5 Test cricketers who have achieved rare feat of 3000 runs & 400 wickets

The red-ball cricket has always been considered as 'the purest form of cricket'. Played for 5 gruelling days, it tests each player's temperament and skills at the highest level. In Test cricket, each run scored and every wicket scalped are hard-earned through grit and determination.

In the history of Test cricket, we have seen so many records that have eventually been created and surpassed by various legendary cricketers. From Muralitharan's 800 wickets to Sachin Tendulkar's 51 centuries, the cricket fraternity has witnessed so many historical moments in Test cricket.

But, what we are about to look now is a list of elite players who achieved a rare feat of scoring 3000+ runs as well as picking up 400+ wickets in Test cricket.

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#5 Stuart Broad (England)

Son of former England cricketer Chris Broad, Stuart Broad made his Test debut for England against Sri Lanka at Colombo, 2007. Since then, the right-handed fast bowler has been James Anderson's long-term partner in dismantling many oppositions with world-class swing and seam bowling.

In 121 Test matches, Broad has picked up 427 wickets at a healthy average of 28.91 with 16 fifers in his kitty. His best innings figures of 15/8 came against the Aussies in Ashes, 2015. Leading the attack in the absence his partner (Jimmy Anderson), Broad rattled the Australian batsmen with a mind-boggling spell of 9.3-5-15-8.

Broad has also been a decent lower-order batsman, providing vital contribution at crucial moments. At an average of 19.53, he has scored 3008 runs with 12 fifties and a hundred.

With his highest score of 169 against Pakistan (2010) and 7-72 against West Indies (2012) at Lord's, Broad became the 8th player to join the elite club of all-rounders to be on both honours boards.

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#4 Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)

Richard Hadlee- New Zealand's greatest player of all time

The Kiwi legend is considered as one of the greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders in the world. An ICC Hall of Famer (2009), Hadlee squared up many batsmen with his conventional swing bowling and was regarded as the 'Sultan of Swing' (Before Wasim Akram).

In 86 Test matches, Hadlee picked up 431 wickets at a staggering average of 22.29 and became the first bowler to surpass the 400-wicket mark in Test cricket. Predominantly being a bowling all-rounder, Hadlee had the best bowling average and most fifers (36) when compared with his nemeses- Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham.

Though Hadlee wasn't a batsman gifted with talent, he scored 3124 runs with 2 hundreds and 15 fifties with a high score of 151* against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

#3 Shaun Pollock (South Africa)

South Africa's highest

wicket taker

in Tests

The former South African captain of all formats is one of the greatest bowling all-rounders in the world. Pollock along with Allan Donald ruptured some of the best batting line-ups during the 90s in Tests and ODIs.

With 421 wickets in 102 matches, Pollock holds the record for most wickets by a South African bowler in Test cricket. After a formidable year, he was chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the year in 2003.

Though Pollock was known for his penetrating spells in Tests, he also piled up 3781 runs at a healthy average of 32.31 (better than many mainstream batsmen). With 2 100s, he has most no. of centuries at No.9 position.

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#2 Shane Warne, Australia

Shane Warne- 2nd highest wicket-taker in Test cricket

Shane Warne, the Australian legend is regarded as the best leg-spinner in the cricketing history. Coming from a country dominated by fast bowlers, Warne made his mark in world cricket as a Non-Asian spinner.

In his prolonged career of 15 years, Warne played 145 Tests and achieved a mammoth total of 708 wickets. Playing his first Ashes Test series in England (1993), he bowled the "Ball of the Century" to Mike Gatting which was pitched way outside the leg-stump and went on to hit the off bail.

Though Warne wasn't much known for his exploits with the bat, he racked up 3154 runs with 12 fifties and a high score of 99 against New Zealand at Perth.

Considering his humongous contribution to the sport, Warne was included in the elite list of 5 cricketers (Wisden Cricketer of the Century) for the 20th century.

#1 Kapil Dev, India

Kapil Dev- First Indian captain to win a World Cup (1983)

Kapil Dev- An all-rounder who changed the complexion of Indian cricket by achieving what every Indian fan dreamed for (1st World Cup Victory in 1983). Since Kapil Dev's retirement, the Indian team is in search of a worthy seam bowling all-rounder for the past 25 years.

Kapil is the only player to score 5000 runs and take 400 wickets in Test cricket, making him one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. He is also the youngest bowler to reach the 100, 200 and 300 wicket mark in Tests.

In 131 matches, he notched up 5248 runs with 8 centuries and 27 fifties and scalped 434 wickets (highest for an Indian seam bowler) with an innings best figure of 9/83 against West Indies in 1983.

After his mighty contribution to Indian cricket, Wisden named Kapil as the "Indian Cricketer of the Century" in 2002. At last, his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame came in 2010.