List of 10 greatest ODI All-Rounders of All time
All-rounders are the most important part of any cricket team, as they provide a perfect balance to the team and also contribute with both batting and bowling. Over the years, several players have emerged who have fulfilled this role very well for their teams and performed amazingly in both departments. These types of players can dominate the game single-handedly and are valuable assets for the team. Whether it's scoring crucial runs or breaking partnerships, all-rounders always stood up for their respective team and performed. In this article, we will have a look at the 10 best All-Rounders of all time.
10) Andrew Flintoff
The English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff provided his team with reliable lower-batting and brilliant bowling, which also made him a fan favorite. Flintoff made his debut in 1988 and soon became an important asset for the team. In the 2005 Ashes series, he was "Man of the Series." During his career, Andrew made 3,394 runs in ODI with an average of 32.01 and took 169 wickets with an economy of 4.39. Flintoff's highest score in the ODI is 123. Although his career was cut short due to injuries, Flintoff left a great mark in cricket.
9) Hansie Cronje
Late South African all-rounder Hansie Cronje captained the Proteas during the 1990s. He led the team to wins in 27 test matches and 99 ODIs. Cronje amassed a total of 5,565 runs in ODI at an average of 38.64 and took 114 wickets. He had great ability to provide a much-needed breakthrough to his team. However, his career ended in controversy due to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
8) Lance Klusener
Former South African cricketer Lance Klusener was known as one of the best all-rounders during the 1990s and early 2000s. Klusener’s ruthless batting and ability to take wickets in crucial situations made him an amazing player. During his career, Klusener played 171 ODI matches and amassed 3,576 runs at an average of 41.10. He has four hundreds to his name despite coming in lower order for batting. He picked up 192 wickets with an economy of 4.70.
7) Shane Watson
Shane Watson made his international debut in 2002 and represented Australia till 2016. He was good with both bat and ball and provided the team with a great balance. Initially, Watson began as a bowling all-rounder but soon turned into one of the most dominating openers in world cricket. During his career, Watson played 190 ODIs and scored a total of 5757 runs, which includes 9 centuries. His highest score in the format is 185*, which he smashed in just 96 balls against Bangladesh. With his bowling, Shane took 168 wickets with an economy of 4.95.
6) Imran Khan
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, who led the team to 1992 World Cup win, was one of the most lethal all-rounders during his time. His bowling skills were exceptional and in the 175 ODI matches he played, Imran took 182 wickets with an economy of 3.89. In the 1992 World Cup final, he showed impressive batting skills and scored crucial 72 runs for his team. In 175 ODIs, Imran amassed 3,709 runs that included one century and 19 half centuries.
5) Kapil Dev
The former Indian skipper Kapil Dev is one of the finest all-rounders produced by the country. His commendable all-round skills and strong captaincy led India to the historic 1983 World Cup win, the moment that changed India’s dynamics in world cricket. Kapil Dev played 225 ODI matches during his career and scored 3783 runs and included one century. His highest ODI score of 175 came in a crucial match against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. As a bowler, Kapil took 253 wickets with an economy of 3.71.
4) Shahid Afridi
Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi made his international debut in 1996. He shocked the entire world when, in only his second international match, Afridi smashed the fastest century of that time in only 37 balls. After his explosive batting in several matches, he earned the nickname “Boom Boom” Afridi. During his career, Afridi played 398 ODIs and smashed 8064 runs, which includes six centuries and 39 half centuries. With the bowl, he took 395 wickets with an economy of 4.62. He still holds the record for the most sixes in ODI cricket with 351 sixes.
3) Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al-Hasan is arguably the best all-rounder of his generation. He is one of the best players produced by Bangladesh and has led to many famous wins single-handedly. In 247 matches, Shakib has amassed 7570 runs at an average of 37.29. He has nine centuries and 56 half-centuries to his name. As a bowler, he has earned 317 wickets with an economy of 4.46. His consistency with both bat and bowl has made him one of the greatest all-rounders of all time.
2) Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis was part of South Africa’s cricket team for more than a decade. Kallis always stood up for the team when they needed him with both bowl and bat. He played 328 ODI matches and scored 11,579 runs, which includes 17 hundreds and 86 centuries. Kallis was also an intimidating bowler who picked up 273 wickets with an economy of 4.84. He is still widely praised as one of the best all-rounders in cricketing history.
1) Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya revolutionised cricket for openers as he had the ability to smash the boundary from the very first bowl. In 445 ODIs, Jayasuriya smashed 13,430 runs, which include 28 hundreds and 68 centuries. His highest score in ODI is 189, which he smashed against India in the Champions Trophy final of the year 2000. Jayasuriya was also an incredible leg spinner who managed to take 323 wickets in ODI during his career. Today he remains the only all-rounder in ODI history to score more than 10,000 runs and 300+ wickets.