Bahnz
Hall of Fame Member
Has anyone seen the shortlist of "great" allrounders up for discussion on CricInfo's new blog? What a farce! For a start it includes wicketkeepers in the list. I know the skill is very difficult, but really wicketkeepers are slip fieldsmen with catching gloves. If you want to discuss them they should do a greatest wicketkeeper blog, and for god's sake make sure they don't include Alan Knott in the list.
On top of that there are a number of curious ommissions and inclusions. Like Wasim Akram. He may have been a great bowler, but his test batting average was 22, and that was boosted by a 250 n.o against Zimbabwe. Ravi Shastri is another odd one, as he took only 151 wickets in 80 test matches at an average of 40. And then there is Chris Cairns, who is absent from the shortlist despite being the second fastest player to achieve the 3000 runs/200 wickets double.
Who do you guys think is the best allrounder, and why? Personally, when I think of allrounders, I think of players who could win games with both bat and ball, so for me it would probably have to be Imran Khan. But Sobers, Miller and to a lesser extent Botham, Flintoff and Pollock would all have to be up there.
On top of that there are a number of curious ommissions and inclusions. Like Wasim Akram. He may have been a great bowler, but his test batting average was 22, and that was boosted by a 250 n.o against Zimbabwe. Ravi Shastri is another odd one, as he took only 151 wickets in 80 test matches at an average of 40. And then there is Chris Cairns, who is absent from the shortlist despite being the second fastest player to achieve the 3000 runs/200 wickets double.
Who do you guys think is the best allrounder, and why? Personally, when I think of allrounders, I think of players who could win games with both bat and ball, so for me it would probably have to be Imran Khan. But Sobers, Miller and to a lesser extent Botham, Flintoff and Pollock would all have to be up there.
