The glorious history of test cricket, which spans over decades, has witnessed numerous legendary all-rounders who have reigned supreme in the format and have been nothing short of a nightmare for their opponents on the field. Often popularly referred to as the most prestigious and glorious cricket format in the world, test cricket has also been witness to some of the most spine-chilling rivalries and high octane action-packed performances from trailblazing all-rounders. Have you ever wondered about the top-notch all-rounders who have left behind a legacy in test cricket format? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top five sensational all-rounders who have witnessed extremely successful test careers.
Top 5 Greatest All-Rounders in Test Cricket of All-Time
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Jacques Kallis, South Africa
Often hailed as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and as one of the greatest all-rounders ever to play the game, the South African cricket coach and former professional cricketer, Jacques Kallis, is at the first spot in our list of the top five most legendary all-rounders who have dominated the history of test cricket. Throughout his star-studded international cricketing career that lasted from 1995 to 2014, Jacques Kallis played a total of 166 test matches and scored a total of 13,289 runs at a blistering average of 55.4. Additionally, Jacques also picked up a total of 292 wickets at an economy rate of 2.82. Moreover, throughout his glorious test cricket career, Jacques took a total of 200 catches, speaking volumes about his excellent all-rounder skills.
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Sir Garfield Sobers, West Indies
At the second spot in our list of the top five sensational all-rounders who have witnessed extremely successful test careers, we have Barbadian-born former West Indies international cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, who played for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974. Often popularly referred to as “Sir Garry”, Garfield Sobers played a total of 93 test matches and scored a total of 8,032 runs at an average of 57.8 and also picked up a total of 235 wickets at an economy rate of 2.22 and an average of 34.0. Moreover, Garfield Sobers also took a total of 109 catches, making him one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of test cricket.
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Imran Khan, Pakistan
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top five most legendary all-rounders who have dominated the history of test cricket, we have the iconic Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer, Imran Khan, who also served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. Throughout his glorious international cricketing career that lasted from 1971 to 1992, Imran Khan played a total of 88 tests and scored a total of 3,807 runs at an average of 37.7 and also picked up a total of 352 wickets at an economy rate of 2.54 and also witnessed a formidable fielding career in the test format with a total of 28 catches.
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Sir Ian Botham, England
At the fourth spot in our list of the top five sensational all-rounders who have witnessed extremely successful test careers, we have the legendary English former international cricketer Sir Ian Botham, who represented England in both Test and One-Day International cricket from 1976 to 1992. Often regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders, Sir Ian Botham played a total of 102 test matches and scored a total of 5,200 runs at an average of 33.5 and a strike rate of 60.7. Also, Sir Ian Botham picked up a total of 102 wickets at an economy rate of 2.99 and also took a total of 120 catches, making him one of the most dominating all-rounders in the history of test cricket.
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Kapil Dev, India
Finally, at the fifth spot in our list of the top five most legendary all-rounders who have dominated the history of test cricket, we have the legendary Indian former international cricketer Kapil Dev. Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of international cricket and one of the most successful cricketers in the history of the Indian national cricket team, Kapil Dev played a total of 131 test matches and scored a total of 5,248 runs and also picked up a total of 434 wickets at an economy rate of 2.78 and a phenomenal average of 29.6 establishing him as one of the greatest all-rounders of all-time in the test cricket format.
