Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,519
- Post of the Week
- 2
This list is only analyzing the impact of all-rounders as pure match-winners and does not judge overall merit.More than skill and consistency ***** the player's ability to shape matches with both bat and ball or even in the field as a catcher or skipper.The basic criteria is how much the impact of wickets and runs together in addition to catches or captaincy contributed to the team's victory.
1.Gary Sobers-Simply supreme .Adjectives would not be available to ***** his supremacy as though God sent him to play cricket.Took cricketing genius to it's supreme zenith and could create the impact of a thunderstorm out there in the middle in any situation whether batting,bowling or fielding.In total control resembled a great emperor .Gary was like a surgeon,boxer and poet moulded into one who was at his best as a match-winner in England in 1966 taking 20 wickets and scoring 722 runs and again in 1970 when he captured 21 wickets and scored 573 runs.Also spectacular v England at Kingston in 1967-68 when he scored 113 and took 8 wickets ressurecting his side from the grave.
2.Imran Khan-
No cricketer did so much to shape the destiny of a nation in his era as Imran who took Pakistan to the pinnacle of glory contributing as a fast bowler,all-rounder and captain.Dubious umpiring decisions cost Imran the distinction of leading Pakistan to their 1st series win on Carribean soil and thus morally wining the unofficila world test championship.He also led Pakistan to their 1st ever series wins on English and Indian soil in 1987.In 1982 although he lost the series he gave arguably the finest all-round cricketing performance by an overseas cricketer in England after Sobers when averaging 53 with the bat and capturing 21 wickets at 18 .53 runs apiece.Few cricketers were as ferocious or determined as Imran who resembled a military marshal.Not so flamboyant with the bat but often super in playing an anchor role or that of an architect.At his best as a batsmen in 1983 and 1992 world cup and in 1982 in England.Not at his best with both bat and ball at the same period like Sobers,Miller and Botham.Performances as a skipper and overall longevity made me choose Imran just above Botham and Miller as a match-winner.
3.Ian Botham-
Cricket's equivalent of a Hercules who at his best would remind you of dramatic reversal of plot in a Hollywood epic.His best performances in a single match or series surpassed that of every allrounder. In the 1981 Jubilee test and 1981 home Ashes he literally ressurected England from the grave to reach the pinnacle of glory.Singlehandedly no-allrounder reversed the fortunes of game like Botham did then.At his best with both bat and ball Ina may have even surpassed Sobers as a pre match-winner but he lacked consistency.Few bowlers were ever more intelligent or deployed the slower ball better and few batsmen hit the ball harder.Majority of Botham's centuries and 5 wicket hauls were achieved in test wins.The scar in his career is that he was not at his best against West Indies,particularly on their soil.He also arguably benefited playing the weaker sides during Packer cricket like Australia and Pakistan.With both bat and ball more effective than any all-rounder of his time and unquestionably the best against Australia.Statistically in peak period 2nd to only Sobers.Also unsuccessful as a skipper unlike Imran Khan or Kapil Dev.
Keith Miller may well have been at 2 or 3 but missed out as he never captained his team like Imran or equaled Botham statistically in wins.On pure skill Miller could well have been 2nd.Miller also did not have the longevity of Imran or Botham.Excluding captaincy Miller would have definitely made it.I don't think Kallis had the 'x' factor of the 4 players discussed or could turn the complexion of games as much.Statistically Kallis was the greatest all-rounder but was not at his best with both bat and ball and not so flamboyant with the bat.
1.Gary Sobers-Simply supreme .Adjectives would not be available to ***** his supremacy as though God sent him to play cricket.Took cricketing genius to it's supreme zenith and could create the impact of a thunderstorm out there in the middle in any situation whether batting,bowling or fielding.In total control resembled a great emperor .Gary was like a surgeon,boxer and poet moulded into one who was at his best as a match-winner in England in 1966 taking 20 wickets and scoring 722 runs and again in 1970 when he captured 21 wickets and scored 573 runs.Also spectacular v England at Kingston in 1967-68 when he scored 113 and took 8 wickets ressurecting his side from the grave.
2.Imran Khan-
No cricketer did so much to shape the destiny of a nation in his era as Imran who took Pakistan to the pinnacle of glory contributing as a fast bowler,all-rounder and captain.Dubious umpiring decisions cost Imran the distinction of leading Pakistan to their 1st series win on Carribean soil and thus morally wining the unofficila world test championship.He also led Pakistan to their 1st ever series wins on English and Indian soil in 1987.In 1982 although he lost the series he gave arguably the finest all-round cricketing performance by an overseas cricketer in England after Sobers when averaging 53 with the bat and capturing 21 wickets at 18 .53 runs apiece.Few cricketers were as ferocious or determined as Imran who resembled a military marshal.Not so flamboyant with the bat but often super in playing an anchor role or that of an architect.At his best as a batsmen in 1983 and 1992 world cup and in 1982 in England.Not at his best with both bat and ball at the same period like Sobers,Miller and Botham.Performances as a skipper and overall longevity made me choose Imran just above Botham and Miller as a match-winner.
3.Ian Botham-
Cricket's equivalent of a Hercules who at his best would remind you of dramatic reversal of plot in a Hollywood epic.His best performances in a single match or series surpassed that of every allrounder. In the 1981 Jubilee test and 1981 home Ashes he literally ressurected England from the grave to reach the pinnacle of glory.Singlehandedly no-allrounder reversed the fortunes of game like Botham did then.At his best with both bat and ball Ina may have even surpassed Sobers as a pre match-winner but he lacked consistency.Few bowlers were ever more intelligent or deployed the slower ball better and few batsmen hit the ball harder.Majority of Botham's centuries and 5 wicket hauls were achieved in test wins.The scar in his career is that he was not at his best against West Indies,particularly on their soil.He also arguably benefited playing the weaker sides during Packer cricket like Australia and Pakistan.With both bat and ball more effective than any all-rounder of his time and unquestionably the best against Australia.Statistically in peak period 2nd to only Sobers.Also unsuccessful as a skipper unlike Imran Khan or Kapil Dev.
Keith Miller may well have been at 2 or 3 but missed out as he never captained his team like Imran or equaled Botham statistically in wins.On pure skill Miller could well have been 2nd.Miller also did not have the longevity of Imran or Botham.Excluding captaincy Miller would have definitely made it.I don't think Kallis had the 'x' factor of the 4 players discussed or could turn the complexion of games as much.Statistically Kallis was the greatest all-rounder but was not at his best with both bat and ball and not so flamboyant with the bat.
