All-rounders are the backbone of any cricket team that is successful. They bring much-needed balance, contributing with bat or ball to change the game when it matters most. Still, for all their importance, several all-rounders have been undeservedly neglected or underestimated.
Though iconic names such as Jacques Kallis, Kapil Dev, and Ben Stokes rule the roost when it comes to all-rounders, there are some players whose all-round brilliance.
List of 7 Underrated all-rounders in cricket
1. Chris Woakes (England)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 8/10
Chris Woakes is amongst England’s most consistent all-rounders, but his standout performances tend to go unseen. Woakes’ Test record is remarkable, having taken in excess of 100 wickets at an average of less than 25 and scored in excess of 1,500 runs at a respectable average of 27. With his silky action and capacity to swing the ball both ways, Woakes has been a match-winner, especially in English conditions.
His own batting skill, such as saving England from tough spots, is yet another feature that makes him an all-rounder. Even though overshadowed by flashy players such as Jofra Archer, Woakes’ reliability and worth will be deeply regretted after his retirement from global cricket.
2. Adrian Kuiper (South Africa)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 8/10
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Adrian Kuiper was South Africa’s game-changer in the early 1990s, yet his career was disrupted by the return of the country from isolation. Dubbed the “poor man’s Ian Botham,” Kuiper was a power hitter who also added helpful medium-pace bowling to the side. Even though his international career was short-lived, his value to the domestic game, especially in limited-overs cricket, was considerable.
His aggressive style defined South Africa’s initial ODI approach, and his pressure-performing ability earned him the admiration of his contemporaries. Kuiper is one of the most underappreciated all-rounders of his era, hiding behind the growth of the likes of Jacques Kallis and Hansie Cronje.
3. Steve Tikolo (Kenya)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 7/10
Steve Tikolo was the soul and spirit of Kenyan cricket for more than a decade, a steady and efficient presence as captain, middle-order bat, and steady off-spin bowler. Tikolo’s batting was characterized by poise and accuracy, and his bowling was responsible for crucial breakthroughs.
His captaincy helped Kenya’s incredible march to the 2003 World Cup semi-finals, one of the greatest shocks in the history of cricket. Even though he played against the best countries only at ICC tournaments, Tikolo’s impact on Kenyan cricket cannot be emphasized too much. Most analysts still view him as one of the greatest players never to play a Test match.
4. Carl Hooper (West Indies)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 7/10
Carl Hooper was a talented cricketer whose potential was often left unfulfilled. In spite of his laid-back approach, Hooper was a vital West Indies all-rounder who added more than 5,700 Test runs, 114 wickets, and close to 200 ODI wickets to the team’s tally. His off-spin, though often underappreciated, was especially important in one-day cricket, where he could dictate run flow.
Hooper tended to play in the shadow of more famous West Indian stars such as Curtly Ambrose and Brian Lara and hence his all-round achievements went unnoticed. But to those who saw him closely, Hooper’s quiet genius as a whole cricketer was apparent.
5. Franklyn Stephenson (West Indies)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 6/10
One of cricket’s best “what if” tales is that of Franklyn Stephenson, a gifted fast-bowling all-rounder. Stephenson’s career was sidetracked by his role in the Rebel Tours to South Africa under Apartheid. Notwithstanding this, Stephenson emerged as a domestic cricket icon, especially in England and South Africa.
In the county season of 1991, he made it a rare achievement to score 1,000 runs and capture 100 wickets for Nottinghamshire. His exclusion from international cricket is one of the greatest crimes against the sport, yet his abilities as a lower-order batsman and pace bowler made him a complete all-rounder.
6. Chris Harris (New Zealand)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 6/10
Chris Harris was never flashy but was unquestionably effective for New Zealand during the 1990s and 2000s. His medium-pace bowling, which was usually difficult to score off, coupled with gritty lower-order batting, made him a critical stake in ODIs. Harris was an excellent fielder as well, introducing a third element to his all-around game.
With more than 250 ODI wickets and 4,000 runs under his belt, Harris was a key performer in New Zealand’s success of his time. In spite of his longevity and consistency, Harris’ efforts were usually being covered up by larger names, and hence he is among the most underrated all-rounders cricket has ever seen.
7. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Rating as an All-Rounder: 6/10
While Ravichandran Ashwin has long been regarded as one of the greatest spinners in the world today with over 500 Test wickets to his name, his batting credentials are sometimes underestimated. With five Test centuries and a batting average in the mid-high 20s, Ashwin has shown himself equal to holding the bat, particularly in difficult conditions.
His capacity to produce essential runs, at times as top scorer at No. 6 in the batting lineup, adds value to his incredible bowling. Even with his all-round skills, Ashwin’s batting tends to be overshadowed by his bowling, and he is a classic case of an underappreciated all-rounder.
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