Greatest All-Rounders in Test Cricket

[sasquatch]

After JH Kallis scored his 30th Test hundred, and knowing he can bowl a bit, I thought, well gee, is he the best all round cricketer in the game? Well, before this Test, he had 9509 runs at 57.28, 29 centuries and 47 half-centuries. As I said, he bowls alright, with 229 wickets at 31.22 runs per wicket. This has been achieved in 117 Test matches, at age 32.
So I thought of the great all-rounders of years gone by;
GS Sobers, 8032 at 57.78, 26 hundreds and 30 half-hundreds, while taking 235 wickets at 34.03, in 93 Test matches, which, IMHO, are reasonably comparable stats to Kallis.
KR Miller, 2958 runs at 36.97, 7 centuries and 13 half-centuries, with 170 wickets @ 22.97, achieved in 55 Tests. A better bowler for sure, but not in the same batting league.
Imran Khan, 3807 runs at 37.69, 6 centuries, 18 half centuries, with 362 wickets at 22.81, in 88 Tests. Same result as Miller.
IT Botham, 5200 runs at 33.54, with 14 hundreds and 22 half-hundreds, and 383 wickets at 28.40, in 102 Test matches. Not there with the bat, barely better with the ball, though more destructive whenhe turned it on.
Kapil Dev, 5248 runs at 31.05, with 8 centuries, and 22 half-centuries, and 434 wickets at 29.64, in 131 Tests. Comparable to Botham
RJ Hadlee, 3124 runs at 27.16, with 2 centuries and 15 half-centuries, and 431 wickets at 22.29 in 86 Tests. Awesome bowler in a shite team.

On that form, I'd say that JH Kallis is a better all-round cricketer than all of the above mentioned cricketers except GS Sobers, whom he is just as good as.
Be interested to hear others opinions.

(Stats from Baggygreen.com)

[Dogwatcher]

Tony Dodemaide.

[Dogwatcher]

While I'm at it, no mention of a certain A. Gilchrist in that list...

[sasquatch]

Tony Dodemaide.

AIC Dodemaide, 202 runs at 22.44, with no centuries and 1 half-century,and 34 wickets at 28.02, in Ten Test Matches. Lol.

[sasquatch]

While I'm at it, no mention of a certain A. Gilchrist in that list...

AC Gilchrist 5570 runs at 47.60, 17 hundreds, 26 half hundreds, whilst taking 379 catches and effecting 37 stumpings. In 96 Tests. More important in the field, though his average plummeted towards the end, down from high fifties. Good, but not as good, an oversight.

[rod_rooster]

After JH Kallis scored his 30th Test hundred, and knowing he can bowl a bit, I thought, well gee, is he the best all round cricketer in the game? Well, before this Test, he had 9509 runs at 57.28, 29 centuries and 47 half-centuries. As I said, he bowls alright, with 229 wickets at 31.22 runs per wicket. This has been achieved in 117 Test matches, at age 32.
So I thought of the great all-rounders of years gone by;
GS Sobers, 8032 at 57.78, 26 hundreds and 30 half-hundreds, while taking 235 wickets at 34.03, in 93 Test matches, which, IMHO, are reasonably comparable stats to Kallis.
KR Miller, 2958 runs at 36.97, 7 centuries and 13 half-centuries, with 170 wickets @ 22.97, achieved in 55 Tests. A better bowler for sure, but not in the same batting league.
Imran Khan, 3807 runs at 37.69, 6 centuries, 18 half centuries, with 362 wickets at 22.81, in 88 Tests. Same result as Miller.
IT Botham, 5200 runs at 33.54, with 14 hundreds and 22 half-hundreds, and 383 wickets at 28.40, in 102 Test matches. Not there with the bat, barely better with the ball, though more destructive whenhe turned it on.
Kapil Dev, 5248 runs at 31.05, with 8 centuries, and 22 half-centuries, and 434 wickets at 29.64, in 131 Tests. Comparable to Botham
RJ Hadlee, 3124 runs at 27.16, with 2 centuries and 15 half-centuries, and 431 wickets at 22.29 in 86 Tests. Awesome bowler in a shite team.

On that form, I'd say that JH Kallis is a better all-round cricketer than all of the above mentioned cricketers except GS Sobers, whom he is just as good as.
Be interested to hear others opinions.

(Stats from Baggygreen.com)

Whilst statistically Kallis compares very favorably i know i'd be much more keen to hand over money to see any of those on the list play before i'd pay to see Kallis. That does not mean he is not a fantastic cricketer though. I also think his bowling statistics are quite flattering to him as well. Sobers and the rest never got the chance to bowl at sides as mediocre as some Kallis has had. It's too difficult to accurately compare players from different eras as how would Kallis have gone facing the West Indies in the 80's or bowling to them? He may have done well but i suspect his record wouldn't be quite as good.

[Dogwatcher]

Sobers and the rest never got the chance to bowl at sides as mediocre as some Kallis has had.

Sobers would have bowled against early Pakistani, Indian and New Zealand teams though. They were hardly heavyweights in his time....

[am Bays]

Shane Watson...

[hearts on fire]

Mark Cosgrove...

[smithy]

Tony Greig is the only player in history to average over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball.

[jackpot jim]

Tony Greig is the only player in history to average over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball.

The only thing Tony Greig reminds me of is HOOKSEY smashing him for 5 consecutive 4s on debut in the centenary Test.

How on earth a Pie Chucker like Greig averaged under 30 with the ball has got me stumped.

[smac]

Mark Cosgrove...

He's all round, not an all-rounder.

[sasquatch]

Tony Greig is the only player in history to average over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball.

On a technical issue....
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/austral ... /4578.html

[Specky McGee]

Tony Greig is the only player in history to average over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball.

On a technical issue....
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/austral ... /4578.html

Boof would fit into that list aswell wouldnt he?

[smac]

Tony Greig is the only player in history to average over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball.

On a technical issue....
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/austral ... /4578.html

Boof would fit into that list aswell wouldnt he?

http://content-www.cricinfo.com/austral ... /6285.html

Looks like it.

[sasquatch]

I'm sure there's a few that've managed to scrape thru, but I get the point about Greig, who managed to do it over a sizeable career...

[MagicKiwi]

Vettori is doing quite well with the bat. Thoughts on him?

[rod_rooster]

Vettori is doing quite well with the bat. Thoughts on him?

Wonderful bowler and a handy lower order bat. Needs to make runs consistently against stronger bowling attacks to be considered in elite allrounder class though. As a spin bowler he is already well and truly in the elite category.

[sasquatch]

Before hitting baggygreen.com, i'd guess his bowling average is about 29 at best...
Batting'd be worse.
He's been awesome for NZ, but don't forget, it's NZ...

[sasquatch]

Had to check....
27 with the bat,
34 with the ball.
averages about three wickets a game, which is awesome by nz standards...