average 26.68, BBI 6/128, BBM 10/151, 5WI 13, 10WM 1

Chris Old (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-81, Tests 46, Balls 8858, Wickets 143, Average 28.11, BBI 7/50, BBM 9/88, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Tony Greig (England, right-arm medium fast, off-break) 1972-77, Tests 58, Balls 9802, Wickets 141, Average 32.20, BBI 8/86, BBM 13/156, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Ravi Shastri (India, slow left-arm) 1981-89, Tests 69, Balls 14528, Wickets 141, Average 39.51, BBI 5/75, BBM 8/179, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Graham Dilley (England, right-arm fast) 1979-89, Tests 41, Balls 8192, Wickets 138, Average 29.76, BBI 6/38, BBM 9/128, 5WI 6, 10WM –

John Emburey (England, right-arm off-break) 1978-89, Tests 60, Balls 14227, Wickets 138, Average 36.99, BBI 7/78, BBM 7/105, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Max Walker (Australia, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-77, Tests 34, Balls 10094, Wickets 138, Average 27.47, BBI 8/143, BBM 8/143, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Courtney Walsh (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1984-90, Tests 37, Balls 7177, Wickets 134, Average 23.88, BBI 6/62, BBM 10/101, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Lance Cairns (New Zealand, right-arm medium-fast) 1974-85, Tests 43, Balls 10628, Wickets 130, Average 32.92, BBI 7/74, BBM 10/144, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Bruce Yardley (Australia, right-arm off-break) 1978-83, Tests 33, Balls 8909, Wickets 126, Average 31.63, BBI 7/98, BBM 10/185, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Colin Croft (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1977-82, Tests 27, Balls 6165, Wickets 125, Average 23.30, BBI 8/29, BBM 9/95, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Phil Edmonds (England, slow left-arm) 1975-87, Tests 51, Balls 12028, Wickets 125, Average 34.18, BBI 7/76, BBM 7/76, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Ewan Chatfield (New Zealand, right-arm fast-medium) 1975-89, Tests 43, Balls 10360, Wickets 123, Average 32.17, BBI 6/73, BBM 10/124, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Rodney Hogg (Australia, right-arm fast) 1978-84, Tests 38, Balls 7633, Wickets 123, Average 28.47, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/66, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Dilip Doshi (India, slow left-arm) 1979-83, Tests 33, Balls 9322, Wickets 114, Average 30.71, BBI 6/102, BBM 8/103, 5WI 6, 10WM -

Wasim Akram (Pakistan, left-arm fast) 1985-90, Tests 32, Balls 7017, Wickets 111, Average 26.72, BBI 6/62, BBM 11/160, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Karsan Ghavri (India, left-arm fast, slow left-arm) 1974-81, Tests 39, Balls 3656, Wickets 109, Average 33.54, BBI 5/33, BBM 7/120, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India, right-arm off-break) 1971-83, Tests 43, Balls 11220, Wickets 109, Average 40.83, BBI 5/95, BBM 7/102, 5WI 1, 10WM –

Geoff Arnold (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-75, Tests 31, Balls 7134, Wickets 107, Average 28.75, BBI 6/45, BBM 9/91, 5WI 5, 10WM –

John Snow (England, right-arm fast) 1970-76, Tests 24, Balls 6044, Wickets 103, Average 25.85, BBI 7/40, BBM 8/63, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Shivlal Yadav (India, right-arm off-break) 1979-87, Tests 35, Balls 8360, Wickets 102, Average 35.09, BBI 5/76, BBM 8/118, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Lance Gibbs (West Indies, right-arm off-break) 1971-76, Tests 29, Balls 9886, Wickets 100, Average 32.32, BBI 7/98, BBM 9/143, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Vanburn Holder (West Indies, right-arm fast-medium) 1971-79, Tests 37, Balls 8202, Wickets 100, Average 32.92, BBI 6/28, BBM 8/223, 5WI 3, 10WM -

 

BEST AVERAGES (minimum 100 wickets)

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) 1978-90, Tests 68, Balls 15221, Wickets 329, Average 20.76, BBI 7/22, BBM 11/89, 5WI 22, 10WM 4

Joel Garner (West Indies) 1977-87, Tests 58, Balls 13169, Wickets 259, Average 20.97, BBI 6/56, BBM 9/108, 5WI 7, 10WM -

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) 1973-90, Tests 83, Balls 21115, Wickets 415, Average 22.23, BBI 9/52, BBM 15/123, 5WI 35, 10WM 9

Imran Khan (Pakistan) 1971-90, Tests 82, Balls 19290, Wickets 358, Average 22.87, BBI 8/58, BBM 14/116, 5WI 23, 10WM 6

Colin Croft (West Indies) 1977-82, Tests 27, Balls 6165, Wickets 125, Average 23.30, BBI 8/29, BBM 9/95, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Michael Holding (West Indies) 1975-87, Tests 60, Balls 12680, Wickets 249, Average 23.68, BBI 8/92, BBM 14/149, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 1984-90, Tests 37, Balls 7177, Wickets 134, Average 23.88, BBI 6/62, BBM 10/101, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Dennis Lillee (Australia) 1971-84, Tests 70, Balls 18467, Wickets 355, Average 23.92, BBI 7/83, BBM 11/123, 5WI 23, 10WM 7

Bob Willis (England) 1971-84, Tests 90, Balls 17357, Wickets 325, Average 25.20, BBI 8/43, BBM 9/92, 5WI 16, 10WM –

Andy Roberts (West Indies) 1974-83, Tests 47, Balls 11135, Wickets 202, Average 25.61, BBI 7/54, BBM 12/121, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

John Snow (England) 1970-76, Tests 24, Balls 6044, Wickets 103, Average 25.85, BBI 7/40, BBM 8/63, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Terry Alderman (Australia) 1981-90, Tests 36, Balls 9152, Wickets 153, Average 26.68, BBI 6/128, BBM 10/151, 5WI 13, 10WM 1

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) 1985-90, Tests 32, Balls 7017, Wickets 111, Average 26.72, BBI 6/62, BBM 11/160, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Max Walker (Australia) 1972-77, Tests 34, Balls 10094, Wickets 138, Average 27.47, BBI 8/143, BBM 8/143, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Jeff Thomson (Australia) 1972-85, Tests 51, Balls 10535, Wickets 200, Average 28.00, BBI 6/46, BBM 9/105, 5WI 8, 10WM –

Iqbal Qasim (Pakistan) 1976-88, Tests 50, Balls 13019, Wickets 171, Average 28.11, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/118, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Chris Old (England) 1972-81, Tests 46, Balls 8858, Wickets 143, Average 28.11, BBI 7/50, BBM 9/88, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Ian Botham (England) 1977-89, Tests 97, Balls 21281, Wickets 376, Average 28.27, BBI 8/34, BBM 13/106, 5WI 27, 10WM 4

Derek Underwood (England) 1970-82, Tests 70, Balls 17939, Wickets 230, Average 28.46, BBI 8/51, BBM 13/71, 5WI 11, 10WM 4

Rodney Hogg (Australia) 1978-84, Tests 38, Balls 7633, Wickets 123, Average 28.47, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/66, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Geoff Arnold (England) 1972-75, Tests 31, Balls 7134, Wickets 107, Average 28.75, BBI 6/45, BBM 9/91, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India) 1971-79, Tests 42, Balls 11212, Wickets 180, Average 29.20, BBI 8/79, BBM 12/104, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Kapil Dev (India) 1978-90, Tests 106, Balls 22269, Wickets 364, Average 29.54, BBI 9/83, BBM 11/146, 5WI 21, 10WM 2

Graham Dilley (England) 1979-89, Tests 41, Balls 8192, Wickets 138, Average 29.76, BBI 6/38, BBM 9/128, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Bishan Singh Bedi (India) 1971-79, Tests 48, Balls 15824, Wickets 196, Average 29.79, BBI 6/71, BBM 10/194, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Geoff Lawson (Australia) 1980-89, Tests 46, Balls 11118, Wickets 180, Average 30.56, BBI 8/112, BBM 11/134, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

Dilip Doshi (India) 1979-83, Tests 33, Balls 9322, Wickets 114, Average 30.71, BBI 6/102, BBM 8/103, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Bruce Yardley (Australia) 1978-83, Tests 33, Balls 8909, Wickets 126, Average 31.63, BBI 7/98, BBM 10/185, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Ewan Chatfield (New Zealand) 1975-89, Tests 43, Balls 10360, Wickets 123, Average 32.17, BBI 6/73, BBM 10/124, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Tony Greig (England) 1972-77, Tests 58, Balls 9802, Wickets 141, Average 32.20, BBI 8/86, BBM 13/156, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan) 1972-84, Tests 54, Balls 13747, Wickets 177, Average 32.31, BBI 9/86, BBM 11/125, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1971-76, Tests 29, Balls 9886, Wickets 100, Average 32.32, BBI 7/98, BBM 9/143, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) 1977-89, Tests 63, Balls 16592, Wickets 230, Average 32.42, BBI 9/56, BBM 13/101, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Lance Cairns (New Zealand) 1974-85, Tests 43, Balls 10628, Wickets 130, Average 32.92, BBI 7/74, BBM 10/144, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Vanburn Holder (West Indies) 1971-79, Tests 37, Balls 8202, Wickets 100, Average 32.92, BBI 6/28, BBM 8/223, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Karsan Ghavri (India) 1974-81, Tests 39, Balls 3656, Wickets 109, Average 33.54, BBI 5/33, BBM 7/120, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Phil Edmonds (England) 1975-87, Tests 51, Balls 12028, Wickets 125, Average 34.18, BBI 7/76, BBM 7/76, 5WI 2, 10WM –
Shivlal Yadav (India) 1979-87, Tests 35, Balls 8360, Wickets 102, Average 35.09, BBI 5/76, BBM 8/118, 5WI 3, 10WM –

John Emburey (England) 1978-89, Tests 60, Balls 14227, Wickets 138, Average 36.99, BBI 7/78, BBM 7/105, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Ravi Shastri (India) 1981-89, Tests 69, Balls 14528, Wickets 141, Average 39.51, BBI 5/75, BBM 8/179, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India) 1971-83, Tests 43, Balls 11220, Wickets 109, Average 40.83, BBI 5/95, BBM 7/102, 5WI 1, 10WM

 

FULL CAREER

Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 1984-2001, Tests 132, Balls 30019, Wickets 519, Average 24.44, BBI 7/37, BBM 13/55, 5WI 22, 10WM 3

Kapil Dev (India) 1978-94, Tests 131, Balls 27740, Wickets 434, Average 29.64, BBI 9/83, BBM 11/146, 5WI 23, 10WM 2

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) 1973-90, Tests 86, Balls 21918, Wickets 431, Average 22.29, BBI 9/52, BBM 15/123, 5WI 36, 10WM 9

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) 1985-2002, Tests 104, Balls 22627, Wickets 414, Average 23.62, BBI 7/119, BBM 11/110, 5WI 25, 10WM 5

Ian Botham (England) 1977-92, Tests 102, Balls 21815, Wickets 383, Average 28.40, BBI 8/34, BBM 13/106, 5WI 27, 10WM 4

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) 1978-91, Tests 81, Balls 17584, Wickets 376, Average 20.94, BBI 7/22, BBM 11/89, 5WI 22, 10WM 4

Imran Khan (Pakistan) 1971-92, Tests 88, Balls 19458, Wickets 362, Average 22.81, BBI 8/58, BBM 14/116, 5WI 23, 10WM 6

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

Derek Underwood (England) 1966-82, Tests 86, Balls 21862, Wickets 297, Average 25.83, BBI 8/51, BBM 13/71, 5WI 17, 10WM 6

Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) 1977-90, Tests 67, Balls 17126, Wickets 236, Average 32.80, BBI 9/56, BBM 13/101, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Bishan Singh Bedi (India) 1966-79, Tests 67, Balls 21364, Wickets 266, Average 28.71, BBI 7/98, BBM 10/194, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India) 1964-79, Tests 58, Balls 15963, Wickets 242, Average 29.74, BBI 8/79, BBM 12/104, 5WI 16, 10WM 2

John Snow (England) 1965-76, Tests 49, Balls 12021, Wickets 202, Average 26.66, BBI 7/40, BBM 10/142, 5WI 8, 10WM 1

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan) 1969-84, Tests 55, Balls 13951, Wickets 177, Average 32.75, BBI 9/86, BBM 11/125, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Terry Alderman (Australia) 1981-91, Tests 41, Balls 10181, Wickets 170, Average 27.15, BBI 6/47, BBM 10/151, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India) 1965-83, Tests 57, Balls 14877, Wickets 156, Average 36.11, BBI 8/72, BBM 12/152, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Ravi Shastri (India) 1981-92, Tests 80, Balls 15751, Wickets 151, Average 40.96, BBI 5/75, BBM 8/179, 5WI 2, 10WM –

John Emburey (England) 1978-95, Tests 64, Balls 15391, Wickets 147, Average 38.40, BBI 7/78, BBM 7/105, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Geoff Arnold (England) 1967-75, Tests 34, Balls 7650, Wickets 115, Average 28.29, BBI 6/45, BBM 9/91, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Vanburn Holder (West Indies) 1969-79, Tests 40, Balls 9095, Wickets 109, Average 33.27, BBI 6/28, BBM 8/223, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Ben Stokes has accorded top priority to Test cricket; bids fair to be ranked among the finest batting allrounders

Ben Stokes is set to emulate Gary Sobers, the king of allrounders,  in terms of Test runs and wickets.

It is commendable that Ben Stokes has given top priority to Test cricket. He skipped the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and has made himself unavailable for the World T20 in order to be fresh for Test cricket. More particularly, he wants to be fit to bowl regularly and fulfil his role as allrounder. As one of the leading cricket personalities of the time, he has, in no uncertain terms, declared that Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game and deserves all the respect.

Firmly at the helm of the England Test team, and with another belligerent personality, coach Brendon McCullum, by his side, Stokes appears set to pen the next exhilarating chapter in his saga.

Gary Sobers is the king of allrounders. Jacques Kallis with his fabulous record is not far behind. Imran Khan and Keith Miller would come next in the hierarchy. In simple terms, an allrounder can be defined as one whose batting average is higher than his bowling average. A good allrounder’s quotient, that is, batting average divided by bowling average should be above 1, or in the positive.

Ideally, an allrounder’s batting average should be above 30, and bowling average below 30. Taking a minimum of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets, there have been only 18 allrounders with a quotient of more than 1 in the 147-year history of Test cricket.  Monty Noble missed the distinction by just three runs, having scored 1,997 runs at an average of 30.25, and taken 121 wickets at 25.00 apiece in his 42 Tests, for a quotient of 1.21.

Wilfred Rhodes, whose Test career spanned a huge period of 31 years between 1899 and 1930, was the pioneer. He scored 2,325 runs at an average of 30.19, and bagged 127 wickets at 26.96 each in 58 Tests, ending with a quotient of 1.11.

Sobers is at the top of the league with a quotient of 1.697; Kallis is right on his heels with 1.695. Imran ranks third at 1.65, with Miller close behind at 1.60. Ravindra Jadeja, who is still playing, has a quotient of 1.49.

When he hung up his boots in 1974, Sobers held the record for the highest score (365 not out) and aggregate (8,032 runs), and centuries second in number (26) to Bradman, in his 93 Test matches, and was the first to hit 6 sixes in an over in First-class cricket. One of the greatest batsmen, with a repertoire of bowling none has been able to match (235 wickets), and a brilliant fielder, Sobers remains peerless.

Kallis was one for the long distance, amassing 13,289 runs with 45 hundreds and picking up 292 wickets in 166 Test matches.

Sobers (57.78) and Kallis (55.37) are the only allrounders to average in the fifties with the bat.

Among top allrounders, the only three to average below 23 with the ball are Richard Hadlee 22.29 (431 wickets in 86 Tests), Imran 22.81 (362 wickets in 88 Tests) and Miller 22.97 (170 wickets in 55 Tests).

Ben Stokes is one of just five top allrounders to score above 5,000 Test runs

Just five allrounders have scored above 5,000 runs, Kallis, Sobers, Kapil Dev (5,248 runs, 31.05 average, 131 Tests) Ben Stokes (6,316 runs, 35.48 average, 102 Tests), and Ian Botham (5,200 runs, 33.54 average, 102 Tests).

Similarly, only six allrounders have captured 300 wickets and more, Ravichandran Ashwin (516 wickets, 23.75 average, 100 Tests), Kapil Dev (434 wickets, 29.64 average, 131 Tests), Hadlee (431 wickets, 22.29 average, 86 Tests), Shaun Pollock (421 wickets, 23.11 average, 108 Tests), Botham (383 wickets, 28.40 average, 102 Tests), and Imran (362 wickets, 22.81 average, 88 Tests). Ravindra Jadeja is ready to creep into this list (294 wickets, 24.13 average, 72 Tests). Incidentally, these are the only seven allrounders to score 3,000 runs as well.

From the above figures, it is clear who the top allrounders have been in Test history. The aggressive, hard-hitting Stokes has made his mark as a batting allrounder. His bowling has lagged behind. Injuries have taken their toll. But he is on the verge of 200 wickets. After 102 Tests, he has 198 wickets for an average of 31.99, and a quotient of 1.109. When he reaches the milestone, he will be only the third to score 6,000 runs and capture 200 wickets after Sobers and Kallis. With the bat, Stokes is a match-winner, capable of turning around a game at any time, with a fierce desire to win.

Present-day cricket is fortunate to have several fine allrounders, like in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, though they do not get the same credit.

In addition to Stokes, there are four other allrounders putting in sterling performances this generation. In chronological order, they are Shakib Al Hasan (67 Tests, 4,505 runs at 38.83 average, 237 wickets at 31.16 average, 1.24 quotient), Ashwin (100 Tests, 3,309 runs at 26.26 average, 516 wickets at 23.75 average, 1.105 quotient), Jadeja (72 Tests, 3,036 runs at 36.14 average, 294 wickets at 24.13 average, 1.49 quotient), and Jason Holder (64 Tests, 2797 runs at 29.44 average, 157 wickets at 29.21 average, 1.00 quotient).

Will Stokes become the first to score 8,000 runs and bag 300 wickets in his Test career? Time will tell, but his attitude and determination certainly indicate that he will.

Arguably the top four allrounders ever in Test cricket

1.  Gary Sobers (West Indies) ….. Test career span 1954-1974,  Tests 93,  Highest score 365*,  Runs 8,032,   Average 57.78,  Hundreds 26,  Wickets 235,  Average 34.03,  Best bowling 6/73,  5 Wickets / Innings 6,  Catches 109,  Quotient 1.697.

2.  Jacques Kallis (South Africa) ….. Test career span 1995-2013,  Tests 166,  Highest score 224,  Runs 13,289,   Average 55.37,  Hundreds 45,  Wickets 292,  Average 32.65,  Best bowling 6/54,  5 Wickets / Innings 5,  Catches 200,  Quotient 1.695.

3.  Imran Khan (Pakistan) ….. Test career span 1971-1992,  Tests 88,  Highest score 136,  Runs 3,807,   Average 37.69,  Hundreds 6,  Wickets 362,  Average 22.81,  Best bowling 8/58,  5 Wickets / Innings 23,  Catches 28,  Quotient 1.65.

4.  Keith Miller (Australia) ….. Test career span 1946-1956,  Tests 55,  Highest score 147,  Runs 2,958,   Average 36.97,  Hundreds 7,  Wickets 170,  Average 22.97,  Best bowling 7/60,  5 Wickets / Innings 7,  Catches 38,  Quotient 1.60.

My Cricket World Cup Dream Team

1.  Sachin Tendulkar

Runs 2278,  Average 56.95,  Strike-rate 88.98,  HS 152,  100s 6,  50s 15

Catches 12 

 

2.  Mark Waugh

Runs 1004,  Average 52.84,  Strike-rate 83.04,  HS 130,  100s 4,  50s 4

Catches 11

3.  Vivian Richards

Runs 1013,  Average 63.31,  Strike-rate 85.05,  HS 181,  100s 3,  50s 5

Wickets 10,  Average 34.50,  RO 4.15,  Best 3/41

Catches 9

4.  Martin Crowe

Runs 880,  Average 55.00,  Strike-rate 83.49,  HS 100*,  100s 1,  50s 8

Catches 8

5.  Steve Waugh  (captain)

Runs 978,  Average 48.90,  Strike-rate 81.02,  HS 120*,  100s 1,  50s 6

Wickets 27,  Average 30.14,  RO 4.70,  Best 3/36

Catches 14

6.  Adam Gilchrist  (wicketkeeper)

Runs 1085,  Average 36.16,  Strike-rate 98.01,  HS 149,  100s 1,  50s 8

Catches 45,  Stumpings 7

7.  Imran Khan (vice captain)

Runs 666,  Average 35.05,  Strike-rate 65.61,  HS 102*,  100s 1

Wickets 34,  Average 19.26,  RO 3.86,  Best 4/37

Catches 2

8.  Kapil Dev

Runs 669,  Average 37.16,  Strike-rate 115.14,  HS 175*,  100s 1,  50s 1

Wickets 28,  Average 31.85,  RO 3.76,  Best 5/43

Catches 12

9.  Wasim Akram

Runs 426,  Average 19.36,  Strike-rate 100.70,  HS 43

Wickets 55,  Average 23.83,  RO 4.04,  Best 5/28

Catches 8

10.  Shane Warne

Wickets 32,  Average 19.50,  RO 3.83,  Best 4/29

Catches 2

11.  Glenn McGrath

Wickets 71,  Average 18.19,  RO 3.96,  Best 7/15

Catches 5

12^th Man  Lance Klusener

Runs 372,  Average 124.00,  Strike-rate 121.17,  HS 57,  50s 3

Wickets 22,  Average 22.13,  RO 4.82,  Best 5/21

Catches 2