tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114 2007-09-06T15:38:36Z Movable Type 3.34 tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.4708 2007-09-06T15:34:50Z 2007-09-06T15:38:36Z

Cricinfo fantasy cricket is back again for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament. And this time, it’s free to play. Fantasy players have to use a $1,000,000 budget smartly in order to pick the right players and transfer them at the...

Click here to register your team now. And don’t worry, if you're uncertain about injuries, you can change your fantasy cricket team as many times as you like prior to the first match on September 11th.]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.4016 2007-04-23T09:13:48Z 2007-04-23T09:22:53Z

OK, so you've had time to consider all of the options. You've read the feature articles of our top 20 allrounders, enjoyed the memories of past great allrounder performances and watched some of the video profiles. We've enjoyed reading and...

Andrew Miller you think is the greatest allrounder to have played the wonderful game of cricket? Get voting now.]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3859 2007-04-17T12:04:56Z 2007-04-23T09:22:54Z

When I were a lass growing up in t'north west of England, all the local gossip centred on a defiant, destructive boy who was going around shattering windows at will. But such demolition was to be commended: at last cricket...

When I were a lass growing up in t'north west of England, all the local gossip centred on a defiant, destructive boy who was going around shattering windows at will. But such demolition was to be commended: at last cricket had a new Botham. The question, though, was: would Andrew Flintoff be like all those other new Bothams who, came, saw and failed to conquer? Despite his thumping batting talent, and fast, accurate bowling, the answer was: nearly. And his downfall was nearly of his own making. Even when he'd reached the lofty heights of England, he nearly threw it all away in 2001, overweight as he was and plagued by back problems. But it's a measure of the man that he responded to the resounding rollicking he received from Neil Fairbrother and Chubby Chandler. He slimmed down, toned up and returned fitter, stronger than before, leading England to victory in arguably the greatest series ever, the 2005 Ashes, with some showstopping performances, not to mention stepping into the breach as captain the following year. A nation took him to their hearts. But if you're going to judge a man as a great allrounder, then you may want to consider his what he's like off the pitch, as well. Leaving the recent Fredalo situation aside – he has come back before and he can come back again - what's not often documented is his outright loyalty to his friends. Last year, in the middle of two fatiguing Pakistan and India tours – and during his height as post-Ashes new-found superstar – not to mention his family commitments, Flintoff still made time to rock up to my old school to give a talk for his old Lancashire team-mate Gary Yates' Benefit Year. He had promised a long time ago. A few years ago, he also set aside time to travel to Lord's to cheer on his old flat-mate Paddy McKeown's club side, Bramhall, as they lifted the Club Championship title. Although an England player, he sat in the cheap seats like an ordinary punter and joined in all the chants. He had, he reported, an excellent day. A true man of the people, and for the people. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3775 2007-03-27T10:04:24Z 2007-04-23T09:22:56Z

You’re all spectacularly misinformed, not to mention blind. Botham? Nothing more than a flat-track bully. And as for the jolly-come-latelies, well where do I start? Kallis has lost his fourth gear, if he ever had one, and is struggling to...

Will Luke You’re all spectacularly misinformed, not to mention blind. Botham? Nothing more than a flat-track bully. And as for the jolly-come-latelies, well where do I start? Kallis has lost his fourth gear, if he ever had one, and is struggling to get into third. Flintoff only has first and fifth gears, and the less said about Pollock and Gilchrist the better. Imran had it all. With the ball, he was snappy and fierce, with a silky-smooth action; with the bat, he was flexible enough to adjust to the situation. And on top of all that, he captained Pakistan better than anyone ever has, and probably ever will do. 362 Test wickets, nearly 4000 runs and six hundreds, Imran was the man. Once bored with cricket, he built a hospital – and then became a politician. He was the allrounders' allrounder. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3659 2007-03-14T17:10:39Z 2007-04-23T09:22:57Z

Yes, he can be massively annoying in the commentary box and yes he may have become everything he used to despise (ie he is now one of the "in-my-day" brigade) but Ian Botham is still the one for England cricket...

Yes, he can be massively annoying in the commentary box and yes he may have become everything he used to despise (ie he is now one of the "in-my-day" brigade) but Ian Botham is still the one for England cricket fans. Ask the majority of them who their favourite all-time player is, they will probably say Botham; ask them who they most listen to in Sky's commentary team or whose column they still read in the newspapers, they probably say Botham and ask who they'd most like to go for drink with and they will probably - at a pinch - say Botham. And even if he is one of the in-my-day brigade, at the very least, he has the performances to back it up. Have any of the other allrounders every produced with bat and ball in the same match as often and to such devastating effect? Ok, so he should have retired in 87, but the sight of him running though the Australia middle-order one last time (and then bashing them for 50 with the bat) at the 1992 World Cup was a memory to treasure. No cricketer has ever been able to connect with his country's supporters like Beefy and in this era when the word 'great' is bandied about left, right and centre he is the one who, in allround cricketing terms, actually defines the term. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3383 2007-03-02T09:54:36Z 2007-04-23T09:22:58Z

Keith Miller was the best thing to happen to post-war cricket and his batting, bowling and personality made him a favourite throughout the world. Capable of frightening spells with the ball and punishing displays with the bat, he deserves a...

Keith Miller was the best thing to happen to post-war cricket and his batting, bowling and personality made him a favourite throughout the world. Capable of frightening spells with the ball and punishing displays with the bat, he deserves a prominent place in any list of great allrounders. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3356 2007-02-23T12:13:30Z 2007-04-23T09:23:00Z

There’s a lot more to Kapil Dev than mere numbers, which were impressive in themselves. He arrived at a time when India relied primarily on spinners, he defied convention with his daring hitting and did the unthinkable by lifting the...

There’s a lot more to Kapil Dev than mere numbers, which were impressive in themselves. He arrived at a time when India relied primarily on spinners, he defied convention with his daring hitting and did the unthinkable by lifting the World Cup, an outcome which not even the most optimistic of fans would have foreseen. Plying his trade primarily on flat, dusty pitches at home, he surged to the world record number of wickets. He was supremely fit and when abroad did the bulk of the bowling. A Test average of 31.05 doesn’t indicate what a good batsman he was, capable of playing that one blinding knock which can stun the opposition. Some of his centuries are forgotten epics, largely because he never managed it on a consistent basis. Yet, he must be judged on the circumstances he played in. He didn’t have the bowling support that Imran Khan enjoyed and didn’t enjoy the seaming conditions that Richard Hadlee and Ian Botham thrived in. He rose against the tide and defied convention. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3246 2007-02-07T04:53:18Z 2007-04-23T09:23:01Z

Adam Gilchrist is the modern-day master blaster - even Viv Richards loves watching him bat. Add in his fine wicketkeeping skills and he is not just a valuable, multi-skilled contributor, but one of the game's greatest allrounders. Australia have flown...

Adam Gilchrist is the modern-day master blaster - even Viv Richards loves watching him bat. Add in his fine wicketkeeping skills and he is not just a valuable, multi-skilled contributor, but one of the game's greatest allrounders. Australia have flown to new levels with Gilchrist in the side and he continues to provide outstanding and breathtaking performances. In the third Ashes Test in Perth he blasted a 57-ball century, narrowly missing Richards' world-record mark, and he has made useful contributions at the top of the one-day order throughout his career. In a team of champions, Gilchrist stands out as the side's crucial allrounder, which is a rare description for a gloveman. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3140 2007-01-18T16:51:58Z 2007-04-23T09:23:03Z

When the topic of the great allrounders in the modern game is discussed the conversation tends to centre on the respective attributes of Jacques Kallis and Andrew Flintoff. One name that constantly slips under the radar, despite consistently impressive performances...

When the topic of the great allrounders in the modern game is discussed the conversation tends to centre on the respective attributes of Jacques Kallis and Andrew Flintoff. One name that constantly slips under the radar, despite consistently impressive performances since his debut in 1995, is that of Shaun Pollock. Perhaps people dismiss Pollock as merely a bowler? Certainly his bowling record is that of an all-time great; 412 wickets from 106 Tests, at an average of 23.20 heading into the second Test against Pakistan. What tends to be forgotten is that he also possesses extremely impressive batting statistics, having scored over 3700 runs at an average of 32.5, with two centuries. When these are compared with those of Flintoff, who averages 32.50 with the bat and 32.20 with the ball in Tests, it is easy to see why Pollock's supporters feel he is hard done by. Add the fact that his record in one-day internationals is equally impressive, and the argument is persuasive. Pollock also possesses another thing that Flintoff does not, an impeccable record as captain. He won 14 out of 26 Tests as captain before being disgracefully sacked after the country's poor showing at the 2003 World Cup, just three months after he had taken them to the top of the world rankings. More recently, he has answered the media who have called for his retirement with a string of impressive performances to fully justify his place in the South Africa line-up at the age of 33. He may not be the greatest allrounder of all time, but Pollock's achievements certainly deserve more discussion in the modern game. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/greatestallrounder//114.3118 2007-01-12T16:22:33Z 2007-04-23T09:23:04Z

I have to admit, I'd not considered Tony Greig at all. To me he has always been the laughably excitable C9, and then Channel 4, commentator who cracked me up with his "Fantastic shot!" statement when it was quite clear...

I have to admit, I'd not considered Tony Greig at all. To me he has always been the laughably excitable C9, and then Channel 4, commentator who cracked me up with his "Fantastic shot!" statement when it was quite clear the ball was heading straight into the fielder's hands. However, of all of our twenty allrounders, he is the last who should be written off. No only does he hold an excellent Test record (averaging 40 with the bat, 32 with ball in 58 matches) but he was a superb captain and leader for England. Yes, he did make some silly statements but anyone who signals a boundary when batting against Dennis Lillee has clearly got something about them. He was batsmen, bowler (seam and spin), captain and now a commentator. Oh, and he was also a key player in what is often referred to as the most defining event in the development of the modern game. He's pretty much done it all, hasn't he? Just like any great allrounder. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/greatestallrounder//114.2962 2006-12-20T15:10:39Z 2007-04-23T09:23:05Z

It's not even a contest, it simply has to be Imran Khan. He has 362 Test wickets at 22, twenty-two! That's better than Wasim, Waqar and Walsh and as good as Donald and Hadlee. Add to this the fact he...

It's not even a contest, it simply has to be Imran Khan. He has 362 Test wickets at 22, twenty-two! That's better than Wasim, Waqar and Walsh and as good as Donald and Hadlee. Add to this the fact he made 3,807 Test runs, averaged 37 with the bat and made six Test hundreds and here's a player good enough to get into most Test top sixes as a batsman alone. And what of his other attributes - he not only captained, but united, the most fractious international team going and moulded them into the only side who gave West Indies a contest throughout the 80s. And how about his legacy - Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mustaq Ahmed all owe their international careers to Imran's faith and insistence on young talent. Togethar they made up the backbone of the Pakistan side throughout the 90s and into the 2000s. Oh, and then there's the small matter of the most incredible, thrilling backs-to-the-wall World Cup victory campaign ever seen in 1992. Is there any box he doesn't tick? tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/greatestallrounder//114.2829 2006-12-05T16:08:28Z 2007-04-23T09:23:07Z

Separating the greats of the game over different generations is a thankless task, and even more so when it comes to deciding on the greatest all-rounder. The players on this list possess different strengths, but how do you decide whether...

Separating the greats of the game over different generations is a thankless task, and even more so when it comes to deciding on the greatest all-rounder. The players on this list possess different strengths, but how do you decide whether a batting all-rounder is of more value than a bowling all-rounder, or indeed a batsman-wicket-keeper? How do you decide whether runs scored or wicket's taken today mean more or less than those in bygone era's? Any conclusions therefore must be a purely personal thing, and I have to go for Sir Garry Sobers. He would have comfortably held his own in the West Indies team in either discipline, was an outstanding fielder and an inspirational captain, with the belief in his own judgement to know when was the right time to bowl himself (take note Freddie). His statistics speak for themselves. He converted his maiden Test hundred into a world record that stood for a quarter of a century, and is the only man in Australian domestic history to have completed the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season when playing for South Australia. What's more, he did it twice. His 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia remains one of the great innings, and he left a legacy of a generation of West Indian dominance. It is a shame that the world was denied the chance to see him in the one-day game to which he was so suited. When thinking of the topic of all-rounders the mind is always drawn to those who had the talent but for one reason or another never made it to the level of Sobers, Khan, Botham and co. One of my earliest cricketing memories was watching Chris Lewis bat against the West Indies in 1991, and his failure to develop proved a constant trauma for a young fan. I am in no way suggesting that Lewis could have been close to the level of player that we are discussing here, but what England would give now for another bowler who could bowl at 90-plus and had the ability to score a hundred in India. Instead he is now the constant subject of 'where are they now pieces.' Any thoughts on players who similarly missed the boat to Test greatness? tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/greatestallrounder//114.2708 2006-11-24T16:16:10Z 2007-04-23T09:23:08Z

In the debate over who is the greatest allrounder it would be easy to go for the obvious choices, but I'd like to throw one in from slightly left field. And 'left' is quite appropriate as Wasim Akram was the...

In the debate over who is the greatest allrounder it would be easy to go for the obvious choices, but I'd like to throw one in from slightly left field. And 'left' is quite appropriate as Wasim Akram was the finest exponent of left-arm pace bowling to have graced the game. Now, I'll pin my colours to the mast here, I have an allegiance to Lancashire where Wasim's deeds lit up many a match at Old Trafford and beyond. He was obviously an awesome talent with the ball where his toe-crushing, reverse swinging yorkers dismissed some of the game's best batsmen, but also with the willow. He only has a Test average of 22, I hear everyone yelling at their screen, and that is true but that was partly down to playing half his matches at No. 8 behind a strong Pakistan batting order. Some of his best innings came when Pakistan needed him most; against Australia at Adelaide in 1989-90, against England at Lord's in 1992, and against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 1996-97. Wasim is among some outstanding players and will face a tough time forcing his way past the likes of Sobers, Botham and Imran, but he shouldn't be forgotton in the search for the greatest allrounder. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/greatestallrounder//114.2619 2006-11-15T15:44:20Z 2007-04-23T09:23:09Z

Welcome to the Greatest Allrounder Site blog, in partnership with VW Touareg. This is where you will be able to tell us who you believe is the greatest of the great. We hope to generate some fruity debate and we...

Andrew Miller Welcome to the Greatest Allrounder Site blog, in partnership with VW Touareg. This is where you will be able to tell us who you believe is the greatest of the great. We hope to generate some fruity debate and we will also be doling out a range of prizes for the best comments made over the coming months. So keep those thoughts flowing in. So let's kick this whole thing off. Who is the greatest allrounder of all time? Personally, I think the title belongs to one of three people. Garry Sobers, Imran Khan and Ian Botham – three men who were not only outstanding in each of their disciplines, but also had that indefinable ability to impose their will on a match, at any stage of a match. Sobers did it through being a sheer colossus with bat and ball, Imran by being a mighty leader of men (and a World Cup winner to boot), and Botham … well, he was just a reckless, rampant force of nature. Of the three, Sobers might edge it on pure cricketing ability, but Imran has an extra edge because of his captaincy credentials, and Botham is unparalleled as a matchwinner. Maybe you agree, more likely you don't. But let the debate commence. Who knows, by the end of this winter, there might even be a new contender. If Andrew Flintoff can captain England to victory in the Ashes, while excelling with bat, ball and in the slip cordon, who could deny him the right to join the top table?