Worst regular all-rounder for a top side

[Jack1]

In a top England team I would say Giles. Played in a good England test side. They used to say it was because he could bat. He only averaged 20 with the bat (over 40 with ball) and batted at 8.

They used to say he got in for his batting, so he was classed as an all-rounder by Duncan Fletcher. Wasn’t a great fielder either and played in a top England test team. He often stopped good seamer bowlers getting in the side on seamer friendly decks too.

Fair enough having a spinner and some variation. But not for the sake of it. Not in England . Especially on some of the wickets they played on back then.

Had a career bat average in tests of 20. And averaged under 20 with bat and over 50 with ball in 2005 ashes. There was really no need for him at all.

 

[Bolo]

It is treasonous to mock the king of Spain.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Currently: shakib al hasan

 

[Jack1]

It is treasonous to mock the king of Spain.

Haha

 

[trundler]

Jacques Kallis is immensely overrated as an all-rounder. He isn't one like Sobers, Miller and Khan. He's more of a batsman that can bowl a bit, albeit clearly better than anyone else of the same class i.e S Waugh. Kumble isn't an all-rounder and he isn't either. I also think bowling all rounders tend to get underrated. Easier to average 30 and 54 bowling 20 overs per game than 39 and 22 or 40 and 25.

 

[Flametree]

My go-to in this category is always David Capel who got an extended run to prove he wasn't the next Ian Botham. Averaged 15 with the bat often batting at 6, and 60 with the ball. England had a number of these players for a while there - Cowdrey's already been mentioned, add Irani and both Hollioakes. Ealham and Lewis were a step up.

 

[Jack1]

Jacques Kallis is immensely overrated as an all-rounder. He isn't one like Sobers, Miller and Khan. He's more of a batsman that can bowl a bit, albeit clearly better than anyone else of the same class i.e S Waugh. Kumble isn't an all-rounder and he isn't either. I also think bowling all rounders tend to get underrated. Easier to average 30 and 54 bowling 20 overs per game than 39 and 22 or 40 and 25.

Well, he’s a batting all-rounder. I wouldn’t say he’s overrated. He was a great batsman in tests and a good fielder. He was good enough to be an all time great just with the bat, so is Sobers.

 

[a massive zebra]

At least other sides had a person to be called worst. SL hadn't had any at test level Closest was Ravi Ratnayeke 26 with bat and 36 with ball.

In ODIs Sachith PAthirana and Sekkuige Ptrasanna takes the crown.

Surely Asoka de Silva is a contender?

 

[Daemon]

Jacques Kallis is immense

ftfy

 

[TheJediBrah]

If Kallis is overrated as an all-rounder, which I don't think is that crazy, then he's underrated as a batsman.

Everyone talks about Ponting/Tendulkar/Lara the early-00s batting juggernauts but Kallis often gets overlooked

 

[Daemon]

Also goes to show how overrated Sobers bowling is

 

[cnerd123]

I remember watching stick figure Upul Chandana hit some huge sixes in ODIs as a kid and thinking "If he can do it, so can I"

I still can't, so clearly I was wrong.

 

[jimmy101]

I remember watching stick figure Upul Chandana hit some huge sixes in ODIs as a kid and thinking "If he can do it, so can I"

I still can't, so clearly I was wrong.

Yes you can *****! Just get one of those massive bats with edges as thick car tyres and you'll be top-edging sixes left right & centre bro.

 

[quincywagstaff]

James Franklin was a woeful bowler form what I saw. Him feeding half volleys with the new ball to Justin Langer at Adelaide in 2004 lives on in my memory. Converting to a batsman was definitely the right choice

First thing I thought of when his name came up was that match; iirc he bowled about 4-5 full tosses in his opening spell which Langer hit for boundaries.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

First thing I thought of when his name came up was that match; iirc he bowled about 4-5 full tosses in his opening spell which Langer hit for boundaries.

He'd be fine for a pink ball test at Adelaide these days, though

 

[quincywagstaff]

Brendon Julian’s international record was pretty woeful.

His Test record isn’t great (bat 16, bowl 39) but he had some bright spots during his 7 Test career.

But his ODI record – a format he should’ve been much more suited to – was even worse. Batting average of 13, bowling average of 45.

 

[jimmy101]

Brendon Julian’s international record was pretty woeful.

His Test record isn’t great (bat 16, bowl 39) but he had some bright spots during his 7 Test career.

But his ODI record – a format he should’ve been much more suited to – was even worse. Batting average of 13, bowling average of 45.

Julian probably benefitted from a shortage of all-rounders in Australia in the mid-90's. Only Moody, Shane Lee & an ageing Greg Matthews were rivalling him for that spot.

Once Symonds & Harvey became first choice picks he was done.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Brendon Julian’s international record was pretty woeful.

His Test record isn’t great (bat 16, bowl 39) but he had some bright spots during his 7 Test career.

But his ODI record – a format he should’ve been much more suited to – was even worse. Batting average of 13, bowling average of 45.

Calling Brendon Julian an all-rounder is very generous. He didn't even average 15 with the bat in his entire List A career. 13 in ODIs isn't much of a step down.

Definitely underperformed as a bowler though

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Calling Brendon Julian an all-rounder is very generous. He didn't even average 15 with the bat in his entire List A career. 13 in ODIs isn't much of a step down.

Definitely underperformed as a bowler though

It may be generous, but look at where he batted:

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

5 games at 3
1 game at 4
1 game at 5
1 game at 7

then 6 games at 8 and 3 at 9.

What was he - a specialist bowler/pinch hitter?

 

[jimmy101]

I'd say he was being utilised as a pinch-hitter a lot of the time there ^