[clip_my_wings]

so who is the best ever cricket all-rounder?

is it beefy botham? or imran khan? kapil deV, Sir Garfield Sobers or Richard Hadlee?

how do the new new generation fair such Shaun pollock, jacques Kallis or Freddy flintoff?

the votes is yours ...

[shilo507]

Some great players in there - and a few conspicuous by their absence such as Keith Miller and Ted Dexter. Miller had an outstanding Test Average.

As a bowler, Richard Hadlee had a wonderfully economic style off a shortish run-up and a fluid action and Imran Khan was always difficult to bat against with viscious inswinging yorkers which left-handers always found difficult to dig out.

Beefy Botham could be inspirational (who can forget the Headingly Test of 1981 against Australia when England won after being forced to follow on)? Botham hit 149 n/o and Bob Willis took 8/43. Rumours persist of the match being 'thrown' as several Australian players were alleged to have backed England to win at 500/1 but who knows? This was long before the Hanse Kronje era. Entertaining stuff and compulsive viewing nonetheless.

I think there should be another category of 'greatest sporting all rounder' which I think Botham would win. He played soccer for Scunthorpe and was an accomplished golfer (as were Gary Sobers and Ted Dexter).

Good poll though - brought back memories of a misspent youth watching England at the Oval and Lords in the late 70s and early 80s. Happy days.

[shri]

Put my vote in for Gary Sobers.

[DirkStruan]

Umm theres quiet a few names missing from this list, that should be there.

Two of the biggest undisputed names in cricket history, Sir Donald Bradman who sadly died this century and William Grace.

No Border, Chappels, Lillee, Ponting, Lara, Tendulkar. lots of big names missing.

[clip_my_wings]

Originally Posted by DirkStruan

Umm theres quiet a few names missing from this list, that should be there.

Two of the biggest undisputed names in cricket history, Sir Donald Bradman who sadly died this century and William Grace.

No Border, Chappels, Lillee, Ponting, Lara, Tendulkar. lots of big names missing.

Dirk if im not mistaken most of the names you mentioned are specialists in one field (either batting or bowling) ...

[DirkStruan]

Right you are clip, carry on....

[shilo507]

Christopher Cairns of New Zealand could possibly make the list at the expense of Phil Tufnell. Cairns had a great Test Average and could have achieved more had he not been so injury-prone.

Another contender is Wally Hammond who played for England in the 20s 30s and 40s. Arguably, as a batsman, only Sir Don was better.

[pin]

Beefy Botham!

[shilo507]

Originally Posted by pin

Beefy Botham!

When the chips were down Botham was definitely a man you would want on your side. Australia's Keith Miller (who should be on the list!) was another man to get you out of jail.

Botham was loathed by the blazers at the MCC yet commanded a grudging respect even amongst Pommy bashing Aussie cricket fans. A colorful character in every way and a breath of fresh air for English cricket.

[PDLM]

I really don't see how Tufnell and Warne can be on the same list as the others. Tufnell was a very average test player (not a single 50 to his name, never mind a century). Warne is one of the world's great bowlers, but he doesn't have a single test century to his name and only two first class hundreds. Botham had 14 and 38 respectively, Sobers 26 and 86. Hadlee's batting isn't really up there either.