12 best cricketers of all combining tests with ODI'S equally? ?

[Harsh Thakor]

My 12 best cricketers of all combining test matches and ODI's equally. Excludes any great cricketer who has not played ODI cricket or not more than 12 games .Equal emphasis given on tests and ODIS.

 

 

1.Viv Richards-Decimated or intimidated opposition more than anyone and best match-winner.At top because he was also an all-time great captain unlike Sachin.Best of all ODI batsmen who championed finals in tournaments.Never lost  a test series as a skipper from 1985-91.In peak period in combined cricket best of all batsmen.No cricketer delivered a greater death blow.His batting average in world cups speaks for itself ,as well as in 1977-78 in WSC supertests and when averaging over 118 in 4 tests in England in 1976 or 96.50 in Australia in 1979-80.Great cricketers have read Viv as more daunting than even Sachin or Lara,including those from later eras.

 

2.Sachin Tendulkar-The most complete of all batsmen whose staggering figures of 100 centuries is a yardstick for everyone.Not the greatest match-winner but for longevity the ultimate champion.Mastered any kind of conditions with consistency unmatched.Still did not win as many games as he could have lanking consistency in delivering a knockout punch.

 

 

3.Wasim Akram-Endowed with genius which arguably no pace bowler ever posessed with his magical variations.Even if Mcgrath had better stats it was Wasim who was morally the more impactful in all types of conditions.Best ever ODI bowler.For a period also a very successful test and ODI captain.Rated high also because he won more man of the match awards than any fast bowler of his time.

 

 

4.Shane Warne-The best match-wining cricketer of his day and leg-spinner ever who gave the art of leg spin a new definition.Above all played the biggest role in Australia's rise to an almost invincible cricketing power.

 

 

5.Imran Khan-Arguably the most charismatic cricketer ever who shaped his nation's destiny as none ever did.As a skipper took hi steam to reach the pedestal of joint unofficial world test champion sin 1988 in West Indies and official world ODI champion sin the 1992 world cup.From 1981-87 the best all-rounder in the world and at his peak close to the bets ever bowler .Although not attacking,Imran played some of the most defining innings in tests and ODI's ,becoming a great batsman towards the end of his career.I can never forget his bowling spells v India at Karchi and Hyderabad  in 1982-83,at Leeds in 1987,at Trinidada and Georgetown in 1988 and earlier at Sydney in 1976-77.Close to the greatest of match-winners and all-time great captains.

 

6.Jacques Kallis-In terms of figures the best cricketer ever and arguably the 2nd best all-rounder of all time,if not the best.A model of consistency who at his peak also championed cause with the ball.However often did not step the gas to the extent required and scored bulk of runs against weaker opposition.To bat for your life he was the best of all all-rounders and also had some big scores versus Australia.Not  great with both bat and ball at same time like Sobers.

 

7.Virat Kohli-Figures speak for themselves and he is the only one likey to emulate Sachin Tendulkar.Possesses match-winning killer instinct more than any batsmen today being a master in manouvering matches around him.

 

 

8.Brian Lara-No batsmen was blessed with more creative genius or natural talent or who could single-handedly win games for his team.At his best a better match-winner than even Tendulkar.

 

9.Richard Hadlee-The best ever bowler on green tops with a staggering haul of scalps as well as 5 and 10 wicket hauls,inspite of spearheading bowling attack of  such a weak team.The most clinical pacemen of his day with more control than Lillee and Roberts.Also a more than useful batsmen.

 

 

10.Glen Mcgrath- Staistically the best ever bowler ,posessing more control and more relentless than anyone.-,with possible exception of Garner,Ambrose and Hadlee.Won 84 test matches for his country

 

 

11.Javed Miandad-Not the most elegant or technically correct but a master craftsman and ultimate one to niggle opponents or be a scourge in their eyes.Manipulated a cricket ball with great precision and imagination to be the biggest thorn in the flesh to opposition in a crisis.The one I would wish to have most in the climax of an ODI run chase,to steer a side across the line.

 

 

12.Ricky Ponting-One of the best players  of genuine pace,front foot batsman and best exponents of the pull and hook shot ever.One of the architects in building the Australian cricketing empire taking his nation to the top of the pedestal in both forms of the game,as a player and captain.Arguably after Bradman no Australian batsman dominated bowling to the degree of Ricky,who looked like an ultimate batting machine.At one stage looked likely to rival Tendulkar ,but then declined after 2007.Not outstanding against spin or on turning surfaces .He also had an advantage of representing a champion side,thus not ranked with Tendulkar or Lara.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Harsh Thakor

[raki05]

The way you rate Pakistani players no one else does....how come Miadad ahead of ponting. Miadad avg is boosted on home bullying and Sharjah fixing he can't hold a candle against ponting. Similarly what is Imran Khan credentials in odi, there are many players ahead of him in odi and even all format combined.

[Harsh Thakor]

6 minutes ago, raki05 said:

The way you rate Pakistani players no one else does....how come Miadad ahead of ponting. Miadad avg is boosted on home bullying and Sharjah fixing he can't hold a candle against ponting. Similarly what is Imran Khan credentials in odi, there are many players ahead of him in odi and even all format combined.

Imran was giant as a skipper even in ODI's,winning a world cup and also a great batsman towards the end in ODI cricket.Shaped his nations cricket more than anyone ,and with Viv most impacftul player of his generation.

 

In a crisis Javed was the ultimate king and best man in an ODI finish.A better player of spin or on bad wickets than Ricky,and when the chips were down.Compare the opposition they both faced.

[raki05]

6 minutes ago, Harsh Thakor said:

Imran was giant as a skipper even in ODI's,winning a world cup and also a great batsman towards the end in ODI cricket.Shaped his nations cricket more than anyone ,and with Viv most impacftul player of his generation.

 

In a crisis Javed was the ultimate king and best man in an ODI finish.A better player of spin or on bad wickets than Ricky,and when the chips were down.Compare the opposition they both faced.

Miadad can't hold a candle in front of  Ponting. Ponting is 2 wc winning captain and only behined Tendulkar and Lara in that generation. Played  great inning against ATG bowlers.  As said miadad was benificary of dodgy umpiring. Have you seen miadad overseas avg compared to ponting. Miadad was complete tuk tuk in odi like dravid, just beacuse he hit a last ball 6 in odi against Chetan Sharma doesn't make him greater batsmen than Ponting. Even chandrpaul has hit last ball 6 against sl and our own Karthik hit against bd once in blue moon inning doesn't make him any great. BTW have you seen ponting avg and sr in odi and avg overall and avg in overseas test compare to miadad. Kapil also won wc with a mediocre side against ATG WI so Imran Khan is not that great as you suggest he is no where near to Kapil in odi. Khan was only good in test and that too as bowler in one phase and batsmen in another phase. I would pick Sobers or Botham ahead of him in overall format.

[mancalledsting]

Got to be between:

 

Richards

Tendulkar 

McGrath 

Akram

 

They were all regarded as the 'best in the world' at what they did in both formats. IIRC SRT does not have a good an ODI records in all countries as he does is tests. If the others were more versatile in this regard, maybe they edge ahead of him. On this metric, off top of my head, maybe McGrath the best (without consulting stats guru).  

[raki05]

5 minutes ago, mancalledsting said:

Got to be between:

 

Richards

Tendulkar 

McGrath 

Akram

 

They were all regarded as the 'best in the world' at what they did in both formats. IIRC SRT does not have a good an ODI records in all countries as he does is tests. If the others were more versatile in this regard, maybe they edge ahead of him. On this metric, off top of my head, maybe McGrath the best (without consulting stats guru).  

Shane Warne as well.

[kohli]

Between sachin , McGrath & viv 

[Harsh Thakor]

44 minutes ago, kohli said:

Between sachin , McGrath & viv 

Why not Wasim ,Warne ir AB Devilliers?

[Straight Drive]

20 hours ago, Harsh Thakor said:

Imran was giant as a skipper even in ODI's,winning a world cup and also a great batsman towards the end in ODI cricket.Shaped his nations cricket more than anyone ,and with Viv most impacftul player of his generation.

 

In a crisis Javed was the ultimate king and best man in an ODI finish.A better player of spin or on bad wickets than Ricky,and when the chips were down.Compare the opposition they both faced.

What are you talking about. Shaped his nations cricket? Really? I think he has bought shame to Pakistan cricket as ball tampering prospered because of him and under his captaincy. Even the umpiring was biased and worst in Pakistan when he was captain.

Edited July 19, 2020 by Straight Drive

[zen]

I see no point in giving equal weightage to both the formats. For e.g., Ganguly is a better ODI player and Dravid a better test player. 

[zen]

Also in tests, bowlers play a more important role relatively as in ODIs, they are limited to 10 overs. A batsman can theoretically play all 50 overs in ODIs, so have more opportunities to make an impact but in tests bowlers usually win you games

[rtmohanlal]

My TOP 12

CRITERIA :

weightages in order: All rounder, batsman & then  bowler .

                               Longevity, uniform  performances  in all countries, being in a weaker team etc gets more weightages

1. Kallis  - best all rounder

2. Bradman - best batsman

3. Sobers - 2nd best all rounder

4. Viv - 2nd best batsman

5. Sachin 

6. AB Devilliers

7. Lara

8. Gilchrist

9. Ambrose

10.Kapil Dev

11.Greg Chappel

12. Mcgrath

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by rtmohanlal

[mancalledsting]

On 7/19/2020 at 2:18 PM, zen said:

I see no point in giving equal weightage to both the formats. For e.g., Ganguly is a better ODI player and Dravid a better test player. 

The point is that it is says something about you if you are able to perform to the highest levels in two separate formats e.g. will Michael Bevan vs Viv Richards. 

[maniac]

On 7/19/2020 at 9:18 AM, zen said:

I see no point in giving equal weightage to both the formats. For e.g., Ganguly is a better ODI player and Dravid a better test player. 

The point is a players adaptability and the way they takes to every format,situation,era,competition etc 

 

Who is a better actor- an actor who is great at comedy but no body of work in other roles or an actor who has excelled in every role over changing generations and tastes even though when it comes to comedy he might not be as good as the other guy?

[zen]

1 hour ago, mancalledsting said:

The point is that it is says something about you if you are able to perform to the highest levels in two separate formats e.g. will Michael Bevan vs Viv Richards. 

That insight has no bearing on how a player is selected in a format. Going back to the Ganguly and Dravid example, say that someone rates Ganguly higher as a better multi format player, but it does not mean Ganguly would be picked over Dravid in tests (or vice versa).