Bowlers who became batsmen

[steve132]

Not true for Sobers.

In his very second first class game he batted at number four. Above him were the openers and Weekes and Walcott. He was a child at 17.

He scored his first FC hundred in just his fifth game batting at number four.

Some minor qualifications. Sobers was picked originally for both Barbados and the West Indies as a slow left arm bowler, although his talent as a batsman was always recognized. He had a most unusual career trajectory. After his initial selection he was regarded as a batsman who bowled occasionally rather than as an all rounder. The Sobers of c.1960 was described as the world's greatest batsman, not the greatest all rounder.

Sobers was recognized as a true all rounder when he became a fast medium bowler around the time of the 1960-61 W.I. tour of Australia. A year or so later he added chinamen and googlies to his repertoire. Virtually all of his achievements as a true all rounder occurred from this period onwards.

Frank Worrell is a much better example. He was initially a slow left arm bowler before he became a great batsman..

 

[indian_legend]

Some more examples -

Virender Sehwag - Played in the u-19 World cup in 1998 for India as a off-spinner

Sanath Jayasurya - Came into the Sri Lankan team as a Left-arm spinner

Yousuf Pathan - Was a off-spinner who could bat a bit till as recently as last year before the IPL, but now he is the other way round with his bowling not looking anything special

Irfan Pathan & Mitchell Johnson could join this list soon

 

[Richard]

Some minor qualifications. Sobers was picked originally for both Barbados and the West Indies as a slow left arm bowler, although his talent as a batsman was always recognized. He had a most unusual career trajectory. After his initial selection he was regarded as a batsman who bowled occasionally rather than as an all rounder. The Sobers of c.1960 was described as the world's greatest batsman, not the greatest all rounder.

Sobers was recognized as a true all rounder when he became a fast medium bowler around the time of the 1960-61 W.I. tour of Australia. A year or so later he added chinamen and googlies to his repertoire. Virtually all of his achievements as a true all rounder occurred from this period onwards.

Frank Worrell is a much better example. He was initially a slow left arm bowler before he became a great batsman..

WoW, never knew about Worrell. Knew he was a bowler of not-completely-inconsiderable ability, but never knew he only became a batsman late in life.

What sort of age are we talking about?

 

[steve132]

WoW, never knew about Worrell. Knew he was a bowler of not-completely-inconsiderable ability, but never knew he only became a batsman late in life.

What sort of age are we talking about?

This was very early in his career. He scored a triple century for Barbados at the age of nineteen. That innings would have provided more than a hint of his talents to the most obtuse of selectors.

 

[zaremba]

Irfan Pathan & Mitchell Johnson could join this list soon

And Stuart Broad (although at school he was basically a batsman).

 

[jeevan]

Pakistan batsman Majid Khan was originally a fast bowler (and was accused of chucking his bouncer) until he got an injury. He then became a top class batsman, though his achievement didn't match his ability.

Read somewhere that Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal both debuted together as bowlers and both ended up being batsmen.

 

[Burgey]

Mike Hussey was a leggie when he first went to the Academy...

The way he's going ATM, he should re-visit it.

 

[Krishna_j]

Read somewhere that Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal both debuted together as bowlers and both ended up being batsmen.

Quite right - Majid khan and Asif iqbal shared the new ball on their test debut against Aus in 1964 in Karachi - and batted at nos 8 and 10 respectively.

Ravis Shastri flown out to Wellington on an SOS to cover for the injured Dilip Doshi and Yadav played as a specialist spinner and batted at Nos 10 - rest is history

 

[Slifer]

Some minor qualifications. Sobers was picked originally for both Barbados and the West Indies as a slow left arm bowler, although his talent as a batsman was always recognized. He had a most unusual career trajectory. After his initial selection he was regarded as a batsman who bowled occasionally rather than as an all rounder. The Sobers of c.1960 was described as the world's greatest batsman, not the greatest all rounder.

Sobers was recognized as a true all rounder when he became a fast medium bowler around the time of the 1960-61 W.I. tour of Australia. A year or so later he added chinamen and googlies to his repertoire. Virtually all of his achievements as a true all rounder occurred from this period onwards.

Frank Worrell is a much better example. He was initially a slow left arm bowler before he became a great batsman..

Spot on