Mumbai, August 10, 2024
Have you been wondering lately, who is the best all rounder in the world in cricket history? We’ve got the answer for you!
In the grand theatre of cricket, where everyone often talks about bowlers and batsmen, there exists a rare breed—the all-rounder. They are the heartbeat of the sport who can bat and bowl and often prove to be the architects of victories. But do you know these cricketing pros? The upcoming guide will help.
Stay tuned as we uncover a list of best all rounder in cricket history!
Table of Contents
Top 10 Best All Rounder in Cricket History
We made a list of the best all rounder in the history of cricket by looking at how well they batted and bowled throughout their careers. We chose players who are retired but are still considered the greatest ever. We also included current players who are making a big impact in the game. This ensures all deserving candidates make the list.
Our list honors both past legends and today’s stars who excel in both batting average and bowling average. Following are 10 world’s best all rounder in cricket history.
| Player | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Highest Score | 100s | 50s | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| Sir Garfield Sobers | 94 | 8032 | 365* | 26 | 30 | 236 | 6/73 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 328 | 6017 | 175* | 3 | 32 | 546 | 7/42 |
| Kapil Dev | 356 | 9031 | 175* | 9 | 41 | 687 | 9/83 |
| Jacques Kallis | 495 | 24868 | 224 | 62 | 144 | 565 | 6/54 |
| Shane Watson | 307 | 10590 | 185* | 14 | 67 | 291 | 6/33 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 430 | 14406 | 217 | 14 | 99 | 690 | 7/36 |
| Imran Khan | 263 | 7516 | 136 | 7 | 37 | 544 | 8/58 |
| Ben Stokes | 259 | 10362 | 258 | 18 | 56 | 297 | 8/161 |
| Sir Richard Hadlee | 201 | 4875 | 151* | 2 | 19 | 589 | 9/52 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 265 | 5232 | 136 | 2 | 21 | 249 | 4/10 |
10. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
At number 10, we’ve got the current world number 1 all-rounder in the ICC ODI rankings, Mohammad Nabi. He is a right-arm off-spinner who is already nearing 250 international wickets. Alongside bowling, Nabi is also a skilled batter. As of March 2024, he has two centuries in his name. Moreover, the highest score of 136 showcases his batting prowess. As an Afghan cricketer, there is no doubt that Nabi has contributed significantly to his team’s growth with both ball and bat.
9. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
Hadlee is widely regarded as the best all rounder in world cricket history. His exceptional bowling skills, combined with handy batting, left an indelible mark on New Zealand cricket. Over the course of his career, he delivered some match-winning performances that included an unbeaten 150 and a bowling figure of 9/52 in the test fixture.
8. Ben Stokes (England)
If we write in the context of modern-day cricket, Stokes has to be the best all rounder in the world in cricket history. He is a hard hitter of the ball and has an aggressive batting style. Stoke’s ability to turn matches single-handedly makes him a standout player. Remember the recent Ashes series where Stokes helped win a test match while he was batting with a number 11? There are many such tales across formats that justify him being one of the greats.
7. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
The former Pakistan prime minister and captain of the national cricket side is one of the best all rounders to have ever played the game in the late 90s. While popular for his lethal bowling, Imran is still one of the few bowling all-rounders who have managed to score 7000 runs in under 300 international appearances. Among his cricketing services, one has to mention the leadership skills that were instrumental in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph.
6. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh’s pride, Shakib Al Hasan, is a left arm spin all-rounder. His consistent contributions with both bat and ball have elevated Bangladesh cricket on the global stage. More than 14000 runs and nearing 700 wickets, Shakib’s numbers speak for his calibre.
Fun Fact: Shakib Al Hasan is one of the rare players to have ranked as the best all-rounder in all three formats of cricket.
5. Shane Watson (Australia)
Watson’s reputation as the best all rounder ever in cricket history stems from his incredible performances. While his powerful hitting helped the Aussies win multiple matches, the seam bowling made him a vital asset especially while defending targets. Shane Watson was one of the rare three-format cricketers. He was a clutch player and a simple match-winner for teams across different leagues.
4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
A South African cricket icon, Kallis was a force to reckon with. His batting prowess rivaled greats like Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, while his medium-fast bowling was equally potent. Throughout his career, Kallis scored nearly 25000 runs and etched nearly 600 wickets. He is, to date, one of the most decorated all rounders that the game of cricket has ever produced.
3. Kapil Dev (India)
Kapil Dev, the best Indian all rounder in cricket history, etched his name in glory during the 1983 World Cup. His explosive batting and crucial wickets remain legendary in all formats. For many years, he was recognized for a match-saving ODI innings against Zimbabwe. Later on, he continued to add wickets and runs to his achievement tally.
2. Ravindra Jadeja (India)
An Indian bowling all rounder, Jadeja is among the top 5 best all rounder in cricket history. He is a modern great who adds value to the team in multiple ways. Be it taking wickets in crunch situations or adding depth to India’s lineup as a left handed batter. Moreover, Jadeja’s agility on the field is an added asset. Overall, he is a complete cricketer.
1. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)
At number one, we’ve got the West Indian veteran, Sir Garfield Sobers. Often regarded as the best all rounder in cricket history, Garry Sobers was the only player in the West Indies team to have scored a test triple-century and taken 200+ wickets. His exceptional skills spanned batting, bowling, fielding, and captaincy. Sobers was versatile and was often referred to as a five in one cricketer.
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10 Best All-Rounder in ODI Cricket History
ODI matches in recent times have evolved, and the call for a substantial balanced depth in batting and bowling is more than ever. Every team needs a player who can help post big totals and restrict opponents one way or the other in the middle overs. That’s exactly what all rounders tend to do.
Following are the 10 all time best all rounders in ODI cricket. They are ranked according to the ICC rankings, which are again based on the performances they delivered throughout the peak of their career.
| Player | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Highest Score | 100s | 50s | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| Kapil Dev | 225 | 3783 | 175* | 1 | 14 | 253 | 5/43 |
| Greg Chappell | 74 | 2331 | 138* | 3 | 14 | 72 | 5/15 |
| Andrew Flintoff | 141 | 3394 | 123 | 3 | 18 | 169 | 5/19 |
| Viv Richards | 187 | 6721 | 189* | 11 | 45 | 118 | 6/41 |
| Lance Klusener | 171 | 3576 | 103* | 2 | 19 | 192 | 6/49 |
| Chris Gayle | 301 | 10480 | 215 | 25 | 54 | 167 | 5/46 |
| Jacques Kallis | 329 | 11579 | 139 | 17 | 86 | 273 | 5/30 |
| Steve Waugh | 325 | 7569 | 120* | 3 | 45 | 195 | 4/33 |
| Shaun Pollock | 303 | 3519 | 130 | 1 | 14 | 393 | 6/35 |
| Imran Khan | 175 | 3709 | 102* | 1 | 19 | 182 | 6/14 |
10 Best All-Rounder in Test Cricket History
Test cricket is a marathon that sustains excellence from its players. In this grueling format, a true all rounder is nothing less than an invaluable asset. Be it with the bat or with the ball the versatility of all-rounders is known to provide a crucial edge throughout the five-day contest.
The presence of a strong all-rounder can be the difference between a good team and a great one. If you’re a true follower of the sport, you can recall so many instances when an allrounder has taken his team past the finishing line.
In test format, the following are the 10 best all rounder in cricket history ever:
| Player | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Highest Score | 100s | 50s | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| Garry Sobers | 93 | 8032 | 365* | 26 | 30 | 235 | 6/73 |
| Sir Ian Botham | 102 | 5200 | 208 | 14 | 22 | 383 | 8/34 |
| Jacques Kallis | 166 | 13289 | 224 | 45 | 58 | 292 | 6/54 |
| Keith Miller | 55 | 2598 | 147 | 7 | 13 | 170 | 7/60 |
| Richie Benaud | 63 | 2201 | 122 | 3 | 9 | 248 | 7/72 |
| Imran Khan | 88 | 3807 | 136 | 6 | 18 | 362 | 8/58 |
| Tony Greig | 58 | 3599 | 148 | 8 | 20 | 141 | 8/86 |
| Andrew Flintoff | 79 | 3845 | 167 | 5 | 26 | 226 | 5/58 |
| Aubrey Faulkner | 25 | 1754 | 204 | 4 | 8 | 82 | 7/84 |
| Chris Cairns | 62 | 3320 | 158 | 5 | 22 | 218 | 7/27 |
10 World Best All-Rounder in Cricket History: T20Is
While test matches check the temperament of a player, T20 cricket is all about instantaneous impact. The genuine all rounders of this format are those who can score runs in a flash and break vital partnerships out of nowhere. Over the years, there have been so many of them.
Here are the 10 best all-rounder in T20 cricket history:
| Player | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Highest Score | 100s | 50s | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| Shane Watson | 58 | 1462 | 124* | 1 | 10 | 48 | 4/15 |
| Shahid Afridi | 99 | 1416 | 54* | 0 | 4 | 98 | 4/11 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 117 | 2382 | 84 | 0 | 12 | 140 | 5/20 |
| Glenn Maxwell | 106 | 2468 | 145* | 5 | 10 | ` | 3/10 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 58 | 1177 | 77* | 0 | 8 | 29 | 3/17 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 111 | 2317 | 114* | 1 | 12 | 77 | 4/24 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 109 | 1885 | 89 | 0 | 5 | 87 | 4/10 |
| David Hussey | 39 | 756 | 88* | 0 | 3 | 19 | 3/25 |
| Marlon Samuels | 67 | 1611 | 89* | 0 | 10 | 22 | 3/23 |
| Chris Gayle | 79 | 1899 | 117 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 2/15 |
Final Words on World Best All Rounder in Cricket History
That wraps up our guide on the top 10 best all-rounder in cricket history. If you’ve read it until this point, you already know about the masters of the game who have had a remarkable career at the international level with both bat and ball.
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FAQs
Who is the best all rounder in cricket history?
Jacques Kallis is the all time best all rounder in cricket history. Although he hasn’t played many T20s, his performances with both the bat and the ball in test and ODI cricket have been impeccable.
Who is the best all rounder in Test cricket history?
Garfield Sobers, aka Garry Sobers, is the greatest all rounder in the history of test match cricket. Throughout his career, he maintained a batting average of 57.78.
Who is the best all rounder in ODI cricket history?
When it comes to One Day Internationals, Kapil Dev of Team India is the best all rounder in cricket history. He is one of those great all rounders who scored a century and took five wickets.
Who is the best all rounder in T20 cricket history?
In T20 international cricket, Australia’s Shane Watson is widely regarded as one of the best all rounders of all time.
Who is the best all rounder captain in cricket history?
India’s Kapil Dev is regarded as the finest all rounders captain in the history of cricket. As far as today’s modern era of the game is concerned, current England test captain Ben Stokes is tagged as the best in this regard.