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Class all-rounders are a rare material in cricket. With the outset of white ball cricket, all-rounders became a vital part of any cricket squad.
The modern-day cricket is having a huge demand for the All rounders. Rather than selecting a specialist bowler or batsmen, captains prefer to include an all-rounder in the squad. The motivation is that the contender will be either beneficial with the bat or ball. We have seen a lot of contests were all-rounders single handedly led his team to the triumph. Mastering with either bat or ball may be a gifted skill. But balancing in both the department entails hard work and dedication.
In this article, we are going to pick 9 players top 9 ODI nations whom mastered with the bat and ball.
Carl Hooper(West Indies)
Arguably the greatest all-rounder of the 20th century in ODIs. Since his debut, Cooper played 227 ODI matches and attained jaw-dropping stats. His 5000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches in ODI make him one of the greatest players with the bat and ball.
Cooper was a middle-order batsman and a talented off-spinner. His captivating batting style was delighting for the viewers. He has been described by Steve Waugh and Shane Warner as the greatest all-rounders of their time.
Cooper had a great start for his side since his debut in 1987, managed to hit a ton against India in his 2nd International outing. Cooper has been a perfect definition for a hardworking cricketer. He wasn't a gifted batsman, but his potential and passion to become an all-rounder moulded him as a best in the department.
When it comes to best ODI all-rounders from West Indies, Hooper will have a reserved spot.
Sanath Jayasuriya(Sri Lanka)
13430 runs and 323 ODI wickets, Jayasuriya has been a perfect definition for an ODI all-rounder. In his initial days, Jayasuriya's role was just to smack the ball hard. But his tricky deliveries in death overs were lethal for the opponents.
His ability to ball precise, quick and tricky spells in crucial overs helped Sri Lanka to succeed in many high priority games. When it comes to batting, Jayasuriya was an aggressive opener and was brutal when the field restrictions were active.
It's a no-brainer, Jayasuriya is one of the greatest players which the Sri Lankan team ever produced. Although Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas gives contention for the all-rounder position, stats and experience make Jayasuriya the best.
Shakib Al Hasan(Bangladesh)
Finest of the only few talents from Bangladesh who can contribute from both bat and ball, Shakib is one of the top all-rounders to have emerged from Bangladesh. Since his debut for Bangladesh, Shakib was a vital cog in any major tournaments.
As it stands, Shakib scored 5000+ ODI runs to go with 200+ wickets and 45 catches. As a batsman, Shakib displayed several cameos for the Bangladesh side. But his actual strength lied upon his bowling. His 7/36 performance against New Zealand at Chittagong is one of the best showings from the left-hand.
Shakib took a key role in Bangladesh's success after the 2015 ICC World Cup. When it comes to the All-round department, Shakib doesn't have any challenging contender in his side.
Shane Watson(Australia)
Perhaps the greatest all-rounder of all time and definitely the best from the Aussies side in ODIs, Shane Watson was a perfect package in white ball cricket for the Kangaroos. His versatility with the bat and ball makes Watto a 21st-century wonder.
Technically sound and well built off either foot, Watson is skilful at playing both the pacers and the spinners. From his 190 ODI outings, Watson 5757 runs and dismissed 168 batters. His aggressive batting style was key in many successes for the Australian team.
It is a fact that Watson wasn't in the limelight for a major part of his career. But Watson is a perfect example for a genuine all-rounder in ODIs.
Shahid Afridi(Pakistan)
An aggressive contender with the willow and perhaps one of the most influenced bowlers, Shahid Afridi will be an ideal pick from the Pakistan side when it comes to the all-rounders' department.
Afridi's quickish leg-breaks and googlies were lethal for batters in the limited overs cricket. Afridi's "do or die" batting showcases made him a fan favourite contender. His 117 strike rate underlines the above statement.
8064 runs and 395 ODI wickets make Afridi an unavoidable all-rounder in the list.
Lance Klusener(South Africa)
You may have a war of words on this selection. Choosing the best among Kallis and Klusener depends on your perception. But Klusener defined the role of a perfect all-rounder with his limited 8 years cricket career.
Perhaps the unluckiest cricketer ever the game witnessed, Lance Klusener was part of two World Cup tragedies of Protease. Nicknamed Zulu, Klusener ODI career stat looks splendid with 3576 runs and 192 wickets.
He will be remembered for his exceptional finishing skills and crafty deliveries.
Chris Harris(New Zealand)
The most underrated all-rounder in the Kiwi side. Chris Harris debuted in the 90's and played his last ODI bout against Australia in 2004 and had to withdraw his career due to a serious shoulder injury. The dibbly dobbly from Canterbury played 250 ODI matches for his team with 4379 runs and 203 wickets in his career stat.
Chris's economic spells in company with Rod Latham, Gavin Larsen, and Nathan Astle was fatal for the challenging batsmen's. The No.7 batsmen scored 2130 runs in the position records only player to do so. An ill-fated 130 in the 1996 World Cup against Australia will be a memorable one for any cricket fan as the match favoured The invincible's despite an extraordinary performance from Harris.
There will be many other prominent all-rounders in the current generation like Philander, Ashwin, Shakib, etc. But Chris Harris showed how an all-rounder should perform.
Kapil Dev(India)
Arguably the greatest ODI all-rounder India ever produced. Kapil renowned for his remarkable contributions to team India. 1983 World Cup triumph was greatest one among the list.
Kapil was an aggressive middle-order batsman and a death over specialist. His out swingers were fatal for the batsmen. Along with these, Kapil was an excellent athlete in the fields.
Kapil was a prolific run scorer with 3783 runs at a 95.07 strike rate in the stat. His 253 ODI wickets emphasize why he is the best all-rounder from team India.
Andrew Flintoff(England)
An extraordinary talent from England after Ian Botham to master in the all-rounder department. Flintoff was brilliant in the white ball cricket for the English side. He was equally brilliant with pace and spin apart being a tricky pacer himself.
3394 runs and 169 ODI dismissals stat make him one of the best all-rounders of the 21st century.
Although invited a lot of criticisms for his off-field behaviour, Flintoff will be the best ODI all-rounder England ever produced.
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