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.

On the 40th anniversary of India’s triumph in the cricket World Cup 1983, interview with skipper Kapil Dev published in Indra Vikram Singh’s ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket’

 

What did your 1983 World Cup team have that the 1975 and 1979 Indian sides did not?

Self-belief. We had a good tour of the West Indies prior to the 1983 World Cup. We levelled the One-day series 1-1 before losing the decider. It was not a joke to beat the West Indies in those days. Once we beat them (in Berbice, Guyana), we realised that we could beat anyone. Besides we had a number of allrounders. If you consider that men like Kirti Azad and Madan Lal – who batted at no.7 and no.9 for us – have scored 16 Ranji Trophy centuries each, it becomes apparent that we had tremendous batting depth. Imagine a player like Syed Kirmani was batting at no.10! Even last-man Balwinder Singh Sandhu could bat. We had attacking batsmen (Krish Srikkanth, Sandeep Patil and Kapil himself) and also those like Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, Dilip Vengsarkar and Yash Pal Sharma who could see us through the 60 overs. Our fielding was safe rather than brilliant, though men like Roger Binny and Yash Pal were outstanding. Gavaskar did a great job in the slips and Kirmani was a fine wicketkeeper.

No one except Kim Hughes gave your team even an outside chance to win the Cup. Were you surprised at your team’s performance?

Definitely, I was surprised. But everything was clicking for us then. We had belief in ourselves. Victory over the West Indies in the first match of the World Cup gave a kick-start to our campaign. We can win, we thought after this. Our attitude was very good.

 

In retrospect, you did have a very good One-day side.

I agree we had a good team.

 

Would you say that it was your innings against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells that turned the tide? You went on to win four matches in a row to lift the Cup quite sensationally.

Rather than my innings, what was critical was that the thought of losing never crossed our minds. There was a terrific bond within that team.

 

Was the wicket seaming a lot on that day?

You know that matches started at 11 A.M. in England thanks to their long hours of daylight during summer. Even at that hour the ball was nipping around. Crucially, our batsmen kept edging instead of missing. As wickets tumbled, the pressure kept building up. Soon it was 9 for four wickets (when Kapil went in to bat, and then 17 for five).

 

Did the pitch ease out as your innings progressed?

Yes, it improved and we were able to build up a good total.

 

Personally too you had a brilliant World Cup in 1983, with bat and ball. Was that your finest hour, or was the Test wickets record more exhilarating?

The World Cup win brought recognition to Indian cricket. It brought about a massive change as far as One-day cricket was concerned in India. Earlier our One-day record was poor. This victory was not a fluke; we went on to win the World Championship of cricket in Australia in 1985. We became a force to reckon with. Even though Test cricket is the ultimate, the World Cup triumph was extremely important for us. People talk about my innings of 175 against Zimbabwe, but look at our team effort and the fine combination we had. Medium-pacers Binny, Madan Lal and Sandhu were the key. For variety we had left-arm spinner Ravi Shastri. Let’s not forget the bowling of Amarnath (slow-medium) and Kirti Azad (quickish off-breaks). In the semi-final at Manchester – where the ball invariably swings around – it was turning and keeping low that day. These two were first-class. They pegged England back and bowled 24 overs between themselves (conceding just 55 runs and picking up three wickets), leaving my main bowlers with plenty of overs in hand. After Amarnath and Kirti had bowled 6 overs each, they would look at me at the beginning of each over and wonder if I would keep them on. I just kept them on and on. Our fielding was also very sharp that day.

 

Are you aware that you are still the only player to score a century and bag a five-wicket haul in all the World Cups put together?

(Expresses surprise).

 

What were your thoughts on the morning of the final?

We felt we had nothing to lose.

 

Your total of 183 could not have inspired confidence.

They gave us a green top on which the ball was flying around. The great West Indies fast bowlers Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding made it very tough for us.

 

Was the ball still moving around when you bowled?

It seamed the whole day. I bowled four maidens, which would not have been possible if the ball was not seaming around.

 

Gordon Greenidge shouldered arms and was bowled. Sandhu said he thought he had bowled an out-swinger but the ball came in.

It happens sometimes. Once you release the ball you can’t always be sure what it will do. At times I would attempt an out-swinger and the ball would come in after hitting the seam. Sandhu was bowling from the Nursery End from where the ball generally goes away from the right-hander due to the slope at Lord’s. But that delivery seamed in sharply.

 

At which stage did you think that you could win? Richards’ dismissal? Lloyd’s dismissal? Or later?

Vivian Richards was obviously an awesome player but even though we managed to dismiss him, Clive Lloyd was still there. And we knew what Lloyd had done in the 1975 final. But soon Lloyd (who had a strained groin and Desmond Haynes as runner) hit a catch to me at cover. Then wickets started tumbling.

 

Surely at 76 for six, you had the match in the bag.

What was important was that their top six batsmen – Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Lloyd, Larry Gomes and Faoud Bacchus – were out.

 

Do you think the West Indies batsmen were complacent?

No. When a batsman goes in, he tries his best. It’s pressure that gets batsmen in such situations. It was a World Cup final. The fielding side is always less nervous at times such as this. Ultimately, pressure got to the West Indies.

 

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3

Fully illustrated

Hardcover with jacket 11.5 x 8.75 x 1 inches

544 pages

Available at an attractive price on Amazon https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166840

Innings of his life by Yashpal Sharma as India shocked the West Indies. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket’

 The champions slump to first World Cup defeat

INDIA v WEST INDIES  •  OLD TRAFFORD, 

MANCHESTER, 9 & 10 JUNE 1983

Yashpal Sharma was the hero of India's shock win over reigning champions West Indies
in their opening encounter in the World Cup 1983.

Twice-champions West Indies had never lost a match in the World Cup. That added up to nine wins in ten matches, with one being washed out. India had won only one of their six matches - against non-descript East Africa eight years earlier - and had finished last in their group in the previous World Cup. The other known parameter was the wet Manchester weather and, true to form, early morning rain delayed the start.

It would have taken a brave man, or a lunatic, to predict anything other than a one-sided contest in favour of the West Indies. The Indian openers Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikanth were confronted by the same Caribbean attack as in the previous World Cup except that Colin Croft had made way for Malcolm Marshall. That would have provided no succour to the batsmen, for Marshall was just as menacing as his predecessor, and approaching his peak at that point.

Predictably, the West Indies had India in trouble. Sandeep Patil played some typically belligerent strokes but he perished to the gentle off-spin of Larry Gomes, as did Kapil Dev. At 141 for five it seemed like a familiar story. 

Yashpal Sharma may not have been the most graceful batsman in the world but he was as gritty, and cheeky, as they come. He batted with tremendous application, and in the company of Roger Binny put on 73 priceless runs for the sixth wicket. His 89 off 120 deliveries inclusive of 9 fours was perhaps the innings of his life. At 262 for eight in their 60 overs, India had a total good enough to stretch the champions.

A customary rousing start was but a mirage on this occasion. Both Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes fell on either side of the half-century mark. At stumps the score read 67 for two, with 22 overs already bowled. 

When play resumed next morning, the asking-rate was well above five-an-over. A sense of urgency was the order of the day. With a keen tussle on, India were jubilant as the mighty Vivian Richards was taken behind by Syed Kirmani off Binny in the second over of the day. The West Indies were already on the back foot and their cause was not helped as wickets tumbled regularly in the run-chase. Amazingly, India were tightening their grip on the match. At 157 for nine, the West Indies found themselves in dire straits with 106 runs still required.

Andy Roberts had been in such situations before. He could make a few hefty swipes, and also defend resolutely when the occasion demanded. With him was Joel Garner, in whose hands the bat looked undersized. They dug in and, as the score mounted, there were murmurs all around about the hair-raising last-wicket stand between Roberts and Deryck Murray eight years earlier, almost to the day, which clinched victory against Pakistan. Roberts and Garner raised 71 runs but the Indians kept their heads. Ravi Shastri enticed Garner out of the crease and Kirmani removed the bails. The West Indies fell short by 34 runs with almost six overs remaining. 

A disappointed Clive Lloyd recounted: "I said before the competition began that it could be more open than in the past and this has proved to be true." It was another shocking result in this exciting World Cup.

India: 262 for 8 wickets (60 overs)

West Indies: 228 all out (54.1 overs)

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3

Fully illustrated

Hardcover with jacket 11.5 x 8.75 x 1 inches

544 pages

Available at an attractive price on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166840

Indra Vikram Singh's other books available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/sk=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1

Vivian Richards…..monarch of all he surveyed. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

 

A batsman who many modern observers rate second to Bradman is Viv Richards. Sir Vivian was indeed king, monarch of all he surveyed in the sheer dominance of his strokeplay. He was mesmerised by Chandrasekhar on debut at Bangalore in 1974-75, and overshadowed by another first-timer Gordon Greenidge who nearly got a hundred in each innings. Richards set the record right in the very next Test.

I was fortunate to see that knock of his at the Ferozshah Kotla. At that time we knew nothing about the awesome strokeplay that he was capable of, but his power was certainly in evidence. One shot that has remained in my memory was the one he played while batting at the pavilion end. He hit one of the spinners straight and high, up above the big advertisement hoarding perched atop the stands, landing probably in the centre of the adjoining Ambedkar Football Stadium. I have never seen a cricket ball sailing that high ever again. Brijesh Patel, fielding at extra-cover, rolled his fingers around his eyes as though spotting the little spheroid with a pair of binoculars. It was a hit nobody ever forgets.

The other thing that I noticed was his dead-bat defence. Time and again during that long innings he would drop deliveries from the spinners Venkataraghavan, Prasanna and Bedi right under his eyes. He would then either bend down and pick up the ball, or tap it with his bat, passing it to the forward short-leg fielder Solkar. Whenever I hear people talk about Richards’ tremendous strokeplay, and how they felt he was vulnerable early in his innings because he whipped balls from outside his off-stump to the on-side, I always think back to that impregnable defence. Of course he was a blaster, but he was also a master for, like all the great players, he had a very good defence. People, particularly English ‘experts’, mocked at Bradman as well early in his career. Look what he did to them.

It was indeed a delight to see Richards bring up his first Test century and go on the rampage towards the latter stages, returning unconquered with 192. It was the beginning of the Richards saga. He was soon to become the best West Indies batsman and rule the world of cricket until he called it a day 16 years later. 

When the just-appointed England captain Tony Greig made a stupid statement before the 1976 series that he would make the West Indies “grovel”, Richards took it as a personal affront. He hammered the English bowling like no one else had done since Bradman in 1930. He slammed 232 at Trent Bridge, 135 at Old Trafford and 291, his highest Test score, at the Oval, aggregating 829 runs at an average of 118.42 in four Tests. Later Australia’s Mark Taylor got 10 more runs in England in 1989. Nobody has scored so many for the West Indies in a Test series. That year he hit up 1710 runs (in just the first eight months) at an average of 90 in 11 Tests with 7 hundreds. No one had scored as many runs in a year. The opposition: the great pace bowlers of Australia, Lillee and Thomson at their height, among others; the celebrated Indian spinners; and the pace and swing in England. The king had been crowned. It took another batsman, Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan, three decades to score more runs in a calendar year, 1788 with 9 hundreds, also in 11 Tests. 

A decade later in 1985-86, Richards blasted the fastest recorded hundred in terms of balls. He brought up his century in 56 deliveries before delighted home fans at St. John’s, Antigua, against England. 

Richards was the first batsman to dominate in Tests as well as One-day Internationals. If his electrifying fielding turned the World Cup final versus Australia in 1975, four years later his tremendous 139-run fifth-wicket stand with Collis King turned the second World Cup final. Richards scored 138 to raise a match-winning total. In 1984, also against England, he smashed the then highest-ever One-day International score of 189 not out. Michael Holding was a virtual bystander in an unbroken last-wicket partnership of 106. In 1987 he surpassed Kapil Dev’s World Cup record innings by crashing 181 off the Sri Lankan bowling at Karachi.

He took over the captaincy of the West Indies after Clive Lloyd retired in 1985 and under him the West Indies continued to rule world cricket in both its forms. They, however, could not reclaim the World Cup after the shocking defeat at the hands of India in 1983. 

When he called it a day, Richards had surpassed Sobers’ highest Test aggregate for the West Indies, finishing with 8540 runs at an average of 50.23 with 24 hundreds. A brilliant fielder anywhere, he also overtook Sobers in terms of catches, clutching 122 of his own. Add to this 6721 runs in One-day Internationals with an outstanding average of 47, and a strike rate of 90.20, the first to aggregate 1000 runs in the World Cup, and we have inarguably the best batsman in both forms of the game put together until Sachin Tendulkar took over the mantle.           

Statistics, though, scarcely tell the tale of one of the most self-assured cricketers ever. Helmets came into the game early in Richards’ career but he shunned them even when confronted with the fastest of bowlers. He would walk out to the crease proudly wearing his maroon West Indies cap, head tilted at a jaunty angle, chewing gum, as if strolling in a park looking at the birds on the trees. He could have been a character straight out of wild-west movies, aware of the danger but playing it cool, mind ever alert for a swift draw of his pistol. And, man, did he shoot them down, his powerful frame steering that heavy bat with great speed.

His haughty stance itself would put the jitters in the hearts of all but the most strong-hearted of bowlers. And then he would stun them by firing a bullet from outside the off-stump, screaming to the mid-wicket boundary before the startled fielders could even react. Yes, it was like a shot from a gun, not a stroke off a bat.

Richards made stroke-making look so natural, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. He would spot the ball early and then either take a big stride forward or rock back, or even step away to leg and whack the ball away. His stunning drives and pulls would leave the bowlers looking on in despair. Richards made a virtue of backing away to leg and hitting inside-out through the line. The desperation of the bowlers and fielding captains can then be imagined. To a ball pitched on or outside the off-stump, Richards could cream it across the line to the on-side; and to the delivery on or outside the leg-stump, he might loft it through the line on the off-side. If he chose to, he would just as well slam it in orthodox fashion. That is why captains were confused as to the field to employ, and the bowlers confounded regarding the line to bowl. That is also the reason why he scored so rapidly. 

They said he was vulnerable early because he was not copybook. That is only an illusion thrown up by mere theorists. Which batsman is not vulnerable early in his innings? If he were that vulnerable, he would have been sorted out early in his career by the world’s best bowlers. Instead he sorted out the greatest bowlers through his long career. Vivian Richards was an original, just as Bradman was. That is why armchair critics picked holes in their techniques as if there were a law as to how one should bat. They would do well to remember that Bradman and Richards were a law unto themselves. Just look at the scorecards, and the outstanding results their teams achieved.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages

Available on Amazon at an attractive price: 

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859  

Indra Vikram Singh's other books available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1