All Time Greatest All Rounders in One Day Internationals

We have often heard the term - 'all-rounder' being coined several times but fail to see its truest sense. An all-rounder is a cricketer who performs consistently with both bat and ball.

Ideally, all bowlers must be able to bat and a few batsmen should be able to bowl occasionally. However, most of the players are what we call specialists, owing to their skills in either of the disciplines. According to the accepted norm, an authentic all-rounder is someone whose batting or bowling skills alone would be good enough to win a place in the team.

Delivering exuberant performances with both bat and ball requires tremendous physical ability and honing various other skills. In the history of cricket, there have been a few who can be considered weapons with both the ball and bat. Only a handful of players can claim their spots in this exclusive group, while only a fraction of these will go down the history books as being an all-time great.

With the advent of a number of T20 leagues all over the world, the era of specialist players seems to be dying a slow death. All thanks to the formats which demand players to contribute to more than one department of the game, the ‘bits and pieces’ cricketers are slowly making their presence felt.

Regardless of the format, an all-rounder is an asset to cherish for any team for he brings the much-needed balance to the squad and also adds a tinge of versatility to the bowling and batting department of the team.

Many a times in the past, great teams have regularly featured some quality all-rounders in their sides and these players have often proved to be the streak of difference. Since 1877, when the first Test match was played, only a few men have been able to do justice to this title.

Let us have a look at some of the greatest all-rounders in ODIs.

12) Shahid Afridi

There have been many renowned power hitters in cricket but Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was always a cut above the rest. It didn't take long for him to proclaim his hard-hitting reign in the world. In his very first ODI innings, as a 16 year old, against Sri Lanka in 1996, he scored a record-breaking 37-ball hundred. He held this record till Corey Anderson broke it in 2014 scoring it in 36 balls.

In the dawn of his career, Afridi wasn't a regular bowler and majorly played as an opening batsman. However later he went on to become a deadly leg-spinner and an equally smashing (if not more) lower-middle order hitter for Pakistan. His quick leg spin made him indispensable in the team purely as a bowler when his batting skills completely abandoned him.

His antagonizing batting style with big hits right from the start explains his low average of only 23.57 in 398 ODIs, but an exasperating strike rate of 117 is self-explanatory of the damage he could inflict when he got going.

Afridi scored 8064 runs in his one-day career including 6 hundreds and 39 fifties. Afridi took 395 wickets at an average of 34.51 and an economy rate of 4.62 including 9 five-wicket hauls. Currently, he holds the record for maximum sixes (351) in ODIs.

While many people might call #12 a bit low for Afridi but his dip in batting form can be asserted to be the lone reason for this.

11) Abdul Razzaq

Even though Abdul Razzaq might not be included in the bests of an otherwise great bowling attack Pakistan has almost always had, the former all-rounder was a star performer as a first change bowler for the major part of his ODI career.

In 93 games as a first change bowler, he picked up 114 wickets at an average of 29.54 and strike rate of 37.6. Razzaq might not be the most difficult bowler to face but owing to the pressure that the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and others used to exert on the opposition, the batsmen tried to go after him most of the time.

Razzaq was an extremely explosive hitter especially in the slog overs and could also help steady the innings whenever needed. In 265 ODIs he played for Pakistan, he scored 6252 runs. He had a decent average of 29.70 but a whopping strike rate of 81.25 made him a dangerous man.

He has 3 centuries and 23 half-centuries to his name. In his exemplary career, he picked up 269 wickets, at an average of 31.83 and an economy rate of 4.69. Razzaq's promotion to number 3 in the batting order during 1999 World Cup made him one of the finest all-rounders to have played one-day cricket.

His ability to swing the ball and his steadfast accuracy and discipline made him an excellent death bowler. Additionally, he had the technique to face the best bowlers in the world which eventually made him a noteworthy all-rounder he went on to become.

10) Andrew Symonds

Simply put, Symonds was savage with the bat, quick on the field and illusively threatening with the ball, in short, a pure match-winner for Australia. He was a treat to the eyes with whatever he did, be it charging down off-breaks or mediums, hurling himself around the field with his loudest grunt saved for batting.

He scored 5088 runs at an average of 39.75 and an astonishing strike rate of 92.44 in the days when T20 hadn't started. He also scored 6 tons and 30 fifties. In the bowling department, he took 133 wickets at an average of 37.25 including a five-wicket haul.

Symond's selection in 2003 WorldCup proved to be a turning point in his career. His selection was heavily debated not only due to the sheer inconsistency he had displayed until then but also because many believed that inclusion of Steve Waugh would be ideal. Despite many deliberations, skipper Ricky Ponting stuck to Symonds.

The limited over package didn't disappoint his captain as he went on to have a superb tournament with several invaluable knocks. It was a much-needed break which established his firm footing in international cricket.

As the saying goes for yet another talented but troubled man, it was his own undoing which derailed his career well before it actually should have. If I may quote his coach Toot Byron - "I used to hate watching him bat, He wasn't in control of his shot-selection ... he'd get 24 off an over and then go out on the last ball of that over." Although his career didn't span for a long time, he did enough during his stay to make his presence felt.

9) Hansie Cronje

Hansie Cronje was an epitome of leadership who could inspire millions. He was not just a player but an ambassador to the sport. He was a fearless batsman, a very effective medium pacer, and an even exhilarating fielder. His 360-degree brilliance and shrewd captaincy helped him earn a respectable position in the world cricket.

He took his career-best 5 wicket haul when the Indians were touring South Africa in 1992. Cronje's statistics in ODIs are an illustrious example of his talent. One of the best all-rounders in limited overs cricket during the 90s, he had a great year in 1994 with 1133 runs at an average of 43.57. He complemented this with 13 scalps.

In his career, he scored 5565 runs at an average of 38.64 including 2 tons and 39 fifties. His bowling fetched him 114 wickets at an average of 34.78. His ability to send a few quick overs and break partnerships made him an asset to cherish for the Proteas for he almost led the side to a World Cup in 1999.

However, this was a story too good to be true. Millions of fans lost a hero-like figure when he was revealed to be a part of the match-fixing mafia that threatened to uproot the game from its very existence.

8) Kapil Dev

Since Kapil Dev's retirement in 1994, Indian selectors have tried a lot of players to match his brilliance level but none of them managed to be even half as good. A great captain who led the unit to lift the first World Cup in 1983, the 'Haryana Hurricane' is considered as the greatest all-rounder and the greatest fast-bowler to have represented India.

In his glorious career which lasted for 16 years, Kapil Dev earned the reputation of being a consistently-performing pacer and a hard hitter with the bat. He wasn't only India's greatest all-rounder but also one of the best Indian pacer. Even remarkable is that he nurtured these skills on Indian soil which are, if simply put, morale shattering for the pace bowlers.

Kapil Dev took 253 wickets in 225 matches at an average of 27.45. In his celebrated career, he scored 3783 runs at an average of 23.79 which included one ton and 14 fifties with a strike rate of over 95, which was unheard of at that time. He often batted with the lower-order and could change the momentum of the game single-handedly.

In the World Cup fixture against Zimbabwe in 1983, India was at 17-5. He steered India to victory, away from this trouble, with his masterful unbeaten 175 off 138 deliveries.

Be it one of the best counterattacking innings ever played in an ODI or one of the most vital cogs in the pace bowling, Kapil Dev's all-round brilliance is etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket history.

7) Shakib Al Hasan

The current No. 1 player in the ICC ODI rankings for all-rounders, Shakib Al Hasan is undoubtedly the biggest name to have emerged from Bangladesh Cricket.

In 2015, he became the first and only cricketer in history to be ranked the No.1 all-rounder by ICC in its Player Rankings in all three formats of the game (Test, Twenty20 and One Day Internationals). Debuting in ODIs in 2006 as a bowler, he started devoting time to his batting and is today one of the main pillars of Bangladeshi Cricket.

His match-winning knock of 114 runs in Champions Trophy'17 helped Bangladesh qualify for semis and made him one of the most vital cogs in their line-up. In 188 ODI matches, he has picked up 237 wickets at an average below 30 and economy of 4.45.

With the bat, he has accumulated 5433 runs at an average of 35.5 with 7 centuries and 39 half-centuries. One of the finest middle order batsmen, he smacks the ball around the park as brilliantly as he would build the innings for the team.

A saying is often heard in the country, 'as long as Shakib is at the crease, there is hope'. He became the first player from Bangladesh to achieve the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets and their first batsman to score five hundreds, despite mostly batting at No. 5.

6) Sanath Jayasuriya

The career which started in 1989 wasn't believed to have belonged to the man Sanath Jayasuriya went on to become. In the early years, he was considered a 'bits and pieces' cricketer', at most a bowler who could bat a bit. Who would have thought then about the shots he hammered through point and cover and scythes over the leg side as he slashed his way through some of the great bowling attacks.

He scored runs equally briskly in every form of the game and got noticed as the Lankan-dynamo in World Cup'1996. His then opening partnership with Romesh Kaluwitharana not only steered Sri Lanka to victory but also drastically transformed the role of openers in ODIs.

Jayasuriya was perhaps one of the most destructive opening batsmen to have played the game and an even absolute delight to watch as he thrashed his way through the bowlers during the initial overs of fielding restrictions. He scored 13,430 runs for Sri Lanka and averaged 32.36, but the revolutionizing strike rate of 91.20 is proof that he was a potential danger to the opposition when he got going.

He is number 4 on the list of most runs in ODIs after Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting. He also scored 28 centuries and as many as 68 half-centuries in his career. He is number three on the list of maximum sixes in ODIs with 270 after Chris Gayle (275) and Shahid Afridi (351).

Jayasuriya was also known for his shrewd bowling and agility as a fielder. His left-arm finger spin picked 323 wickets in 445 games at an average of 36.75 including 4 five-wicket hauls. The all-rounder Jayasuriya used to bowl his full quota of fast left-arm off-spin and is the only player in the history of ODI cricket to have achieved the double of 13,000 runs and 300 wickets.

5) Imran Khan

Through his spectacular prowess with both bat and ball, Imran Khan inspired a generation of Pakistani youngsters to become cricketers. He is arguably the greatest all-rounder produced by Pakistan, and also the greatest captain from the country.

A natural leader, it was Khan's inspirational captaincy that led an impoverished Pakistan team to lift their first World Cup title in 1992.

As most people would agree, for most of his career in the 1980s and later, Imran reigned as one of the world's best seam-bowling all-rounders. He took 182 wickets at an impressive average of 26.61.

Imran could bat at any position and in fact, in Pakistan's triumphant World Cup campaign back in 1992, he primarily played as a batsman and batted at number 3. He was the top scorer for Pakistan in that final match with a fine 72. He scored 3709 runs in ODIs at an average of 33.71 including a lone ton and 19 fifties.

4) Andrew Flintoff

Lovingly called "Freddie", Andrew Flintoff was a bundle of raw talent. For a majority of his career, Flintoff helped his team by slowing down the batting team if they managed to get off to a ravishing start. There are instances innumerable wherein Flintoff managed to do the repair work of the opening bowlers.

To a career which got cut short owing to the numerous injuries he suffered, there were only a few bowlers who could be better than him when he was fully fit. He was an exceptional bowler who bowled at a serious pace, could move the ball either ways and extricate seam movement in those yorkers.

He managed to pick up 169 wickets at an excellent average of 24.38, a statistic many bowlers don't have in ODIs. He also took 2 five-wicket hauls in his career.

In the batting department, he scored 3394 runs at an average of 32.01. His average may seem low but he used to bat in the lower order and hence get very few overs to bat. All thanks to his ability to clear the ground at will, he performed his role of a finisher pretty well at an impressive strike rate of 88.82. He scored 3 tons and 18 fifties in his career.

3) Shane Watson

Starting off as a bowling all-rounder and becoming a batting all-rounder, Shane Watson first displayed his all-round skills in the initial edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. His exemplary performances not only heightened his career but also made him a permanent in Australian ODI team.

A natural stroke player, Watson holds the record for the maximum number of sixes(15) in an ODI innings which he struck while scoring a devastating 185 runs off 96 balls against Bangladesh in early 2011. Watto was a treat to the eyes while he ripped apart any bowling attack mostly in ODIs and T20s.

Watson scored 5757 runs in 190 ODIs with a strike rate of over 90 and an average of over 40. He also has 33 fifties and 9 hundreds to his name in ODIs. With his skills to be able to swing the ball, Watto picked up 168 wickets at an average of 31.79.

2) Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis is undoubtedly the greatest all-rounder to have played the game since Sir Garfield Sobers. Though he didn't receive as much adulation as his contemporaries vis a vis Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, etc., he was no less a player than any of them.

A true genius and an even better sportsman, Kallis played mainly as a specialist batsman in the latter half of his career but had already picked up enough wickets by then to be regarded as a genuine all-rounder.

Kallis made 11579 runs in 328 ODIs at a spectacular average of 44.36. He was the team's batting rock and a perfect sheet anchor for almost a decade and a half with his pure technique and stroke-making abilities.

He scored 17 tons and 86 fifties which is third highest in the all-time list after Sachin and Sangakara. His ability to ball quick and the swing in his deliveries often saw him opening the bowling attack for South Africa in ODIs.

His ability to read the game while batting and intelligence to restrict runs during the early overs made him one of the finest seam bowling all-rounders of the modern era. In 328 games, Kallis took 273 wickets with an economy of 4.84 and an average of 31.79 and rates highly on this all-time list.

1) Lance Klusener

One of the most feared lower order batsmen in those days, Lance Klusener batted at different positions for South Africa, even opened on few occasions. Starting off his career as a bowler, he was very quick with the ball and could swing it either way.

Known for his hard-hitting prowess, no asking rate seemed out of reach while he was at the crease. Klusener was probably one of the best finishers South Africa has witnessed in its cricketing history.

Popular for his nagging line and length, his discerning medium pace laced with off-cutters got him 192 wickets in 171 matches at an average of 29.95, strike rate of 38.2 and economy rate of 4.70 which is quite impressive for a death bowler.

In the batting department, Klusener averaged to 41 with a strike rate of almost 90. Among the lower-order batsmen of his time, it would be difficult to find a player who had more. He scored 3576 runs in ODIs which included 2 tons and 19 fifties.

It will be a remiss to not mention his breathtaking feats of 1999 World Cup. He scored almost 300 runs and took 17 wickets, probably one of the best performances in the World Cup history.

He was not only awarded the man of the tournament to recognise his effort but also got etched in the the memory lanes of those who witnessed the heroic valour in that heart-breaking tie.