weldone
Hall of Fame Member
An interesting (not the only) way to measure all-round ability of players is to measure their ability in the area they were weaker between batting and bowling. For example, Kallis' all-round ability will be measured by his efficiency in bowling only, while Hadlee's all-round ability will be measured by his efficiency in batting only. For such a study, all the players with more than 150 career wickets and more than 2000 career runs were shortlisted. They were awarded points which is equal to minimum of their career batting average and (1150/career bowling average)...This number 1150 can be changed according to perception, but I kept it at 1150 since it makes a batting average of 50 equivalent to a bowling average of 23, a batting average of 40 equivalent to a bowling average of 28.75 and a batting average of 60 equivalent to a bowling average just over 19 which are fair according to me...Then these players were ranked according to the points obtained...
It should be kept in mind that this ranking doesn't attempt to measure their ability as players, but it attempts to measure their ability in the area they were weaker between batting and bowling (For example, it is just a measure of Sobers' bowling ability, not his ability as a player as a whole).
The first 10 positions are as follows -
1. Imran Khan (points 37.69)
2. Keith Miller (points 36.97)
3. Jacques Kallis (points 36.74)
4. Garfield Sobers (points 33.79)
5. Ian Botham (points 33.54)
6. Chris Cairns (points 33.53)
7. Andrew Flintoff (points 32.5)
8. Shaun Pollock (points 32.31)
9. Vinoo Mankad (points 31.47)
10. Kapil Dev (points 31.05)
It should be kept in mind that this ranking doesn't attempt to measure their ability as players, but it attempts to measure their ability in the area they were weaker between batting and bowling (For example, it is just a measure of Sobers' bowling ability, not his ability as a player as a whole).
The first 10 positions are as follows -
1. Imran Khan (points 37.69)
2. Keith Miller (points 36.97)
3. Jacques Kallis (points 36.74)
4. Garfield Sobers (points 33.79)
5. Ian Botham (points 33.54)
6. Chris Cairns (points 33.53)
7. Andrew Flintoff (points 32.5)
8. Shaun Pollock (points 32.31)
9. Vinoo Mankad (points 31.47)
10. Kapil Dev (points 31.05)
Last edited: