That was the question I was asked two days ago, and my immediate reaction was Garfield Sobers or Jacques Kallis, with a soft spot for Keith Miller, Richie Benaud, and Alan Davidson.
I had played a social game at the SCG in 1960 with Miller four years after he retired, and it was an eye-opener as to his incredible ability. I played first grade in Sydney for years against Benaud (Cumberland), who was captain when I first captained Mosman, and Davidson with Western Suburbs to see at first hand their superb all-round capabilities.
So I settled on a 15-man squad in alphabetical order to answer the question – Wasim Akram, Ravi Ashwin, Benaud, Ian Botham, Davidson, Kapil Dev, Andrew Flintoff, Richard Hadlee, Mitchell Johnson, Imran Khan, Kallis, Miller, Shaun Pollock, Sobers, and Daniel Vettori.
Davidson created history at the first tied Test at the Gabba in December 1960 when he emerged as the first all-rounder to score 100 runs and take ten wickets in a Test.
The leftie scored 44 and 80 for 124 and captured 5-135 and 6-87 for 11-222 in what’s arguably the greatest Test ever played with both sides scoring 737 runs in the four digs.
Benaud and Frank Worrell were the captains and they set the high standard for a memorable series won 2-1 by Australia.
In another bit of criteria, only eight all-rounders have scored 500 Test runs and taken 50 Test wickets in a calendar year.
Botham did it twice – 1978 with 597 at 39.8 and 66 wickets at 18.19 and in 1981 with 629 runs at 28.59 and 62 wickets at 25.54.
Dev also recorded the feat twice – 1979 with 619 runs at 30.95 and 74 wickets at 22.95 and again in 1983 with 579 runs and 22.26 and 75 wickets at 22.95.
Pollock joined them with 593 runs at 29.65 and 69 wickets at 20.44 in 1998 and 573 runs at 52.09 and 55 wickets in 2001 at 21.38.
Flintoff scored the double in 2005 with 709 runs at 30.82 and 68 wickets at 24.41, while Vettori’s double was in 2008 with 672 runs at 35.36, and 54 wickets at 26.12
Johnson’s double was in 2009 with 500 runs at 33.33,and 63 wickets at 27.42, with Ashwin the latest to join the list this year with 545 at 48.70, and 59 at 22.83.
None of those stats are conclusive, so lets go head-to-head on career averages, starting with the bat.
1 – Sobers (93 Tests) – 8032 runs at 57.78.
2 – Kallis (166) – 13289 at 55.37.
3 – Miller (55) – 2958 at 36.97.
4 – Ashwin (42) – 1749 at 34.96
5 – Botham (102) – 5200 at 34.03,
6 – Pollock (105) – 3781 at 32.31,
7 – Flintoff (79) – 3845 at 31.77
8 – Dev (131) – 5248 at 31.05
9 – Vettori (113) – 4531 at 30.00
10 – Imran(88) – 3897 at 27.69.
11 – Hadlee (86) – 3124 at 27.16
12 – Davidson (44) – 1328 at 24.58
13 – Benaud (63) – 2201 at 24.45
14 – Johnson (73) – 2065 at 22.20
15 – Akram (104) – 2898 at 22.64.
With the ball:
1 – Davidson (44) – 186 wickets at 20.53.
2 – Hadlee (86) – 431 at 22.59.
3 – Imran (88) – 362 at 22.81.
4 – Miller (45) – 170 at 22.97.
5 – Pollock (108) – 423 at 23.11.
6 – Akram (104) – 414 at 23.62.
7 – Ashwin (42) – 235 at 24.75.
8 – Benaud (63) -248 at 27.03.
9 – Botham(102) – 383 at 28.40.
9 – Johnson (73) – 313 at 28.40
11 – Dev (131) – 434 at 29.04
12 – Kallis (166) – 292 at 32.65
13 – Flintoff (74) – 226 at 32.78
14 – Sobers (93) – 235 at 34.03
15 – Vettori (113) – 362 at 34,36,
Let the cold hard stats give us the answer to the greatest all-rounder question in history.
Using their standings in the top 15 contenders with bat and ball and calling them points, lowest is tops.
24 points – Daniel Vettori (9 batting points, 15 bowling).
23 – Mitchell Johnson.
21 – Richie Benaud and Wasim Akram.
20 – Andrew Flintoff.
19 – Kapil Dev.
15 – Garfield Sobers.
14 – Ian Botham, Jacques Kallis.
13 – Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee, and Alan Davidson.
11 – Ravi Ashwin, and Shaun Pollock.
7 – Keith Miller.
And there you have the debonair Keith Miller as the greatest Test all-rounder on the evidence of cold statistical facts.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Andy Flower had a better average but a lower strike rate than Gilchrist, but should certainly be discussed in the mix of great all-rounders.
davSA
Guest
Yes Gilchrist and Hayden got the better of most bowlers around. Kallis was mostly used as a breakthrough bowler , usually called on when a partnership was threatening and needed breaking. Almost 300 test wickets suggests no sorry doesn't suggest rather emphasizes his quality as a class bowler.
davSA
Guest
Interesting thought Christo , the Proteas have always traditionally had strong allrounders think Kallis, Pollock, Kluzener and Boje of recent past. This current side has not selected one primarily due to De Kock filling the dual role of gloveman and frontline batsman. Allows them to choose an extra specialist bowler.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
What about AB Devilliers? Averaging over 50 with the bat with over 200 catches/stumpings?
Matthew H
Guest
Personally I think Botham is the best ever. I always liked the fact he is the fastest man to 1000r+100w, 2000r+200w & 3000r+300w. Putting argument aside imagine this team... Opener1 Opener2 Kallis Sobers Miller Botham Gilchrist Pollock Imran Warne Davidson
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
People discussing strike rates when talking test cricket should probably go and join Michael Slater at the bar and talk about hitting the first ball of a test for four. Give me Kallis' 13,000 test runs at a "miserly" strike rate any day of the week.
steve
Guest
1.Sir Garfield Sobers 2.WG Grace 3. Imran Khan 4.Jacques Kallis 5.Keith Miller 6.Sir Ian Botham 7.Kapil Dev 8. Shaun Pollock 10. Richie Benaud Stats, skill and importance to the game are the criteria I used and I took captaincy into account.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
One rarely mentioned who I thought was very good was the Kiwi John Reid, fabulous player His compatriot, Bruce Taylor was more than handy as well On the topic, Sobers, then daylight If including keepers, Gilly A call out to Mike procter who would have rivalled Sobers
Baz
Guest
To put kallis bowling into reality he average two wickets per test match. Alot of the other all rounders did more with the ball. Miller took the wickets of a front line bowler over his test career and 37 is not so bad for his time. His batting is great though.
Andy
Guest
But by that same token he had to play against Australia when we were stupidly great, just as 10 years before the rest of the world had to face the West Indies.
Andy
Guest
If he continues like this absolutely but its still early days. But he does look very solid.
Andy
Guest
I always thought that was the requirement to be an all rounder. Everyone else is just a batsman who can bowl a little or a bowler who can bat a little.
danno
Guest
Kallis was a very good bowler but hardly troubled Aust in their prime. Hayden, Gilchrist etc played him easily. Not sure he would have been picked as a bowler only, he would have had good competition in South Africa.
danno
Guest
Imran batting average 37, batted at 6 for a lot of his career and opened the bowling at 22, incredible match winner and leader, best all rounder of all time.
jamesb
Guest
There's one allrounder that's missing. And he was a commentator for Channel Nine for many years until his recent passing. I'm talking about Tony Greig. His stats: Tests 58 Bat 3599 runs @ 40.43 Ball 141 wickets @ 32.20 So on David Lords lists, he is 3rd with the bat, and 12th with the ball.
steve
Guest
Imran averaged 37 with the bat, not 27
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
And his next highest score was 54 ?
Arwin
Guest
There was nobody rounder than Arjuna Ranatunga.. Best ever
Mick the clown
Guest
Dizzy Gillespie. Not many others have scored a double century. M
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Beat me to it Lancey. Gilchrist is clearly the pick of the bunch. Find me another Keeper or Bowler who averages 47 in tests with a strike rate of 82. None come close. And if we look at the author's list of batsman allrounders, only Sobers and Kallis average more than 37 with the bat. They had very impressive batting averages of 57 and 55 respectively. However, Kallis had a measly strike-rate of 46 and a reputation for helping his side draw, not win matches. He was never truly respected by Australian supporters because he didn't dominate Australian attacks (say the way Lara, Tendulkar and Viv would do). I gotta admit, Sobers' record is pretty bloody impressive, but his bowling record isn't elite. I think Gilly was outstanding in two facets of the game - keeping and batting.