Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad and wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler have revealed their picks for the top 10 all-rounders in Test cricket history. The former England teammates made their selections during a discussion on the For the Love of Cricket YouTube channel ahead of the two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka.
The exercise produced some interesting choices, with all-rounders from different eras and cricketing nations featuring on the list. However, one notable omission was India’s great Ravichandran Ashwin, despite his remarkable record with both bat and ball.
Broad and Buttler included two Indian all-rounders in their top 10: legendary World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev and current star Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin, who represented India across formats for several years, did not make the cut. Ashwin finished his Test career with 3,500 runs and six centuries, while also claiming 537 wickets in 106 matches.
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Jadeja, meanwhile, has continued to strengthen his all-round record and has amassed 4,044 runs and 348 wickets in 89 Tests. At the top of Broad and Buttler’s list is West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers. Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, Sobers scored 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets in 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974.
South African great Jacques Kallis occupies second place. Kallis combined elite batting with effective bowling throughout his career, finishing with 13,289 runs and 292 wickets in 166 Tests. Recently retired England all-rounder Ben Stokes was ranked third. Stokes finished his Test career with 7,273 runs and 252 wickets in 115 matches. He was placed ahead of another England icon, Ian Botham, who claimed 383 wickets and scored 5,200 runs in 102 Tests.
Kapil Dev completed the top five. The former Indian captain played 131 Tests, scoring 5,248 runs and taking 434 wickets. His contribution with both bat and ball remains a major part of India’s cricketing history.
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Pakistan legend Imran Khan was ranked sixth, followed by England’s Andrew Flintoff and Australia’s Keith Miller. South Africa’s Shaun Pollock occupied ninth place before Jadeja rounded out the top 10.
Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler’s Top 10 All-Time Test All-Rounders
- Sir Garfield Sobers – 93 Tests, 8,032 runs, 235 wickets
- Jacques Kallis – 166 Tests, 13,289 runs, 292 wickets
- Ben Stokes – 115 Tests, 7,273 runs, 252 wickets
- Ian Botham – 102 Tests, 5,200 runs, 383 wickets
- Kapil Dev – 131 Tests, 5,248 runs, 434 wickets
- Imran Khan – 88 Tests, 3,807 runs, 362 wickets
- Andrew Flintoff – 79 Tests, 3,845 runs, 226 wickets
- Keith Miller – 55 Tests, 2,958 runs, 170 wickets
- Shaun Pollock – 108 Tests, 3,781 runs, 421 wickets
- Ravindra Jadeja – 89 Tests, 4,044 runs, 348 wickets
