Best all-round series

[aussie tragic]

Best all-rounder series

The following are the only times that a post-war player has made 300 runs and taken 20 wickets in a series. The question is, which all-round effort is considered to be the best?

1. Miller: 5 tests --- 362 runs @ 40.22 --- 20 wkts @ 19.92 --- 1951-52, Aus vs WI
2. Miller: 5 tests --- 439 runs @ 73.17 --- 20 wkts @ 32.05 --- 1954-55, Aus vs WI
3. Benaud: 5 tests --- 329 runs @ 54.83 --- 30 wkts @ 21.93 --- 1957-58, Aus vs SA
4. Sobers: 5 tests --- 424 runs @ 70.67 --- 23 wkts @ 20.57 --- 1961-62, WI vs Ind
5. Sobers: 5 tests --- 322 runs @ 40.25 --- 20 wkts @ 28.55 --- 1963, WI vs Eng
6. Sobers: 5 tests --- 722 runs @ 103.14 --- 20 wkts @ 27.25 --- 1966, WI vs Eng
7. Greig: 5 tests --- 430 runs @ 47.78 --- 24 wkts @ 22.63 --- 1973-74, Eng vs WI
8. Botham: 6 tests --- 399 runs @ 36.27 --- 34 wkts @ 20.59 --- 1981, Eng vs Aus
9. Dev: 5 tests --- 318 runs @ 53.00 --- 22 wkts @ 37.95 --- 1981-82, Ind vs Eng
10. Hadlee: 4 tests --- 301 runs @ 50.17 --- 21 wkts @ 26.62 --- 1983. NZ vs Eng
11.Pollock: 5 tests --- 302 runs @ 75.50 --- 20 wkts @ 23.20 --- 2000-01, SA vs WI
12. Flintoff: 5 tests --- 403 runs @ 40.30 --- 24 wkts @ 27.29 --- 2005, Eng vs Aus

 

[Goughy]

Im not saying it is the best (I have not seen all of these efforts), but it is interesting to see that Botham is 1 run away from being the only player to do 400 runs and 30 wkts in a series.

 

[GIMH]

Whoa, Flintoff's stats last summer really are impressive, I never knew they ranked quite so highly.

Couldn't tell you which the best was, but I reckon probably Sobers 1966

EDIT - in saying that Fred's were impressive, I know most in that list are better and I just mean that I didn't know he'd achieved a feat that only eleven others had since the war. Good work!

 

[silentstriker]

Im not saying it is the best (I have not seen all of these efforts), but it is interesting to see that Botham is 1 run away from being the only player to do 400 runs and 30 wkts in a series.

He also had six tests, to everyone else's five. So accounting for that, his runs don't stand out all that much from the rest of the group, although his wickets are excellent. I would probably say Benaud or Miller though.

 

[aussie tragic]

He also had six tests, to everyone else's five. So accounting for that, his runs don't stand out all that much from the rest of the group, although his wickets are excellent. I would probably say Benaud or Miller though.

The Botham series was the one where he was captain during the first 2 tests, taking only 6 wkts and scoring, 1, 33, 0 & 0. Then once he was free of the captaincy, he took 28 wkts and made 365 runs in the last 4 tests.

I have the following as my top 5:

Sobers: 722 runs @ 103.14 --- 20 wkts @ 27.25
Sobers: 424 runs @ 70.67 --- 23 wkts @ 20.57
Benaud: 329 runs @ 54.83 --- 30 wkts @ 21.93
Miller: 362 runs @ 40.22 --- 20 wkts @ 19.92
Pollock: 302 runs @ 75.50 --- 20 wkts @ 23.20

 

[Slifer]

Sobers 1966 easily. He also held quite a few catches in that series as well plus he did all this against a pretty good England team. IMO he overall performance in this eries is even greater than BRadmans 976 run series.

 

[grecian]

Sobers 1966 easily. He also held quite a few catches in that series as well plus he did all this against a pretty good England team. IMO he overall performance in this eries is even greater than BRadmans 976 run series.

Yeah agreed, by a country mile actually, you have to consider the oppo wasn't bad either. Which is why a number of the other performances pale in comparison.

especially Beefys

 

[aussie tragic]

Some other notable post-war allrounder milestones:

Only players to have 400 runs and 20 wickets in a series:

Miller, Sobers (twice), Greig and Flintoff

Only players to have 300 runs and 30 wkts in a series:

Botham and Benaud

 

[Jono]

How much of a gun was Sobers, honestly.

Can't believe people have a go at him on this board because of his career bowling stats. Look at those performances. Sublime.

 

[marc71178]

How much of a gun was Sobers, honestly.

Can't believe people have a go at him on this board because of his career bowling stats. Look at those performances. Sublime.

Also, an interesting name lacking from that list of players to have done it is Imran.

 

[aussie tragic]

Also, an interesting name lacking from that list of players to have done it is Imran.

Maybe one theory is that he couldn't do both at the same time (i.e. he either had a good series with the bat or ball, but never both)

Anyway, I'm sure SS would be able to enlighten us on why Imran is the only notable allrounder missing from the list, I mean even Shane Warne almost did it with 249 runs and 40 wkts last Ashes

 

[Slifer]

How much of a gun was Sobers, honestly.

Can't believe people have a go at him on this board because of his career bowling stats. Look at those performances. Sublime.

Exactly!! And what I dont get is that some people have the temerity to say Sobers was merely a great batsman who could bowl a bit (ala Walter Hammond). He is as much an allrounder as ne one b4 or after. Just that his batting towered over his bowler much like Imran and Miller's bowling towered over their batting. IMO he is like Imran Khan flipped around.

 

[R_D]

Also, an interesting name lacking from that list of players to have done it is Imran.

It would also be interesting to note how many 4 or more test series Imran played in his career compared to some of these players on the list. I'm sure most of them apart from maybe Kapil and hadlee probaly played a fair few more 4 or 5 test series in their career than Imran.

 

[archie mac]

It would also be interesting to note how many 4 or more test series Imran played in his career compared to some of these players on the list. I'm sure most of them apart from maybe Kapil and hadlee probaly played a fair few more 4 or 5 test series in their career than Imran.

A very good point that re-5 Test series, maybe someone should have a look at the best performances for a 3 Test series

 

[Perm]

Keith Miller 1951-1952 against the West Indies side which included Worrell, Weekes, Walcott, Valentine and Ramadhin.

 

[oz_fan]

A very good point that re-5 Test series, maybe someone should have a look at the best performances for a 3 Test series

Here are two great all round performances in 3 test series.
1. Sobers: 3 tests --- 342 runs @ 114.00 --- 14 wickets @ 25.00 --- 1966/67 Ind vs WI
2. Imran Khan: 3 tests --- 212 runs @ 53.00 --- 21 wickets @ 18.57 --- 1982 Pak vs Eng

 

[archie mac]

Here are two great all round performances in 3 test series.
1. Sobers: 3 tests --- 342 runs @ 114.00 --- 14 wickets @ 25.00 --- 1966/67 Ind vs WI
2. Imran Khan: 3 tests --- 212 runs @ 53.00 --- 21 wickets @ 18.57 --- 1982 Pak vs Eng

They are impressive. What would a good figure be considered? 200 runs and 12 wickets?

 

[bagapath]

The following are the only times that a post-war player has made 300 runs and taken 20 wickets in a series. The question is, which all-round effort is considered to be the best?

1. Miller: 5 tests --- 362 runs @ 40.22 --- 20 wkts @ 19.92 --- 1951-52, Aus vs WI
2. Miller: 5 tests --- 439 runs @ 73.17 --- 20 wkts @ 32.05 --- 1954-55, Aus vs WI
3. Benaud: 5 tests --- 329 runs @ 54.83 --- 30 wkts @ 21.93 --- 1957-58, Aus vs SA
4. Sobers: 5 tests --- 424 runs @ 70.67 --- 23 wkts @ 20.57 --- 1961-62, WI vs Ind
5. Sobers: 5 tests --- 322 runs @ 40.25 --- 20 wkts @ 28.55 --- 1963, WI vs Eng
6. Sobers: 5 tests --- 722 runs @ 103.14 --- 20 wkts @ 27.25 --- 1966, WI vs Eng
7. Greig: 5 tests --- 430 runs @ 47.78 --- 24 wkts @ 22.63 --- 1973-74, Eng vs WI
8. Botham: 6 tests --- 399 runs @ 36.27 --- 34 wkts @ 20.59 --- 1981, Eng vs Aus
9. Dev: 5 tests --- 318 runs @ 53.00 --- 22 wkts @ 37.95 --- 1981-82, Ind vs Eng
10. Hadlee: 4 tests --- 301 runs @ 50.17 --- 21 wkts @ 26.62 --- 1983. NZ vs Eng
11.Pollock: 5 tests --- 302 runs @ 75.50 --- 20 wkts @ 23.20 --- 2000-01, SA vs WI
12. Flintoff: 5 tests --- 403 runs @ 40.30 --- 24 wkts @ 27.29 --- 2005, Eng vs Aus

botham's exploits turned the series around. england still loves to talk about summer of 1981. for sheer box office impact it is difficult to look beyond that performance.

flintoff's show should come second.

of course, i want to read up on the pre 1980 performances before commenting on them. wonder how many of them resulted in series victories for the concerned teams and what the score lines were.

so, with my limited knowledge, i go for beefy.

 

[oz_fan]

They are impressive. What would a good figure be considered? 200 runs and 12 wickets?

Yeah that sounds fair enough but I've been looking at the stats for some potential all rounders who may have achieved this but most have excelled in only batting or only bowling during 3 test series'.

3. Ian Botham: 3 tests --- 212 runs @ 53.00 --- 17 wickets @ 18.29 --- NZ vs Eng 1977
4. Ian Botham: 3 tests --- 212 runs @ 70.66 --- 13 wickets @ 16.07 --- Eng vs Pak 1977/78

Here is another that comes close:

5. Kapil Dev: 3 tests --- 234 runs @ 117.00 --- 9 wickets @ 25.66 --- India vs Sri Lanka 1986/87

 

[R_D]

Here are two great all round performances in 3 test series.
1. Sobers: 3 tests --- 342 runs @ 114.00 --- 14 wickets @ 25.00 --- 1966/67 Ind vs WI
2. Imran Khan: 3 tests --- 212 runs @ 53.00 --- 21 wickets @ 18.57 --- 1982 Pak vs Eng

I guess there goes the myth that Imran never performed as an all-rounder in a test series. He either did it with bat or ball.
Special note to Marc.