Here is the list of a top 12 best all-rounders in cricket history

The best all-rounder in cricket

Here is the list of the top 12 best all-rounders in cricket history

1-    Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies): Regarded by many as the greatest all-rounder of all time, Sobers represented the West Indies from 1954 to 1974. He possessed exceptional batting skills, scoring over 8,000 runs in Tests at an average of 57.78. Sobers also took 235 wickets with his left-arm spin.

• Sir Garfield Sobers is a former West Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. He was born on July 28, 1936, in Bridgetown, Barbados.
• Sobers played international cricket for the West Indies from 1954 to 1974. He was a left-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox spin bowler. Sobers made his Test debut for the West Indies against England in 1954, and over the course of his career, he played 93 Test matches, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. He also took 235 wickets at an average of 34.03 with the ball.
• One of the most memorable moments in Sobers' career came in 1968 when he achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 365 not out against Pakistan in a Test match in Kingston, Jamaica. At that time, it was the highest individual score in Test cricket, a record that stood for more than 36 years.
• In addition to his batting prowess, Sobers was an effective bowler, known for his accurate spin bowling. He could swing the ball both ways and was a valuable asset to the West Indies team with his all-around skills.
• Sobers captained the West Indies in 39 Test matches and played a key role in the team's success during the 1960s. After his playing career, he remained involved in cricket, serving as a coach and commentator. In 1975, Sobers was knighted for his services to cricket, becoming Sir Garfield Sobers.

2-    Imran Khan (Pakistan): Imran Khan captained Pakistan from 1982 to 1992. He was a genuine all-rounder, renowned for his elegant batting and fast bowling. Imran Khan's leadership and contributions were crucial in Pakistan's successful campaign to win the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

Here are some of his notable cricket records and achievements:

Test Cricket Career: Imran Khan played Test cricket for Pakistan from 1971 to 1992. During this period, he played 88 Test matches and scored 3,807 runs as a batsman. He was also a formidable fast bowler, taking 362 wickets at an average of 22.81 runs per wicket.

One-Day International (ODI) Career: Imran Khan played 175 ODIs for Pakistan. He scored 3,709 runs and took 182 wickets. He was a crucial all-rounder for the team.

World Cup Victory: Imran Khan led the Pakistan cricket team to its first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1992. He was the captain of the team, and Pakistan defeated England in the final to win the tournament.

All-rounder Status: Imran Khan is often considered one of the best all-rounders in the history of cricket. He was known for his ability to contribute both with the bat and the ball.

Hat-trick: Imran Khan achieved a Test match hat-trick against Australia in 1982. He took the wickets of Rod Marsh, Bruce Yardley, and Geoff Lawson in three consecutive deliveries.

Fastest 1000 Runs and 100 Wickets in Tests: Imran Khan was the fastest player at the time to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Test cricket. He accomplished this feat in just 75 Test matches.

Captaincy: Imran Khan was an inspirational captain for Pakistan. Under his leadership, Pakistan achieved several notable victories and became a competitive team on the international stage.

Wisden Cricketer of the Year: Imran Khan was named one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1983, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the sport.

Retirement: Imran Khan retired from international cricket after leading Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992. His final Test match was against Sri Lanka in January 1992.

3-     Sir Ian Botham (England): Botham played for England from 1977 to 1992 and is considered one of the game's finest all-rounders. He amassed over 5,000 Test runs and took 383 wickets. Botham's aggressive style of play and match-winning performances made him a cricketing legend.

Sir Ian Botham is a former English cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. He was born on November 24, 1955, in Heswall, Cheshire, England. Botham played for the England national cricket team from 1977 to 1992.

Key aspects of Sir Ian Botham's cricketing career include:

• Playing Role: Botham was primarily known as an all-rounder, excelling as a batsman and a bowler. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
• Test Debut: He made his Test debut for England against Australia in 1977. He played a total of 102 Test matches, scoring 5,200 runs and taking 383 wickets.
• One-Day Internationals (ODIs): Botham also played 116 One-Day Internationals, scoring 2,113 runs and taking 145 wickets.
• Ashes Success: Botham was a key figure in several Ashes series against Australia. His performances in the 1981 Ashes series are particularly legendary, where he played crucial roles with both bat and ball.
• 1981 Headingley Test: Botham's iconic performance at Headingley during the 1981 Ashes series is considered one of the greatest individual performances in Test cricket. He scored a stunning century and took 5 wickets, leading England to an improbable victory.
• Captaincy: Botham also captained the England team for a period, but his tenure was not as successful as his individual performances.

4-      Kapil Dev (India): Leading India to its first-ever Cricket World Cup victory in 1983, Kapil Dev was a prominent all-rounder. He scored over 5,000 Test runs and claimed 434 wickets. Known for his dynamic batting and seam bowling, Kapil Dev's contributions were crucial for Indian cricket.

Kapil Dev is a former Indian cricketer and one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. He was born on January 6, 1959, in Chandigarh, India. Kapil Dev is best known for leading the Indian cricket team to its first-ever Cricket World Cup victory in 1983.

Key highlights of Kapil Dev's cricketing career include:

• World Cup Triumph (1983): Kapil Dev captained the Indian cricket team to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup held in England. India, considered underdogs, defeated the West Indies in the final at Lord's, marking a historic moment in Indian cricket.
• All-Round Skills: Kapil Dev was known for his exceptional all-round skills. He was a hard-hitting batsman, a fast-medium bowler, and an agile fielder. He held the record for the most Test wickets by an Indian bowler until it was surpassed by Anil Kumble.
• 1985 World Championship of Cricket: Kapil Dev also led India to victory in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket held in Australia. India defeated Pakistan in the final to win the championship.
• Test Cricket: Kapil Dev played 131 Test matches for India, scoring 5,248 runs at an average of 31.05 and taking 434 wickets at an average of 29.64. His performance as a pace bowler was crucial to India's success during his playing career.

5-      Jacques Kallis (South Africa): Kallis represented South Africa from 1995 to 2014 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders. He amassed more than 10,000 Test runs, averaging over 55, and claimed 292 wickets with his seam bowling. Kallis' consistency and versatility made him a key player for South Africa.

Jacques Kallis is a former South African cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. He was born on October 16, 1975, in Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa. Kallis had an illustrious international cricket career that spanned over nearly two decades, from 1995 to 2014.

Key points about Jacques Kallis:

Batting and Bowling Style:

• Kallis was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
• He was known for his solid technique and consistency as a batsman, as well as his ability to take wickets with the ball.

International Career:

• Jacques Kallis represented the South African national cricket team in all three formats of the game: Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
• He made his debut for South Africa in a Test match against England in December 1995.

Achievements:

• Kallis is the only cricketer to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 290 wickets in both Test and One Day International cricket.
• He scored 45 Test centuries, which is the second-highest number of centuries in Test cricket as of my knowledge cutoff in January 2022.
• Kallis was a consistent performer for South Africa and played a crucial role in many of the team's victories.

Records:

• He holds several records, including being the highest run-scorer for South Africa in both Test and ODI cricket.

6-     Shahid Afridi (Pakistan):Batting: Afridi scored 8,064 runs in 398 One Day Internationals (ODIs) at an average of 23.57. He also hit 351 sixes in ODIs, which is a record. Bowling: Afridi took 395 wickets in ODIs at an average of 34.51. He was known for his leg-spin bowling and had the ability to break partnerships.

• Shahid Khan Afridi, is a former Pakistani cricketer who gained fame for his aggressive style of play, particularly in the limited-overs formats of the game. He was born on March 1, 1980, in Khyber Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan.
• Afridi made his debut for the Pakistan national cricket team in 1996, at the age of 16, and quickly made a name for himself with his explosive batting and leg-spin bowling. He holds the record for the fastest century in One Day Internationals (ODIs), which he achieved in just 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996. Afridi was known for his hard-hitting style and was often a match-winner for Pakistan.
• He played a significant role in Pakistan's victory in the ICC World T20 in 2009, leading the team as the captain. Afridi also served as the captain of the ODI team at various times in his career.
• Apart from his cricketing skills, Afridi is known for his philanthropic work. He established the Shahid Afridi Foundation, which focuses on providing healthcare and education facilities to underprivileged communities in Pakistan.
• Shahid Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket in 2017.

                                         

7-       Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): Shakib Al Hasan is a contemporary cricketer and one of the leading all-rounders in the modern game. He has scored over 4,000 Test runs and taken more than 200 wickets. Shakib's ability to contribute with both bat and ball has been instrumental in Bangladesh's cricketing success.

8-     Ben Stokes (England) - Stokes is known for his aggressive batting and impactful performances. He has scored over 4,000 runs and taken more than 150 wickets in Test matches. Stokes is regarded as one of the most explosive all-rounders in contemporary cricket. He has displayed exceptional batting skills and has the ability to turn matches with his performances.

9-      Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) - Hadlee claimed 431 wickets and scored 3,124 runs in Test matches. He was the first player to reach the milestone of 400 Test wickets.

10-     Shaun Pollock (South Africa) - Pollock scored 3,781 runs and took 421 wickets in Test matches. He was known for his accuracy and disciplined bowling.

   

11-          Andrew Flintoff (England) - Flintoff scored 3,845 runs and captured 226 wickets in Test matches. He played a vital role in England's Ashes series win in 2005.

12-       Daniel Vettori  (New Zealand): Vettori was a highly skilled left-arm spinner and a reliable lower-order batsman. He played from 1997 to 2014 and scored 4,531 runs while taking 362 Test wickets.