Harsh Thakor
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Jacques Kallis,Keith Miller and Kapil Dev are 3 of the greatest all-round cricketers the game has ever seen.If I had to make choice between them I would literally have a gun on my head.
Statistically Kallis is the king.He surpasses the likes of Sobers and Imran statistically with 13000 runs and over 250 wickets.As a pure batsmen he was next only to Sobers and still statistically the giant with his big aggregate.Infact in his era he was 2nd to only Tendulkar statistically in terms of runs and centuries.In the bowling department at times his fast-medium bowling could be devastating and he could even open the attack.His main weakness was that he lacked the crucial 'X' factor and often would not sufficiently step the gas to enforce wins or turn games.He lacked the flamboyance of Sobers or even Miller,Botham and Kapil Dev.In the major part of his career he contributed mainly as a batsmen and only for a short period did he make consistent all-round contribution with both bat and ball.Still he scored a century and took 5 wickets in a test twice.He was marvellous with both the bat and ball in England in 1998 and versus West Indies in 1998.Basically not being at his best with both bat and ball prevented him from being raked as the best all-rounder of all and amongst the 10 best cricketers of all time with the likes of Imran,Viv and Tendulkar.
Keith Miller was the entertainer supreme.He posessed a cavalier style of batting and a beautiful action.He had a significant period when he excelled with both bat and ball and was at his best versus West Indies on their soil with the bat,including a score of 147.He won quite a few Ashes tests for Australia and series as a fast bowling all-rounder.Amongst the great fast bowling all-rounders Miller was technically the most correct and the best strokemaker.Imran Khan had a better batting average but could not destroy bowling like Miller .Miller overshadowed Botham statistically averaging 22 with the ball and 36 with the bat.Generally cricket experts like Cristopher Martin Jenkins and Geoff Armstrong rank Miller only behind Sobers and Imran as all-rounders and ahead of Kalllis.
Kapil Dev has staggering figures combining aggregate wickets and runs but his average is relatively low.Statistics do not do fair justice to the true merit of Kapil Dev who had the handicap of bowling mostly on sub-continent pancakes.He single-handedly bore the brunt of the Indian pace attack and still captured 434 wickets.He had best figures of 9-93 and 8-85 and 7-56 in the sub-continent which is remarkable.No all-rounder performed better against the best team of all-time-the West Indies.He could be devastating as a batsmen resembling the great Gilbert Jessop like when scoring 89 of 55 balls at Lords in 1982 and in 1990 scoring 77 with 4 consecutive sixes.At his best he could rival the great Ian Botham as batsmen and in 2 consecutive series even overshadowed him as an allrounder in 191-82 and 1982.What went against Kapil was that he often threw his wicket when in full flow,lacking application.He also was fast -medium and not genuinely quick.Still he is arguably the best ever ODI all-rounder of all if you asess his contribution in world cups.At his best to me Kapil Dev could turn games or series like Sobers or Botham at his best.The 1979-80 series v Pakistan is the best example of this when he captured 32 wickets at 17.68 and scored 3 fifties at an average of 30.88.Quite likely had he played for England or Australia Kapil may have joined the league of Imran or Botham.Anyway that is completely hypothetical.For pure aesthetic joy I would love to see Kapil Dev more than any all-rounder play bar Gary Sobers.
In the final countdown with a gun on my head I would choose Keith Miller.Old-timers like Alan Davidson and Richie Benaud rate him the best all-rounder they ever saw .They felt being a fast bowler he could win more matches than even Sobers.Kallis was in another league statistically but was generally defensive as a batsmen and not at his best with both bat and ball,at the same time.Kapil Dev may have posessed the most natural talent but lacked consistency and was not at his best with the bat and ball in different periods of his career.Still on a flat sub-continent track Kapil would be my choice with his ability to extract life from dead wickets.In ODI cricket my choice of Kapil Dev would be unanimous.
STATISTICS COMPILED FROM S.RAJESH
The table below lists the top allrounders by the difference between their batting and bowling averages, and the only player with similar stats as Kallis is Garry Sobers - he averaged 57.78 with the bat and 34.03 with the ball, and the difference of 23.74 is marginally higher than Kallis' 22.72.
The other allrounders all have a difference of less than 15 between their batting and bowling averages, which is where Kallis's numbers stand out. However, Kallis averaged only 1.76 wickets per Test, while the others in the list below (apart from Sobers) took at least three per match.
THE TOP ALLROUNDERS IN TEST CRICKET (AT LEAST 2500 RUNS AND 150 WKTS)
Player Tests Runs Bat Ave Wickets Bowl Ave Difference*
Garry Sobers 93 8032 57.78 235 34.03 23.74
Jacques Kallis 166 13,289 55.37 292 32.65 22.72
Imran Khan 88 3807 37.69 362 22.81 14.88
Keith Miller 55 2958 36.97 170 22.97 13.99
Shaun Pollock 108 3781 32.31 421 23.11 9.19
Ian Botham 102 5200 33.54 383 28.40 5.14
Richard Hadlee 86 3124 27.16 431 22.29 4.86
Chris Cairns 62 3320 33.53 218 29.40 4.13
Kapil Dev 131 5248 31.05 434 29.64 1.40
Miller's numbers compare favourably to the all-time best allrounders in the world: among those in the 1500-run-and-100-wicket club, only three have a higher difference between batting and bowling averages. One of them, Jacques Kallis, clearly favours batting - he averages less than two wickets per Test. Apart from him, Garry Sobers and Imran Khan are the only ones who rank higher than Miller.
ALLROUNDERS WITH HIGHEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BATTING AND BOWLING AVERAGES (QUAL: 1500 RUNS, 100 WKTS)
Player Tests Runs Average 100s Wickets Average 5WI Diff In Ave
Garry Sobers 93 8032 57.78 26 235 34.03 6 23.75
Jacques Kallis 140 11,126 55.07 35 266 31.59 5 23.48
Imran Khan 88 3807 37.69 6 362 22.81 23 14.88
Keith Miller 55 2958 36.97 7 170 22.97 7 14.00
Shaun Pollock 108 3781 32.31 2 421 23.11 16 9.2
Trevor Goddard 41 2516 34.46 1 123 26.22 5 8.24
Tony Greig 58 3599 40.43 8 141 32.20 6 8.23
Monty Noble 42 1997 30.25 1 121 25.00 9 5.25
Ian Botham 102 5200 33.54 14 383 28.40 27 5.14
Richard Hadlee 86 3124 27.16 2 431 22.29 36 4.87
However, the Australian teams Miller played in generally had strong batting line-ups, and it was as a bowler that Miller was needed more. With new-ball partner Lindwall, Miller formed an awesome combination. As a bowling pair they complemented each other superbly: Lindwall had exceptional control, and Miller was so unpredictable that batsmen didn't know what to expect. Both were highly effective: during the 11 years in which Miller played his international cricket, both were easily among the best bowlers of their era.
BEST TEST BOWLERS BETWEEN 1946 AND 1956 (QUAL: 100 WICKETS)
Bowler Tests Wickets Average 5WI/ 10WM
Jim Laker 30 134 21.46 7/ 3
Ray Lindwall 55 212 22.16 12/ 0
Keith Miller 55 170 22.97 7/ 1
Brian Statham 32 101 23.85 2/ 0
Bill Johnston 40 160 23.91 7/ 0
Alec Bedser 51 236 24.89 15/ 5
When Miller performed to his potential, Australia usually won. Of the 55 Tests he played Australia won 31, which illustrates how strong the team was during that era, and Miller's contributions in those victories were immense: with the bat he averaged 43.39, and he scored four of his seven hundreds in those games; in contrast, in the nine Tests he played in that Australia lost, his average fell to a miserable 17, and he scored only one half-century in 18 innings.
With the ball, he was an even greater match-winner, and is one of only seven Australians who've taken more than 100 wickets at a sub-20 average in victories. All of his seven five-fors helped Australia win matches.
BEST AVERAGES BY AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS IN WINS (QUAL: 100 WICKETS)
Bowler Tests Wickets Average 5WI/ 10WM
Clarrie Grimmett 20 143 17.60 15/ 6
Dennis Lillee 31 203 18.27 17/ 6
Richie Benaud 24 128 18.32 10/ 1
Ray Lindwall 33 138 19.13 8/ 0
Glenn McGrath 84 414 19.19 18/ 3
Garth McKenzie 18 112 19.49 9/ 3
Keith Miller 31 113 19.60 7/ 1
KEITH MILLER'S TEST CAREER
Period Runs Average 100s/ 50s Wickets Average 5WI/ 10WM
First 11 Tests 599 54.45 1/ 3 27 20.85 1/ 0
Next 33 Tests 1685 32.40 3/ 9 100 21.77 3/ 0
Last 11 Tests 674 39.64 3/ 1 43 27.11 3/ 1
Career (55 Tests) 2958 36.97 7/ 13 170 22.97 7/ 1
KAPIL DEV'S TEST CAREER IN THREE PARTS
Period Runs Average 100s Wickets Average 5WI
First Ten Tests 510 42.50 1 29 39.06 1
Next 52 Tests 1973 27.40 2 218 26.19 17
Next 69 Tests 2765 32.52 5 187 32.20 5
Career 5248 31.05 8 434 29.64 23
BEST TEST BOWLERS VERSUS WEST INDIES IN THE 1980S (QUAL: 1200 BALLS BOWLED)
Bowler Tests Wickets Average Strike Rate 5WI/10WM
Imran Khan 10 52 16.68 38.3 5/ 1
Richard Hadlee 10 51 22.03 49.1 4/ 1
Kapil Dev 19 72 22.98 51.4 4/ 1
Abdul Qadir 8 40 28.07 55.2 1/ 0
Statistically Kallis is the king.He surpasses the likes of Sobers and Imran statistically with 13000 runs and over 250 wickets.As a pure batsmen he was next only to Sobers and still statistically the giant with his big aggregate.Infact in his era he was 2nd to only Tendulkar statistically in terms of runs and centuries.In the bowling department at times his fast-medium bowling could be devastating and he could even open the attack.His main weakness was that he lacked the crucial 'X' factor and often would not sufficiently step the gas to enforce wins or turn games.He lacked the flamboyance of Sobers or even Miller,Botham and Kapil Dev.In the major part of his career he contributed mainly as a batsmen and only for a short period did he make consistent all-round contribution with both bat and ball.Still he scored a century and took 5 wickets in a test twice.He was marvellous with both the bat and ball in England in 1998 and versus West Indies in 1998.Basically not being at his best with both bat and ball prevented him from being raked as the best all-rounder of all and amongst the 10 best cricketers of all time with the likes of Imran,Viv and Tendulkar.
Keith Miller was the entertainer supreme.He posessed a cavalier style of batting and a beautiful action.He had a significant period when he excelled with both bat and ball and was at his best versus West Indies on their soil with the bat,including a score of 147.He won quite a few Ashes tests for Australia and series as a fast bowling all-rounder.Amongst the great fast bowling all-rounders Miller was technically the most correct and the best strokemaker.Imran Khan had a better batting average but could not destroy bowling like Miller .Miller overshadowed Botham statistically averaging 22 with the ball and 36 with the bat.Generally cricket experts like Cristopher Martin Jenkins and Geoff Armstrong rank Miller only behind Sobers and Imran as all-rounders and ahead of Kalllis.
Kapil Dev has staggering figures combining aggregate wickets and runs but his average is relatively low.Statistics do not do fair justice to the true merit of Kapil Dev who had the handicap of bowling mostly on sub-continent pancakes.He single-handedly bore the brunt of the Indian pace attack and still captured 434 wickets.He had best figures of 9-93 and 8-85 and 7-56 in the sub-continent which is remarkable.No all-rounder performed better against the best team of all-time-the West Indies.He could be devastating as a batsmen resembling the great Gilbert Jessop like when scoring 89 of 55 balls at Lords in 1982 and in 1990 scoring 77 with 4 consecutive sixes.At his best he could rival the great Ian Botham as batsmen and in 2 consecutive series even overshadowed him as an allrounder in 191-82 and 1982.What went against Kapil was that he often threw his wicket when in full flow,lacking application.He also was fast -medium and not genuinely quick.Still he is arguably the best ever ODI all-rounder of all if you asess his contribution in world cups.At his best to me Kapil Dev could turn games or series like Sobers or Botham at his best.The 1979-80 series v Pakistan is the best example of this when he captured 32 wickets at 17.68 and scored 3 fifties at an average of 30.88.Quite likely had he played for England or Australia Kapil may have joined the league of Imran or Botham.Anyway that is completely hypothetical.For pure aesthetic joy I would love to see Kapil Dev more than any all-rounder play bar Gary Sobers.
In the final countdown with a gun on my head I would choose Keith Miller.Old-timers like Alan Davidson and Richie Benaud rate him the best all-rounder they ever saw .They felt being a fast bowler he could win more matches than even Sobers.Kallis was in another league statistically but was generally defensive as a batsmen and not at his best with both bat and ball,at the same time.Kapil Dev may have posessed the most natural talent but lacked consistency and was not at his best with the bat and ball in different periods of his career.Still on a flat sub-continent track Kapil would be my choice with his ability to extract life from dead wickets.In ODI cricket my choice of Kapil Dev would be unanimous.
STATISTICS COMPILED FROM S.RAJESH
The table below lists the top allrounders by the difference between their batting and bowling averages, and the only player with similar stats as Kallis is Garry Sobers - he averaged 57.78 with the bat and 34.03 with the ball, and the difference of 23.74 is marginally higher than Kallis' 22.72.
The other allrounders all have a difference of less than 15 between their batting and bowling averages, which is where Kallis's numbers stand out. However, Kallis averaged only 1.76 wickets per Test, while the others in the list below (apart from Sobers) took at least three per match.
THE TOP ALLROUNDERS IN TEST CRICKET (AT LEAST 2500 RUNS AND 150 WKTS)
Player Tests Runs Bat Ave Wickets Bowl Ave Difference*
Garry Sobers 93 8032 57.78 235 34.03 23.74
Jacques Kallis 166 13,289 55.37 292 32.65 22.72
Imran Khan 88 3807 37.69 362 22.81 14.88
Keith Miller 55 2958 36.97 170 22.97 13.99
Shaun Pollock 108 3781 32.31 421 23.11 9.19
Ian Botham 102 5200 33.54 383 28.40 5.14
Richard Hadlee 86 3124 27.16 431 22.29 4.86
Chris Cairns 62 3320 33.53 218 29.40 4.13
Kapil Dev 131 5248 31.05 434 29.64 1.40
Miller's numbers compare favourably to the all-time best allrounders in the world: among those in the 1500-run-and-100-wicket club, only three have a higher difference between batting and bowling averages. One of them, Jacques Kallis, clearly favours batting - he averages less than two wickets per Test. Apart from him, Garry Sobers and Imran Khan are the only ones who rank higher than Miller.
ALLROUNDERS WITH HIGHEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BATTING AND BOWLING AVERAGES (QUAL: 1500 RUNS, 100 WKTS)
Player Tests Runs Average 100s Wickets Average 5WI Diff In Ave
Garry Sobers 93 8032 57.78 26 235 34.03 6 23.75
Jacques Kallis 140 11,126 55.07 35 266 31.59 5 23.48
Imran Khan 88 3807 37.69 6 362 22.81 23 14.88
Keith Miller 55 2958 36.97 7 170 22.97 7 14.00
Shaun Pollock 108 3781 32.31 2 421 23.11 16 9.2
Trevor Goddard 41 2516 34.46 1 123 26.22 5 8.24
Tony Greig 58 3599 40.43 8 141 32.20 6 8.23
Monty Noble 42 1997 30.25 1 121 25.00 9 5.25
Ian Botham 102 5200 33.54 14 383 28.40 27 5.14
Richard Hadlee 86 3124 27.16 2 431 22.29 36 4.87
However, the Australian teams Miller played in generally had strong batting line-ups, and it was as a bowler that Miller was needed more. With new-ball partner Lindwall, Miller formed an awesome combination. As a bowling pair they complemented each other superbly: Lindwall had exceptional control, and Miller was so unpredictable that batsmen didn't know what to expect. Both were highly effective: during the 11 years in which Miller played his international cricket, both were easily among the best bowlers of their era.
BEST TEST BOWLERS BETWEEN 1946 AND 1956 (QUAL: 100 WICKETS)
Bowler Tests Wickets Average 5WI/ 10WM
Jim Laker 30 134 21.46 7/ 3
Ray Lindwall 55 212 22.16 12/ 0
Keith Miller 55 170 22.97 7/ 1
Brian Statham 32 101 23.85 2/ 0
Bill Johnston 40 160 23.91 7/ 0
Alec Bedser 51 236 24.89 15/ 5
When Miller performed to his potential, Australia usually won. Of the 55 Tests he played Australia won 31, which illustrates how strong the team was during that era, and Miller's contributions in those victories were immense: with the bat he averaged 43.39, and he scored four of his seven hundreds in those games; in contrast, in the nine Tests he played in that Australia lost, his average fell to a miserable 17, and he scored only one half-century in 18 innings.
With the ball, he was an even greater match-winner, and is one of only seven Australians who've taken more than 100 wickets at a sub-20 average in victories. All of his seven five-fors helped Australia win matches.
BEST AVERAGES BY AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS IN WINS (QUAL: 100 WICKETS)
Bowler Tests Wickets Average 5WI/ 10WM
Clarrie Grimmett 20 143 17.60 15/ 6
Dennis Lillee 31 203 18.27 17/ 6
Richie Benaud 24 128 18.32 10/ 1
Ray Lindwall 33 138 19.13 8/ 0
Glenn McGrath 84 414 19.19 18/ 3
Garth McKenzie 18 112 19.49 9/ 3
Keith Miller 31 113 19.60 7/ 1
KEITH MILLER'S TEST CAREER
Period Runs Average 100s/ 50s Wickets Average 5WI/ 10WM
First 11 Tests 599 54.45 1/ 3 27 20.85 1/ 0
Next 33 Tests 1685 32.40 3/ 9 100 21.77 3/ 0
Last 11 Tests 674 39.64 3/ 1 43 27.11 3/ 1
Career (55 Tests) 2958 36.97 7/ 13 170 22.97 7/ 1
KAPIL DEV'S TEST CAREER IN THREE PARTS
Period Runs Average 100s Wickets Average 5WI
First Ten Tests 510 42.50 1 29 39.06 1
Next 52 Tests 1973 27.40 2 218 26.19 17
Next 69 Tests 2765 32.52 5 187 32.20 5
Career 5248 31.05 8 434 29.64 23
BEST TEST BOWLERS VERSUS WEST INDIES IN THE 1980S (QUAL: 1200 BALLS BOWLED)
Bowler Tests Wickets Average Strike Rate 5WI/10WM
Imran Khan 10 52 16.68 38.3 5/ 1
Richard Hadlee 10 51 22.03 49.1 4/ 1
Kapil Dev 19 72 22.98 51.4 4/ 1
Abdul Qadir 8 40 28.07 55.2 1/ 0
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