On Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th birthday, here are all of Sachin Tendulkar centuries in one place. Everything you ever wanted to known about Tendulkar’s 100 hundreds.
Let’s begin—Sachin Tendulkar’s Centuries (The Definitive Guide).
Sachin Tendulkar scored 51 Test centuries & 49 ODI centuries in his career.
Tendulkar scored 10 centuries in Sri Lanka, 9 in South Africa, and 7 each in Australia, England, and Bangladesh. In all, he scored 29 Test centuries overseas and 22 at home in India. Interestingly, Tendulkar also scored 29 ODI centuries overseas (12 away, 17 neutral) and 20 at home.
Sachin’s favorite opponent, by far, was Australia. He scored 20 centuries (and 31 fifties) against Australia, 17 vs Sri Lanka, 12 vs South Africa, 9 vs England & New Zealand, 8 vs Zimbabwe, and 7 each against West Indies and Bangladesh.
1998 was Tendulkar’s best year in terms of centuries (12 hundreds, 8 fifties), followed by 8 hundreds (11 fifties) in 1996, and 8 tons (7 fifties) in 1999. Although Tendulkar only scored 3 hundreds in 2007, he was in good form and scored 19 fifties (several 90s that year as well).
Tendulkar never scored a century in Ireland (best of 99), Canada (best of 89*), and Kenya (best of 69).
Sachin Tendulkar had nervous nineties scores 28 times! (10 – Tests, 28 – ODIs). In 27 of those occasions, he was dismissed and was only unbeaten once when he scored 96*.
Tendulkar Hundreds – Major Career Timeline
#1 vs England (1990) – 1st Test Century
#5 vs England (1993) – 1st Century on Home Soil
#8 vs Australia (1994) – 1st ODI Century
#25 vs Sri Lanka (1997)
#30, #31 vs Australia (1998) – The Sharjah Centuries
#44 vs New Zealand (1999) – First Test double century
#50 vs Zimbabwe (2001)
#71 vs Bangladesh (2004) – Highest Test score of 248*
#73 – 35th Test Century – Broke Sunil Gavaskar’s longstanding recordof 34 Test hundreds
#75 vs West Indies (2006)
#93 – 200* vs South Africa – Tendulkar breaks the ODI Double Century Barrier
#97 vs South Africa (2011) – Last Test Century
#100 vs Bangladesh (2012) – Last ODI Century
Sachin Tendulkar Centuries – Fun Facts
53% of Tendulkar’s centuries resulted in victories (33 ODI wins, 20 Test wins), 25% of his hundreds resulted in losses (14 ODI losses, 11 Test losses), and the rest 22% resulted in some form of a draw (20 Test draws, 1 Tied ODI, 1 No Result ODI).
When he scored a century, Sachin won 45 Player of the Match awards – 12 in Test cricket (5 Won, 5 Drawn, 2 Lost) and 33 in ODI cricket (30 Won, 3 Lost).
Sachin Tendulkar scored 22 hundreds in tri-series tournaments, 7 centuries in multi-nation ICC tournaments (6 World Cup hundreds & 1 in 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy/ Wills International Cup), and 4 centuries in quadrangular tournaments. Hence, he scored 33/49 centuries in tournament play and 16 in bilateral series.
By batting positions, Tendulkar’s hundreds are categorized as follows: In Tests (2 tons at #6, 5 at #5, and 44 at #4) and in ODIs (2 tons at #1, 4 at #4, and 46 at #2).
In ODIs, he scored 32 hundreds in the first innings and 17 tons while chasing. In Tests, the distribution was 20 (1st innings), 18 (2nd), 10 (3rd), and 3 (4th).
Sachin Tendulkar – Batting Stats
Here is Sachin Tendulkar’s record in a nutshell.
Note: T20I stats are omitted since he only played one T20I and scored 10 runs.
Matches/Innings
Runs
100s
50s
Average/Strike Rate
Best Score
Tests
200/329
15921
51
68
53.78
248*
ODIs
463/452
18426
49
96
44.83/86.23
200*
List of International Centuries by Sachin Tendulkar
Here is the detailed list of each of Sachin Tendulkar’s centuries in chronological order. Scorecards, photographs, and most highlight reels are attached beneath each innings. Be sure to check them out!
Special thanks to the photographers for the iconic pictures, Rob Moody (robelinda2), and other content creators on YouTube that help us relive Sachin Tendulkar’s hundreds for years and years to come.
1. 119* vs England, 1990, Old Trafford (Test)
Format: Test (1st Test Century)
Opposition: England
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Result: Match Drawn, Player of the Match (POTM) – 68 & 119*
Batting Position: #6 (4th Innings)
Context:On Day 5, India had to chase down 408 runs and were struggling at 109/4 when Sachin, Kapil Dev, and Manoj Prabhakar batted through the day and drew the game. Tendulkar won the player of the match award for 68 & 119*.
Context:This match is known for Ravi Shastri’s 206 as an opener. On the other end, was the Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar. He came in at 201/4 and remained unbeaten as India scored 483.
Venue: WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association) Ground, Perth, Australia
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #4 (2nd Innings)
Context:India lost the match by 300 runs and the series 4-0. There was one bright light though – Sachin Tendulkar was promoted at #4 in the first innings and took India to a respectable 272. Due to the tough Perth pitch, this is considered one of Tendulkar’s best knocks. The next highest score was Kiran More’s 43 at #10.
Venue: New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
Result: Drawn
Batting Position: #4 (2nd innings)
Context:Against a pace attack of Allan Donald, Brian McMillan, and Craig Matthews, Sachin Tendulkar scored a six-hour long 111 (270) when the next best score was just 25.
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, India
Result: Won, (POTM) – 165
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:As India posted their highest total at that time (560/6 dec) against England in India, Sachin scored his first century at home. With Sidhu, also scoring a century at the other end, they amassed a 147-run partnership. Sachin Tendulkar’s first player of the match award at home.
Context:Yet another Sidhu-Tendulkar partnership resulted in India posting a massive 511 run total. Sidhu scored 124 with 8 sixes & 9 fours, while Tendulkar scored 142 with 22 fours.
Tournament: Singer World Series 1994 (SL, Ind, Aus, Pak)
Context:Opening the batting, Sachin scored his first ODI ton as an opener and won his first ODI player of the match trophy. With some support from Azharuddin & Vinod Kambli, Tendulkar’s 110 made sure India reached a competitive 246 and won the match.
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur, India
Result: Match Drawn
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:The Sidhu-Sachin partnership struck once again. From 49-2, these two took India to 226. By the time Tendulkar was done, India had put up 444. India would end up making 546/9 declared.
Context:Sachin scored a mammoth 137, but his innings was cut short with a run out. India scored 271, but Sanath Jayasuriya’s new style of play took Sri Lanka home.
Tournament: Singer Cup 1995/96 (Tri Series: Pak, SL, Ind)
Context:Tendulkar was India’s only major contributor as India were bundled for 226. Aamer Sohail & Saeed Anwar completed the rain-affected target of 190 runs in just 28 overs. This was his first ton against Pakistan.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Result: Won, (POTM) – 118 & 2/40
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Tournament: Pepsi Sharjah Cup (Tri Series: SA, Ind, Pak)
Context:Another 231-run partnership with Navjot Singh Sidhu to take India to a score of 305/5. Pakistan made a run for the chase but were all out for 277. Tendulkar had a role to play with the ball as well figures of 7.1-0-40-2.
Context:Trailing 99-runs already in the first innings, India were 36/4 when captain Azharuddin departed. Tendulkar replied with a masterclass of 122 when the next best was Sanjay Manjrekar’s 18.India would go on to lose the Test, but the legend and class of Sachin Tendulkar continued to grow.
Context:Tendulkar scored 177 & 74 in this Test, but this series was known for the find of Sourav Ganguly (and Rahul Dravid). The Tendulkar-Ganguly duo put together a 255-run partnership for the third wicket as India made 521. Ganguly earned the player of the match and series trophies, and India’s next generation was now in motion.
Tournament: Singer World Series (SL, Aus, Ind, Zim)
Context:Captaining India for the first time, Tendulkar’s hundred took India to 226. However, it was the arch-nemesis, Sanath Jayasuriya, whose century overshadowed Tendulkar once again.
Context:This was Tendulkar’s first century when he took first strike in the opening partnership. India posted 267 and demolished the Proteas. End of a succesful hundred-filled year for Tendulkar.
Context:India were struggling at 58/5, when Tendulkar & Azharuddin stitched together a 222-run partnership. India would go on to lose the Test with Brian McMillan’s all-round show.
Tournament: Pepsi Independence Cup 1997 (Pak, SL, Ind, NZ)
Context:The beginnings of the prolific Ganguly-Tendulkar opening partnership in ODIs. They broke the back of the 221-run chase with a 169-run partnership. When Tendulkar got out, India only need 5 runs to win.
Context:Will forever be remembered as the infamous 952/6 game after India declared their innings for 537/8. Tendulkar’s 143 was the third highest score of the game after Jayasuriya’s 340 & Roshan Mahanama’s 225.
Context:The trio of Indian cricket came to the party in another high run-fest draw against Sri Lanka – Dravid (93), Ganguly (173), and Tendulkar (148).
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, India
Result: Won, (POTM) – 155*
Batting Position: #4 (3rd Innings)
Context:Australia had gained a first innings lead, but with Tendulkar’s hundred and fifties from Sidhu, Dravid, and Azhar, India were able to come back in the match.
Context:Tendulkar’s 177 took India to a first innings total of 424, but hundreds from the Marks (Waugh & Taylor) as well Kasprowicz’s bowling show gave Australia a rare victory on Indian soil.
Tournament: Pepsi Triangular Series (Ind, Aus, Zim)
Context:A 175-run opening partnership between Ganguly and Tendulkar meant India chased 223 in style. The year of Tendulkar against the mighty Aussiese.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Result: Lost, (POTM) – 143 & 1/27
Batting Position: #2 (2nd Innings)
Tournament: Coco-Cola Cup 1997/98 (Tri Series: Aus, Ind, NZ)
Context:In the chase of 276 in 46 overs, Tendulkar single-handedly dragged India close. When he got out, he had scored 143 out of India’s 242 runs. With 21 balls remaining, India could only add 8 more runs. Established Tendulkar as a living legend.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Result: Won, (POTM) – 134
Batting Position: #2 (2nd Innings)
Tournament: Final, Coca-Cola Cup 1997/98 (Tri Series: Aus, Ind, NZ)
Context:Two days later, same venue, same opposition, almost similar situation. Different result. Chasing 273 in 50 overs, Tendulkar bludgeoned134 runs but departed with 30 runs still to go. This time, though, with help from Azharuddin, Jadeja, and Kanitkar, India won the Final. These two contests in Sharjah marked the beginning of the Warne-Tendulkar rivalry.
Context:Putting together a 252-run opening partnership with Ganguly, Tendulkar led India to a competitive 307 in the final of the tri-series. Sri Lanka came close, courtesy a century by Aravinda de Silva, but lost by 6 runs.
Venue: Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Result: Won, (POTM) – 141 & 4/38
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Tournament: Wills International Cup 1998/99 (WI, SA, Ind, SL, Pak, Aus, Eng, Zim, NZ)
Context:Tendulkar’s glorious year against Australia continued with a blistering century as well as a bowling performance. Opened the innings and continued the carnage till the 46th over, when the score was already 280.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Result: Won, (POTM) – 118*
Batting Position: #2 (2nd Innings)
Tournament: Coca-Cola Champions Trophy 1998/99 (Tri Series: Ind, Zim, SL)
Context:Another dominating chase by Sachin. He scored 118 out of 197 runs and finished the chase in 40.4 overs. His strike rate was 105.35 when the next best for India was Ganguly at 57.14.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Result: Won, (POTM) – 124* & 1/16
Batting Position: #2 (2nd Innings)
Tournament: Coca-Cola Champions Trophy 1998/99 Final (Tri Series: Ind, Zim, SL)
Context:Almost similar to his previous century. Chasing 197 against Zimbabwe, this time Tendulkar helped India score the runs in 30 overs. India won by 10 wickets – Tendulkar 124* (92) at 134.18 & Ganguly 63* (90) at 70.00 strike rate.
Context:Trailing New Zealand by 144 runs, Tendulkar’s century and contributions from almost every batter took India to a competitive 356 runs. The Craigs – McMillan and Cairns ensured that New Zealand get to the target of 214 without any hiccups.
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, India
Result: Lost, (POTM) – 1/10 & 2/35, 136
Batting Position: #4 (4th Innings)
Context:A thriller of a Test match, and Tendulkar’s masterclass in the fourth innings. Chasing a mammoth 271 in Chennai, India were reeling at 6/2 and later at 82/5. Ramesh, Laxman, Dravid, Azharuddin, and Ganguly,all back in the hut. With some support from Nayan Mongia, Tendulkar almost single-handedly drove India close to victory. However, Pakistan held their nerve and India would lose this close fourth innings encounter by just 12 runs.
Context:Another high scoring draw against Sri Lanka. Tendulkar was one of the many centurions from this Test; others being Ramesh, Dravid, and Jayawardene, who scored 242.
Context:Tendulkar’s first ODI century at #4. This innings is best remembered for Sachin’s tribute to his late father, and the unbeaten 237-run partnership between Dravid-Tendulkar.
Tournament: Aiwa Cup 1999 (Tri Series: Aus, SL, Ind)
Context:Back to opening with Sadagoppan Ramesh as his partner, Tendulkar took first strike in this match. He was involved in the 75-run opening partnership as well as a 117-run partnership with Ganguly, who was now the new #4.
Venue: Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh, India
Result: Drawn
Batting Position: #4 (3rd Inning)
Context:India recovered from 83-all out in the first innings to score a mammoth 505/3 declared in their second. Debutant Devang Gandhi scored 75, Ramesh chipped in with 73, and the Dravid-Tendulkar duo managed 144 & 126* respectively.
Venue: Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, India
Result: Drawn, (POTM) – 217
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:India put up 583/7 declared in the first innings courtesy centuries from Ramesh (110), Ganguly (125), and Tendulkar (217). This was Sachin Tendulkar’s first double century.
Venue: Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, Deccan, India
Result: Won, (POTM) – 186*
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Context:This day is remembered for a couple of reasons – (1) One of the final days when ODIs where played in whites, (2) a 331-run partnership between Dravid & Tendulkar, and finally (3) Sachin’s highest ODI score that stood tall until his double century.
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia
Result: Lost, (POTM) – 116 & 52
Batting Position: #4 (2nd Innings)
Context:One of Sachin Tendulkar’s finest knocks. Against an attack of Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, Brett Lee, and Shane Warne, Tendulkar fought the lone hand. He scored 116 out of India’s 238 in the first innings with minimal support apart from Ganguly & Kumbleand followed it up with a fifty in the second innings.
Venue: Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited Sports Complex Ground, Vadodara, India
Result: Won, (POTM) – 122
Batting Position: #2 (2nd Innings)
Context:Tendulkar & Ganguly, back to the top of the batting order, put together 153 runs for the first wicket. India won by 4 wickets with just one ball to spare in the chase of 283.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Result: Lost, (POTM) – 101
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Tournament: Coco-Cola Champions Trophy 2000/01 (Tri Series: SL, Ind, Zim)
Context:From India’s side, only Tendulkar stood up with a century when the next best was 35. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, chased 225 with sizeable contributions from Russell Arnold (59), Jayasuriya (48), Sangakkara (40*), and Jayawardene (38).
Context:This match is better known for Javagal Srinath’s 4/81 & 5/60, Andy Flower’s 183* * 70, and Dravid’s 200* & 70*, but Tendulkar contributed nicely with 122 & 39 as well.
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur, India
Result: Drawn
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:You would think Sachin’s unbeaten double century would yield him a player of the match trophy. Think again, this was Zimbabwe cricket at its peak and Andy Flower upped Tendulkar with a show of 55 & 232*.
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, India
Result: Won
Batting Position: #4 (2nd Innings)
Context:We all remember this month for Harbhajan’s excellence and the colossal Laxman’s 281 & Dravid’s 180 rearguard effort. But in the final match of the series, Sachin scored a century of his own.
Context:A game India truly dominated. VVS Laxman & Tendulkar combined for a 199-run second wicket partnership. India reached 299/8 and won by 118 runs.
Tournament: Standard Bank Triangular Tournament 2001/02 (SA, Ind, Ken)
Context:The golden era of Ganguly-Tendulkar mayhem continued. Ganguly 111, Tendulkar 146, partnership 258 runs, India 351/3. Ended up winning by 186 runs.
57. 155 vs South Africa, 2001, Bloemfontein (Test)
Format: Test (#26)
Opposition: South Africa
Venue: Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:Against an attack of Shaun Pollock, Nantie Hayward, Jacques Kallis, and Makhaya Ntini, Tendulkar scored a fluent 155 and had support from a certain Virender Sehwag (105) at #6.
Venue: Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, India
Result: Drawn
Batting Position: #4 (2nd Innings)
Context:Responding to England’s first innings total of 407, India struggled under the guile of Giles. Ashley Giles took 5/67, but Tendulkar’s 103 took India to a safe score of 291.
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur, India
Result: Won
Batting Position: #4 (2nd Innings)
Context:On this occasion, India were a class apart against Zimbabwe. Centuries from Shiv Sundar Das, Tendulkar, and Sanjay Bangar as well as a 9-wicket match haul for Anil Kumble meant that Zimbabwe were never really in the game.
60. 117 vs West Indies, 2002, Port of Spain (Test)
Format: Test (#29)
Opposition: West Indies
Venue: Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Result: Won
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:Although Tendulkar scored a century in the first innings (and duck in the second), it was VVS Laxman’s twin fifties (69* & 74) that earned him the player of the match trophy.
Venue: The Royal & Sun Alliance County Ground, Bristol, England
Result: Won,(POTM) – 113
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Tournament: NatWest Series (Ind, Eng, SL)
Context:Before the Yuvraj-Kaif magic and Ganguly’s celebration celebration in the final, Tendulkar scored a couple of tons of his own in THAT NatWest series.
Context:This match ended in a draw, but not before several great individual performances – Gayle’s 88, Wavell Hinds’ 100, Chanderpaul’s 140, Samuels’ 104, Harbhajan Singh’s 5-fer, 154* for VVS Laxman, and the Little Master’s 176.
Context:Good exposure for Namibia in an ODI World Cup, but Tendulkar (152) himself beat all of the Namibian team combined (130). It was that pair again on the charge – 244 between Tendulkar & Ganguly, who scored 112*.
Context:Against Australia, rises VVS Laxman. Laxman scored 102 before being run out by Andrew Symonds and added 190 runs with Tendulkar for the second wicket.
Venue: Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, Deccan, India
Result: Won
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Tournament: TVS Cup (Tri Series: Aus, Ind, NZ)
Context:Virender Sehwag cemented his place as Tendulkar’s opening partner in ODIs. The duo scored 182 for the opening wicket while Ganguly dropped to #3 in the batting line up.
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney, Australia
Result: Drawn, (POTM) – 241* & 60*
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:The Test innings that everyone still talks about to this day. In order to rectifya flaw outside off, Tendulkar decided to let go off his famous cover drive. The art of a true genius. This innings required patience, grit, and mental fortitude. At the end, he scored a famous double century and probably his best Test innings.
Context:One of the best ODI series of all-time. Pakistan scored 329 due to neat 80s from Yasir Hameed and Shahid Afridi along with important contributions from Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, and Abdul Razzaq. In reply, Tendulkar scored 141 but did not have as much support from the rest of the XI as India fell short by 12 runs.
Venue: Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, India
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Context:Tendulkar’s hundred, Dhoni’s 47, and Yuvraj’s 35* got India to a score of 319, but Inzamam-ul-Haq & Shoaib Malik forged a quick partnership to take Pakistan home.
Context:Another close match against Pakistan. Another loss. Tendulkar (100), Irfan Pathan (56), and Dhoni (68) took India to 328, but a hundred from Salman Butt & 90 from Shoaib Malik meant the chase was complete with 3 overs to spare.
Venue: Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Result: Drawn
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:Centuries for Tendulkar and Ganguly. Known for their ODI partnership, this time they put together a 189-run partnership for the 4th wicket in this Test.
Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh
Result: Won
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:A rare occasion where India’s entire Top 4 scored centuries – Dinesh Karthik 129, Wasim Jaffer 138, Rahul Dravid 129, and Sachin Tendulkar 122*. India declared after scoring 610/3 and won by an innings & 239 runs.
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney, Australia
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #4 (2nd Innings)
Context:One of the more controversial series in recent memories, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that Tendulkar scored yet another majestic hundred Down Under.
Tournament: Commonwealth Bank (CB) Series (Tri Series: Aus, Ind, SL)
Context:One of India’s more celebrated victories as the era of tri-series was coming to an end. Tendulkar’s 117* took India to victory in the CB series final. This series will be remembered for the Lee vs Tendulkar battle.
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur, India
Result: Won
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:Sachin’s 109 set the platform as India scored 441 in the first innings. Despite Jason Krejza’s best effort (8/215 & 4/143), Australia still fell short by 172 runs in the Test.
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, India
Result: Won
Batting Position: #4 (4th Innings)
Context:One of the greatest Test chases of all time. The original Bazballfourth innings chase. 387 chased down in 98.3 overs at 3.92 run rate, courtesy Sehwag’s quick assault of 83 (68).
Context:Ended retired hurt at 163* with five overs still to spare. One of Tendulkar’s greatest ODI innings, playing shots all around the park with 16 fours and five sixes.
Context:An all-round batting performance led by Tendulkar took India to 520 in the first innings, and the Kiwis never recovered. Gambhir’s Napier marathon of 137 & 167 in Wellington secured crucial draws, but Tendulkar’s hundred in this match helped India take the lead 1-0.
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad, India
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #2 (2nd Innings)
Context:Apart from the Sharjah knocks in 1998 vs Australia, this is quite possibly Sachin Tendulkar’s best ODI innings of all-time. Chasing 351, Sachin got India to 332 before paddle scooping it to Nathan Hauritz. A collapse followed and India were stopped at 347. So close, yet so far.
Venue: Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, India
Result: Drawn
Batting Position: #5 (3rd Innings)
Context:One of those high scoring India-Sri Lanka matches. Welegedera’s first morning spell reduced India to 4/32 before Dravid (177), Yuvraj (68), and Dhoni (110) helped India recover. In response, Dilshan scored 112, Jayawardenes scored centuries (275 for Mahela and 154* for Prasanna). Then came 114 for Gautam Gambhir and finally, 100* for Sachin Tendulkar at the end of the third innings.
Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Result: Won, (POTM) – 105*
Batting Position: #4 (1st Innings)
Context:Tendulkar’s unbeaten hundred was India’s only fighting force in the first innings as Shahadat Hossain & Shakib took 5 wickets each and bundled India for 243.
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur, India
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #4 (3rd Innings)
Context:335 runs behind South Africa in the first innings after Amla’s 253* and Steyn’s masterclass of 7/51, Tendulkar tried to save India in the follow-on. Tendulkar made a century but India still lost by an innings and 6 runs against a world class South African outfit.
Context:A Valentine Century for Sachin Tendulkar. Fun Fact – Tendulkar’s 106 was actually India’s third highest score in the innings after Laxman’s 143 & Sehwag’s 165. Hashim Amla also scored twin tons in that match, 114 & 123*, but India would end up winning by an innings.
Context:Tendulkar continued his rich vein of form with yet another double century. By the time he was done, he had already posted 592 runs. India would make 707 as the match headed towards a draw.
Context:Replying back to Australia’s 478, Tendulkar & Murali Vijay put together a 308-run stand to help India recover from 38/2. Tendulkar’s final double century.
Context:India’s first innings collapse came back to haunt them in this match. India were bundled out 136 and South Africa replied with 620/4 declared featuring Jacques Kallis’ maiden double century. Tendulkar (111*), Dhoni (90), Gambhir (80), and Sehwag (63) took India to 459, but still could not avoid an innings defeat.
Context:Against Dale Steyn & Morne Morkel in their primes, Tendulkar crafted a majestic ton at Newlands. One of the best performances for an Indian batter overseas.
Venue: Vidharbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur, India
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Tournament: 2011 ODI Cricket World Cup
Context:In one of the best matches of the tournament, Sehwag & Tendulkar powered India to a 142-run stand in just 17.4 overs. Dale Steyn’s 5-fer would reduce India to 296, which South Africa would chase down in a thriller of a contest.
Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh
Result: Lost
Batting Position: #2 (1st Innings)
Tournament: Asia Cup 2012 (Pak, Ban, Ind, SL)
Context:For such an illustrious career, this innings was criticized by many due to that strike rate of 77.55. Despite a 148-run partnership with Virat Kohli, Tendulkar’s final hundred resulted in Team India’s loss unfortunately.
Can you name cricketers with the most test centuries? If you are struggling, don’t worry. We got you.
Test cricket is the most challenging format of the sport, and it takes great skill and determination to reach the pinnacle of batting performance. That’s why a century in Test cricket has become one of the most sought-after milestones for batters. In this post, we take a look at 25 cricketers who have scored the most Test centuries. From Sachin Tendulkar to Steve Smith, we’ll explore the career records of each and every cricketer who has achieved this extraordinary feat.
So, come join us and let’s dive into the fascinating world of cricketing greatness!
*Updated on: 26 December, 2024 when Steve Smith hit his 34th century.
Key Takeaways
Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), Joe Root (36) and Rahul Dravid (36) are the Top 5 batters with the most centuries in Test cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar (119), Jacques Kallis (103), Ricky Ponting (103), Joe Root (101), Rahul Dravid (99), and Shivnaire Chanderpaul (96) have the most 50+ scores in Test cricket.
Sir Donald Bradman (99.94), Steve Smith (60.22), Sir Garfield Sobers (57.78), Kumar Sangakkara (57.40), and Jacques Kallis (55.37) have the highest average for players on this list of most Test centuries.
Sir Donald Bradman (29 – 100s, 13 – 50s)/Younis Khan (34/33), Matthew Hayden (30/29), Michael Clarke (28/27), and Virat Kohli (30/31) have the best conversion rates from fifties to hundreds in Test matches.
Sachin Tendulkar (15921), Ricky Ponting (13378), Jacques Kallis (13289), Rahul Dravid (13288), Joe Root (12972), and Alastair Cook (12472) have scored the most Test runs.
Australia (8), India (4), South Africa, West Indies (3), Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan (2), and New Zealand (1) have produced the most players on this elite list.
Only Joe Root (36),Steve Smith (34), Kane Williamson (33), and Virat Kohli (33) are the remaining active players on this list.
There were some players that surprisingly missed out:
Notable Omissions: Mohammad Yousuf, Greg Chappell, Viv Richards (24) Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen, Justin Langer, Javid Miandad (23), AB De Villiers, Geoffrey Boycott, Mohammad Azharuddin, Colin Cowdrey, Ian Bell (22)
Test Cricket Batting Records: Top 25 List of Most Test Centuries
In this Top 25 list of cricketers with the most Test centuries, each cricketer has more than 25 Test hundreds to their name.
Note: To break ties, we went with the player with a lower number of innings per hundred. In addition, players with * next to their names are still active in international cricket.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (51), India
Years Played: 1989-2013, Test Matches Played: 200
Innings: 329 (6.45 Inns/Hundred)
Total 50+ Scores: 119 (51 – 100s, 68 – 50s)
Average: 53.78
Runs Scored: 15921
Sachin Tendulkar stands at the top of the list with a whopping 51 Test centuries, establishing him as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.
Ricky Ponting is the all-time highest run scorer for Australia in Test cricket, and his 41 centuries have put him firmly at third on this list. Ponting’s career was marked by consistent runs, hundreds in various conditions, and captaincy glory.
Kumar Sangakkara is one of the most prolific batsmen in Test cricket, with 38 centuries to his name. His 90 50+ scores display his longevity and consistency, making him one of the all-time greats.
Joe Root is the name that comes to mind when talking about England’s current batting lineup. He has been a consistent performer for England, and his dedication and commitment to improving as a player are admirable. His stellar 2021-22 and 2024 seasons has definitely put him as one of greatest batsmen of all-time.
Rahul Dravid, nicknamed ‘The Wall’, is one of the only few cricketers to have scored centuries in all 10 Test playing nations. His 36 centuries and 99 50+ scores make him one of the most prolific batsmen in history. Along with Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid formed a formidable partnership for India’s batting line up during the late 90s and early 2000s.
Steve Smith is a modern-day batting legend, and his Test average around 60 (after almost 100 tests) is one of the highest among contemporary batsmen. His success has been due to his meticulous approach to the game and ability to dominate any bowling attack.
Younis Khan was a Pakistani batting icon and his 34 centuries speak volumes of his ability. He is the only player in the world to have scored centuries in 11 countries*, and he holds the record for most Test centuries by a Pakistani batsman. His attitude towards cricket made him an inspiration to many young players.
*since UAE/Pakistan both hosted home matches for Pakistan during his career
Sunil Gavaskar is considered to be one of the best openers to have ever played cricket. His Test centuries scores speak volumes about his ability with the bat, and he holds the record for most Test centuries by an Indian batsman. He was known for his defensive technique and in a career spanning 16 years.
Brian Lara is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket (400*). His elegant stroke play set him apart from the rest of the pack.
Mahela Jayawardene is the highest Test run scorer for Sri Lanka, with 11814 runs in 149 Tests. His batting style was known for its elegance and grace, and he will be remembered as one of the greats of Sri Lankan cricket.
Kane Williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world, and his ability to build an innings from scratch and score big runs has made him a star. His calm demeanor and sound technique have enabled him to dominate in all conditions, making him one of the most respected cricketers of our time.
With Ross Taylor, he formed the core of a World Test Championship winning middle order.
Sir Alastair Cook, one of the most successful English batsmen in history, has 33 Test centuries to his name. He holds several records for England’s batting performance, including most consecutive tests and most runs scored (until Joe Root takes over, of course). His success is due to his hard work and dedication, which have made him a true legend of the game.
Steve Waugh was one of Australia’s greatest batsmen, and one of the best captains for sure. He was known for his aggressive style of play and determination to succeed in every match.
Matthew Hayden was a powerhouse of Australian cricket. He was known for his aggressive style of play and ability to dominate the bowlers in all conditions. His Test hundred conversion rate still stands tall in world cricket, and he will be remembered as one of Australia’s finest batsmen.
Virat Kohli is a modern-day batting great, and his ability to score runs at will has made him one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket. His aggressive style of play combined with his natural technique make him a force to be reckoned with, especially his exploits in Australia, South Africa, and a memorable comeback in England.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was one of the most consistent and reliable batsmen for West Indies. His 96 50+ scores speak of his ability to bat long and dominate the bowlers, especially as a lower middle order batter.
Probably the greatest batsman of all time, Sir Donald Bradman needs no introduction. His incredible average of nearly 100 is a testament to his legendary batting skills and ability to dominate any bowling attack in the world. He was one of the most feared batsmen of his era, and he will continue to inspire generations of cricketers for years to come.
Michael Clarke was one of Australia’s most successful captains, and his batting record speaks for itself. He was known for his calm approach to the game, and he had a knack for scoring big runs when it mattered the most. The way he batted in the double century filled 2012-13 season was just amazing to watch.
Hashim Amla was one of South Africa’s most consistent batsmen, and his style of play has been a delight to watch. His ability to stay focused and grind out long innings made him an integral part of the Proteas’ batting line-up for many years.
Graeme Smith was known for his fearless batting, and he led the South African team with bravery and determination. He was able to stay at the crease for long periods of time and score big runs in difficult conditions, making him one of the greatest opening batsmen in history.
Allan Border was known for being a gritty player with an eye for scoring big runs, and he was able to do so even on difficult pitches. His contribution to Australia’s success in the 1980s and 1990s cannot be understated.
Sir Garfield Sobers is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-round cricketers in history. His talent and skill with both bat and ball have rarely been matched, and his ability to control a match with his batting was remarkable. He will forever be remembered for his incredible achievements on the cricket field.
Inzamam Ul-Haq was one of Pakistan’s most consistent batsmen, and he was able to score big runs when the team needed them. His ability to play with power and finesse made him a formidable opponent for any bowler. With Younis & Yousuf, Pakistan had a stable middle order that they had lacked earlier.
Final Thoughts on Test Crickets Greatest Centurions
Test cricket is a game of patience, skill and strategy, and several cricketers have been able to master it.
The players on this list are have scored the most test centuries in cricket history. This indicates the impact they had and the number of the games they changed. Each one has made an incredible contribution to the sport through their individual performances. Their feats will continue to be remembered for years to come as a testament to the sheer brilliance and dedication of these players. Test cricket will always be a game of heroes.
Most Test Centuries – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who has the most centuries in Test Cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), Joe Root (36), Rahul Dravid (36), Steve Smith (34), Mahela Jayawardene (34), Brian Lara (34), Sunil Gavaskar (34), Younis Khan (34), Kane Williamson (33), and Alastair Cook (33), are the Top 10 batters with most centuries in Test cricket.
2. Who has scored the most double centuries in Test cricket?
Sir Donald Bradman (12), Kumar Sangakkara (11), Brian Lara (9), Wally Hammond (7), Virat Kohli (7), and Mahela Jayawardene have scored the most Test double centuries.
3. Who has scored the most Test centuries in a calendar year?
Mohammad Yousuf (9, 2006), Ricky Ponting (7, 2006), Sir Vivian Richards (7, 1976), Aravinda de Silva (7, 1997), and Sachin Tendulkar (7, 2010) scored the most Test centuries in a calendar year.
4. Who has scored the most Test centuries for India?
Sachin Tendulkar (51), Rahul Dravid (36), Sunil Gavaskar (34), Virat Kohli (28), Virender Sehwag (23), Mohammad Azharuddin (22), Cheteshwar Pujara (19), Dilip Vengsarkar (17), VVS Laxman (17), and Sourav Ganguly (16) have scored the most Test hundreds for India.
5. Who has scored the most Test centuries for England?
Joe Root (36), Alastair Cook (33), Kevin Pietersen (23), Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdrey, Geoffrey Boycott, Ian Bell (22), Andrew Strauss (21), Ken Barrington, Graham Gooch (20), Len Hutton (19), Michael Vaughan, David Gower (18), and Denis Compton (17) scored the most Test hundreds for England.
6. Who has scored the most Test centuries for Australia?
Ricky Ponting (41), Steve Smith (34), Steve Waugh (32), Matthew Hayden (30), Sir Don Bradman (29), Michael Clarke (28), Allan Border (27), David Warner (25), Greg Chappell (24), Justin Langer (23), Neil Harvey, David Boon (21), Mark Waugh (20), Mike Hussey, Mark Taylor (19), and Adam Gilchrist (17) scored the most hundreds for Australia.
WPL23 Auction had its share of drama and despair. The Women’s Premier League was delayed at least 3-5 years, but it is finally here.
Today we have the ultimate resource on WPL23 Auction—The entire list of auction buys (in both Indian Rupee and US dollars), most expensive buys & unsold players, team squads, predicted XIs, analysis, and more!
The top 5 most expensive players at the WPL23 auction were Smriti Mandhana (INR 3.4 Crore), Ashleigh Gardner (INR 3.2 Crore), Nat Sciver-Brunt (INR 3.2 Crore), Deepti Sharma (INR 2.4 Crore), and Jemimah Rodrigues (INR 2.2 Crore).
Tara Norris (USA) was the only player selected from an Associate Nation. Mahika Gaur from UAE was bid by Gujarat Giants for INR 10 Lakh. However, Giants had already completed their overseas quota. Hence, the bid was taken back and sadly, Gaur was not selected.
449 cricketers (270 Indian, 179 overseas) players put their name in the Women’s Premier League Auction 2023. The breakdown of the overseas players was as follows (31 England, 29 Australia, 23 West Indies, 19 New Zealand, 17 South Africa, 15 Sri Lanka, 11 Zimbabwe, 9 Thailand & Bangladesh, 6 Ireland, 4 UAE, 2 Netherlands & Scotland, and 1 USA & Hong Kong).
Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong (7 England), Ashleigh Gardner, Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Erin Burns, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Heather Graham, Georgia Wareham, Laura Harris (14 Australian), Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Dane van Niekerk, Chloe Tryon (4 South African), Tara Norris (1 USA), Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews (2 West Indies), Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (2 New Zealand) are the 30 foreign players picked for WPL 23 auction.
20 Cricketers for Whom Teams Broke the Bank at the WPL23 Auction
Smriti Mandhana – INR 3.4 Crore ($415,000)
Ashleigh Gardner – INR 3.2 Crore ($390,000)
Nat Sciver-Brunt – INR 3.2 Crore ($390,000)
Deepti Sharma – INR 2.4 Crore ($317,000)
Jemimah Rodrigues – INR 2.2 Crore ($268,000)
Shafali Verma – INR 2 Crore ($244,000)
Beth Mooney – INR 2 Crore ($244,000)
Pooja Vastrakar – INR 1.9 Crore ($232,000)
Richa Ghosh – INR 1.9 Crore ($232,000)
Harmanpreet Kaur – INR 1.8 Crore ($220,000)
Sophie Ecclestone – INR 1.8 Crore ($220,000)
Ellyse Perry – INR 1.7 Crore ($207,000)
Renuka Singh Thakur – INR 1.5 Crore ($183,000)
Marizanne Kapp – INR 1.5 Crore ($183,000)
Yastika Bhatia – INR 1.5 Crore ($183,000)
Tahlia McGrath – INR 1.4 Crore ($171,000)
Devika Vaidya – INR 1.4 Crore ($171,000)
Meg Lanning – INR 1.1 Crore ($134,000)
Shabnim Ismail – INR 1 Crore ($122,000)
Amelia Kerr – INR 1 Crore ($122,000)
13 Unlucky Prominent Players that were Left Unsold at the WPL23 Auction
Katherine Sciver-Brunt (England): Base Price – 50 Lakhs ($61,000)
Danni Wyatt (England): Base Price – 50 Lakhs ($61,000)
Alana King (Australia): Base Price – 40 Lakhs ($49,000)
Amy Jones (England): Base Price – 40 Lakhs ($49,000)
Priya Punia (India): Base Price – 40 Lakhs ($49,000)
Suzie Bates (New Zealand): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
Tammy Beaumont (England): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
Salma Khatun (Bangladesh): Base Price – 40 Lakhs ($49,000)
Jahanara Alam (Bangladesh): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
Ayabonga Khaka (South Africa): Base Price – 30 Lakhs ($37,000)
WPL23 (Women’s Premier League 2023) Complete Squads
Staff: Jonathan Batty, Hemalata Kala, Lisa Keightley, Biu George
Look out for the Delhi Capitals. The Top 5 are one of the strongest in the WPL and quite a bit of international talent in the bowling department as well. A possible X-factor is the fast bowling trio in Kapp-Pandey-Reddy to back up their batters and spinners.
Staff: Nooshin Al Khadeer, Tushar Arothe, Mithali Raj
Good Indian contingent with a decent possible XI, but may struggle to find replacements. Ash Gardner, Sneh Rana, and Harleen Deol might be a handful allrounders with their offspinners especially handy in Mumbai conditions.
Indian Internationals: Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur
Foreign: Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong (England), Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Heather Graham (Australia)
Indian Uncapped: Priyanka Bala, Neelam Bisht, Dhara Gujjar, Saika Ishaque, Humaira Kazi, Jintamani Kalita
Great overseas players – the versatility of Matthews, Kerr, and Nat Sciver-Brunt will be key for Mumbai’s chances. Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet, and Pooja Vastrakar also give Mumbai a solid Indian core. However, the fast bowling is a bit light for a T20 squad. Has a good chance to be in the Top 3.
RCB has all the ingredients for a successful WPL campaign, but what will their XI be? They have a star-studded overseas stars in Perry, Devine, van Niekerk, Megan Schutt, Heather Knight, and more, but they can only pick 4 in the XI. The lower batting order is of concern, but that aside, this is a side that should make the final.
Only one word comes to mind when we look at the UP Warriorz squad—Balance.Good depth of all-rounders and stars in Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharmi, Tahlia McGrath, Ecclestone, Ismail, Gayakwad. Good pick of spinners, fast bowlers, Indian nationals, overseas talent, and U-19 World Cup winners. Could be a dark-horse.
Frequently Asked Questions – Get to Know the Players
Which foreign players were picked for the WPL23 auction?
Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong (England), Ashleigh Gardner, Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Erin Burns, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Heather Graham, Georgia Wareham, Laura Harris (Australia), Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Dane van Niekerk, Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Tara Norris (USA), Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (New Zealand) are the foreign players picked for WPL 23 auction.
Who were the most expensive buys at the WPL23 auction?
The top 5 most expensive players at the WPL23 auction were Smriti Mandhana (INR 3.4 Crore), Ashleigh Gardner (INR 3.2 Crore), Nat Sciver-Brunt (INR 3.2 Crore), Deepti Sharma (INR 2.4 Crore), and Jemimah Rodrigues (INR 2.2 Crore).
Who were the most prominent unsold players at the WPL23 auction?
Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, Alana King, Amy Jones, Priya Punia, Suzie Bates, Meghna Singh, Laura Woolvaardt, Lea Tahuhu, and Tammy Beaumont were the most prominent unsold players ath the Women’s Premier League 2023 auction.
Today we take a look at the greatest 76 women cricketers of all-time.
From legendary players like Belinda Clark and Karen Rolton, to modern-day superstars such as Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry, this list celebrates the best of the best in women’s cricket history. With their astonishing batting, bowling and fielding abilities, these players continue to inspire young girls around the world to take up this sport.
Recently, we ranked the 155 greatest men’s cricketers of all-time. With the Women’s Premier League finally here and the 2023 T20 Women’s World Cup in full flow, it is time we reflect upon the 76 greatest women cricketers of all-time across eras.
Key Takeaways
A total of 144 women cricketers were considered (entire list at the bottom), from which 76 players were chosen along with 24 honorable mentions.
Charlotte Edwards, Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Enid Bakewell, Mithali Raj, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Belinda Clark, Betty Wilson, Claire Taylor, and Jhulan Goswami are adjudged as the Top 10 greatest female cricketers in the history of the game.
From the 76 greatest women cricketers, 20 are from Australia, 19 are from England, 9 from India, 8 from New Zealand, 7 from South Africa, 5 from West Indies & Pakistan each, 2 from Sri Lanka, and 1 from Bangladesh.
Those Who Just Missed Out: 78-100 Greatest Women Cricketers
Nicola Browne (Australia – Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2008), Player of the 2010 T20 WC)
Shanel Daley (West Indies – Shortlisted for ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2013))
Gaby Lewis (Ireland – Shortlisted for ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2021))
Fatima Sana (Pakistan – Shortlisted for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2021))
Aimee Watkins (New Zealand – Most Runs in the 2009 T20 World Cup)
Holly Colvin (England – Most Wickets in the 2009 T20 World Cup)
Honorable Mentions: Gillian Smith, Poonam Yadav, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Raelee Thompson, Javeria Khan, Sune Luus, Ayabonga Khaka, Jess Jonassen, Isa Guha, Nooshin Al Khadeer, Kate Cross, Sajjida Shah, Sharon Tredia, Shirley Hodges
Future Stars: Sophie Ecclestone, Natthakan Chantam, Jemimah Rodrigues, Leigh Kasperek
List of 76 Greatest Women Cricketers of All Time
Without further ado, here is the list of the 76 greatest women cricketers in history (in reverse order).
*Note: ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year was renamed as the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award from 2017 onward
76. Katey Martin (New Zealand, 2003-2022)
Role: Wicketkeeper, Right hand bat
Teams: New Zealand, Otago, Tornadoes
Known For: Longest NZ ODI career after Debbie Hockley (18 years, 112 days). Over 96 catches and 43 stumpings in international cricket.
Role: Allrounder (Right Arm Medium, Right Arm Bat)
Teams: Australia, South Australia, Adelaide Strikers, Southern Brave
Known For: In just 22 T20Is, she has a batting average of 61.88 with a 140.30 SR with 4 fifties (best of 91*) to go along with a bowling average of 16.23 (best of 3/13 at 12.9 strike rate).
*Only 27 and one of the rising stars in Australian cricket, she is bound to climb up the list in the upcoming years
Known For: 4th highest ODI WC wickets – 36 (second highest wicket taker in the 2000 ODI WC). With 102 ODI wickets, ESPNCricinfo declares she was “one of the most successful bowlers in the women’s game.”
Known For: 2856 ODI runs at 31.18 with 18 fifties and one century. According to ESPNCricinfo, when Chopra was batting, it was “difficult to keep memories of David Gower out of the the mind…’lazy elegance.’ “
Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2006)
Known For: Most ODIs for Australia (144). Scored over 5000 international runs across formats, played 251 international games, and had 3 centuries & 30 fifties to her name. Highest score by a #6 batter (90)
Known For: Most dismissals in ODI WCs (40), 4th most dismissals in ODI career (114). Also played hockey for Nottinghamshire. Most successful keeper at the time of her retirement.
Teams: South Africa, Western Province, Barmy Army Women, Northern Superchargers, Adelaide Strikers, Velocity
Known For: Only 23, Wolvaardt already has 3193 ODI runs with 3 centuries and 29 fifties. She will undoubtedly break records in ODI cricket in the near future.
Teams: New Zealand, Wellington, Brisbane Heat, London Spirit, Velocity
Known For: At the age of 17, she scored the highest individual ODI women’s cricket score (232* (145) vs Ireland – also took a 5-fer in that match), Shortlisted for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2022)
*Kerr is most-likely to rise up the list and break more records as she is just 22-years old so far.
Known For: First woman to score 1000 ODI runs for Australia. Although she scored 2 hundreds and 8 fifties at 57.44 average in just 23 ODIs, she was forced to retire at the age of 27 due to a recurring knee injury.
Role: Allrounder (Right Arm Medium, Right-hand Bat)
Teams: South Africa, Sydney Sixers, Eastern Province, Falcons, Perth Scorchers, Oval Invincibles
Known For: Highest Score for SA in an ODI WC (102*), has a T20I hattrick to his name. Also played in netball and athletics. Player of the match in inaugural Hundred final (4/9).
Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2021), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2021)
Role: Right Arm Opening Batter
Teams: South Africa, Mpumalanga, North West, Hobart Hurricanes, Manchester Originals
Known For: Highest opening T20I partnership in women’s cricket (163 with Dane van Niekerk). Ended with 100 ODIs, best of 132*, 36.42 average, and 3-100s, 23-50s.
Role: Allrounder (Left hand bat, Right arm off break)
Teams: Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Supernovas, Slimeline Sport Club, Marians
Known For: 3rd youngest captain. One of 11 women cricketers to complete the double of 100 wickets and 1000 ODI runs. Inspirational figure in Sri Lankan cricket
Known For: According to Wisden, Maclagan was “one of the best-known women cricketers of her day.” She took 7/10 and made 72 in her first Test. Ended with 1007 Test runs, 2 hundreds, and 6 fifties.
Teams: South Africa, Warriors, Northerns, Trent Rockets, Manchester Originals, Hobart Hurricanes
Known For: Most ODIs for a South African women cricketer & 4th overall (154). Captained South Africa to 2014 T20 WC Semi-finals. Scored 258 runs as a 12-year-old with 16 sixes. Debuted for SA at 17
Role: Allrounder (Right hand bat, Right arm off break)
Teams: Bangladesh, Trailblazers
Known For: #1 ICC T20I bowling & Allrounder ranking. She has played most of Bangladesh women’s international matches, captaining them in a majority of them. ESPNCricinfo described her as “synonymous with Bangladesh’s women cricket.”
Known For: Highest women’s Test wickets for an Indian player (3rd of all-time), was the highest wicket-taker at the time of her retirement. Also played basketball and table tennis at a national level.
Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2018), Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award (2018, 2021), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2018)
Role: Left-handed opening batter
Teams: India, Maharashtra, India Green, Western Storm, Trailblazers, Sydney Thunder, Brisbane Heat, Southern Brave
Known For: Catalyst for India’s transformation in limited overs from the 2017 ODI World Cup. Most sought after player in the inaugural WPL. Shortlisted for ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2021, 2022)
Known For: Game changing innings. Best of 169* (Tests), 148* (ODIs), and 82 (T20Is). Has a 33-ball 80 in ODIs in her name. Shortlisted for ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2021)
Role: Allrounder (Right Arm Medium, Right hand Bat)
Teams: West Indies, Barbados, Trinbago Knight Riders, Trailblazers, Supernovas, Manchester Originals, London Spirit, Adelaide Strikers, Barmy Army Women
Known For: First woman to score a 100 (38 balls) in T20I. Also has a 22-ball T20I 50. 2nd most ODIs for West Indies (143). Also is known for her discus, javelin, and shotput skills.
Shortlisted for Women’s T20I Player of the Decade and ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2013)
Known For: 33 wickets in 2004 & 2005 each with a career haul of 141 ODI wickets and 41 Test wickets. Shortlisted for ICC Women’s International Player of the Year Award (2006)
Known For: 5th highest ODI wicket taker of all-time (170) and highest for England, 6th highest T20I wicket-taker (111). Took 8/84 in the 2005 Ashes. Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2006, 2010)
Known For: Most wickets for Pakistan in ODIs, 2nd most in T20Is for Pakistan. In 2018, she was #1 in the ODI rankings. Wasim Khan, PCB’s CEO at the time, said, that Mir “has been the face of Pakistan women’s cricket for many years and the real source of inspiration for the young generation of women cricketers.”
Teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, Manchester Original
Known For: Joint-most ODIs for NZ (145), scored 4 consecutive ODI centuries in 2017 (and followed with a 85). Ended with 4639 runs at 38.33 with 7 hundreds.
Known For: Player of the Tournament (2000 ODI World Cup). Her 156* vs Pakistan was the highest women’s score until Belinda Clark broke it later that year. First player to score a hundred at Lord’s.
Teams: South Africa, Western Province, Gauteng, Melbourne Renegades, Oval Invincibles, Sapphires
Known For: 6/10 vs Bangladesh in an ODI. Also took 5/12 in a T20I.
Records: 2nd most career ODI wickets (191), 5th most T20I wickets (116), 5th highest ODI WC wicket-taker (36), 35 ODI wickets in 2022, Shortlisted for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2022)
Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2020), ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2017)
Role: Wicketkeeper, Left-handed batter
Teams: Australia, Yorkshire, Queensland U-15s, Queensland, London Spirit, Perth Scorchers, London Spirit
Known For: Player of the tournament and highest run-scorer (2020 T20 WC). 5th highest career ODI average (52.45). Scored 594 runs at 9900 in 2021 as well as 449 runs at 56.12.
Known For: Player of the 2014 T20 WC, Player of the WC Final (2017 ODI WC – 6/46), #6 on ODI WC wicket-taker list (34), Shortlisted for Women’s T20I Player of the Decade, ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2013)
Known For:Wisden remarks that Snowball was “one of the major figures of women’s cricket for two decades” and “generally accepted as the outstanding wicketkeeper of her generation.” Also played squash and lacrosse internationally.
Teams: West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, Trinbago Knight Riders
Known For: Most T20I wickets (125), 3rd most joint ODI career wickets (180), Joint most wickets in a calendar year (37), Shortlisted for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2012). Debuted for West Indies at age 15.
ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2018, 2019)
Role: Wicketkeeper, Right hand bat
Teams: Australia, Australia U-23s, New South Wales, Sydney Sixers, Northern Superchargers
Known For: Big match player. Player of the 2020 T20WC Final – 75 (39) and 2022 ODI WC – 170 (138). Changed her career trajectory when he began opening
Records: Most T20I dismissals (105), #4 on most T20Is played (137), Player of the Tournament (2018 T20 WC & 2022 ODI WC), Scored 148 (61) vs SL in 2019
Shortlisted for Women’s T20I Player of the Decade, ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2012), Shortlisted for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2022)
Known For: 1935 runs at 49.61 in Tests & 2121 ODIs at 42.42 average. Total of 10 centuries across formats. Highest scorer at the 1993 ODI WC, helping England win the title.
Records: 3rd Most runs scored in Women’s ODI World Cup (1299), Most catches in ODI WC (19). Most Test matches for a women cricketer (27), most Test runs in a year (531), and oldest to score a Test century at 39
ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2013, 2016), Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2015), ICC T20I Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2016)
Role: Allrounder (Right Arm Bat, Right Arm Medium)
Teams: New Zealand, Otago, Falcons, Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Sixers, Trailblazers, Oval Invincibles, Perth Scorchers
Known For: Scored 168 (105) vs Pakistan and 4/7 vs South Africa in the 2009 ODI WC as NZ made the finals. Represented NZ in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in basketball.
Records: Most T20I runs (3683), Player of the Tournament (2013 ODI WC), New Zealand captain (76 matches), 2nd most career centuries (12), 4th highest career ODI runs (5114) and 4th most 50+ scores (40), 5th highest ODI World Cup run scorer (1151). Most catches in WODI history (78), Joint-most ODIs for NZ (145), 2nd most T20Is of all-time (140)
Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade, ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Decade, and ICC’s T20I Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2013, 2018)
Known For: Leading West Indies to the 2016 WT20 World Cup. First player to become #1 ODI player (both bowling and batting). Scored 171 vs Sri Lanka in the 2013 ODI WC. Also a talented soccer player
Records: Player of the 2016 T20 WC (and the highest wicket-taker), 3rd most career ODI runs (5367), career fifties (44), and T20I runs (3124). 5th most ODIs played and most for West Indies (148)
Shortlisted for Women’s cricketer of the decade, ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2010), ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2012, 2014), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2013, 2014)
Known For: Her longevity. Played her first match at the age of 17 and last match at age of 38. She was the first woman to score 4000 ODI runs and play 100 ODIs. Played in New Zealand’s only ODI World Cup win in 2000
Records: Most runs scored in ODI World Cups (1501), Player of the 1997 WC Final (79 (121))
Known For: Quick stumpings. Her stumpings are legendary and will go down as the greatest wicketkeeper in women’s cricket of all-time. One of the great modern day batters for England as well.
2nd most dismissals in ODI (136) and T20I (74) career, Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade, ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year (2012)
Role: Allrounder (Right arm off break, Right hand bat)
Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney Sixers
Known For: Scored 2728 runs in ODI cricket, including 2 hundreds to go along with 146 ODI wickets. First woman to take 100 wickets & score 1000 ODI runs. Part of the 2005 and 2013 ODI WC winning team. Australia’s highest wicket-taker in the 2009 ODI WC.
Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2007, 2008) and for ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2012)
ICC Cricket Hall of Famer, ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2006)
Role: Left Hand Bat, Left arm medium pace
Teams: Australia, South Australia
Known For: According to ESPNCricinfo, “Rolton enjoyed a bumper year in 2006, sealing her status as one of the leading inspirational figures in women’s cricket to date.”
Records: Player of the Tournament (2005 ODI World Cup), Player of the Final (2005 WC – 107*(128)), Joint 4th career 100s (8), 4th most 50+ scores (41). Scored a 209 in Tests (highest at that time). Played hocked in the off-season.
Known For: Her pace. One of the fastest women’s cricket has ever produced (75 mph). First women to breach the 150 ODI wickets mark, she is now the 3rd most career wickets of all-time. (180). Shortlisted for the ICC Female Player of the Year (2006). An economy of 3.01 in ODIs.
Known For: One of Indian women’s cricket pioneer and one of the greatest fast bowlers. Was inspired to play cricket as a ball girl in the 1997 ODI WC and used to travel from Chakdaha to Kolkata to practice
2nd Most ODIs played (204), Most Career ODI Wickets (253), Most Wickets in the ODI World Cup (43), Shortlisted for ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Decade
ICC Hall of Famer, Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2009), ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2009)
Role: Wicketkeeper, Right hand Batter
Teams: England, Thames Valley
Known For: Scored 156 at Lord’s, surpassing Viv Richards’ 138*. With 1030 Test runs and 4101 ODI runs, she goes down as one of England’s best. First women to be inducted in Wisden’s Cricketer of the Year awards.
Player of the Tournament (2009 ODI & T20I WC) Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2007, 2008), Joint 4th career 100s across formats (8)
Known For: Martin Williamson from ESPNCricinfo’s reckson’s that Wilson was “one of women cricket’s greatest players, and her tag as the female Bradman is not untoward.” She was close to senior cricket by the team she was 16, but due to World War, she had to wait for another decade.
Record: In her 11 official Tests, scored 862 runs at 57.46 with 3 hundreds & 3 fifties. She took 68 wickets as well with the best of 7/7 and a brilliant bowling average of 11.80.
Other Records: Player of the Final (2000 WC Final – 91 (102)), 5th highest ODI run-scorer (4844), 3rd most matches played as ODI captain (101, won 83). At the time of her retirement, she had the most ODI & Test runs.
Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2014), ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2014), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2015)
Role: Middle Order Batter
Teams:
Known For: Genius batter for sure, but Lanning will go down as one of the greatest captains in cricket’s history (40 wins in 42 ODIs). An Australian icon.
Records: 2nd most T20I runs (3297), Youngest Ever ODI centurion for Australia at 18 (broke Ricky Ponting’s record by three years), youngest Australian captain, two of the highest women’s T20I score (126, 133*). Most career centuries across formats (15), 5th most matches as ODI captain (75, including 66 wins and record streak) and most matches as T20I captain (95).
Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade, ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Decade, ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Decade, ICC Women’s T20I Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2013, 2018), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2013)
Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2017)
Role: Top Order Batter
Teams: India, Air India Women, India Blue, Asia Women XI, Velocity
Known For: India’s greatest cricketer and best WODI batter of all-time. Debuted at age 16, she became the first woman cricketer to play for two decades. Led India to the 2005 and the 2017 ODI World Cup finals. Her contribution to rise of women’s cricket in India is immense.
Records: Most ODIs played (232), Most matches as captain (155), Most matches won as captain (89), Most runs in ODI career (7805), Most ODI 50+ scorers (71), 2nd most runs in the ODI World Cup (1321)
Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade, ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Decade, ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2014), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2014)
ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade, ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Decade, ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Decade, Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World (2016, 2019), Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award (2017, 2019), Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2020), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2019)
Role: Allrounder (Right arm fast bowler, right hand middle order batter)
Teams: Australia, Australia U-23s, New South Wales, Birmingham Phoenix, Sydney Sixers
Known For: Youngest Australian to play for the ICC WC and the FIFA WC. Her Test double century (213) is one of the finest in women’s cricket. She has also written five books.
Some of her records include 3rd most T20I wickets (120), 5th most number of T20Is played (134), and has played every T20I WC. Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2010).
Member of the winning squad of the ODI World Cup (2013, 2022), T20I World Cup (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020), Commonwealth Games (2022)
Role: Allrounder (Right Hand Bat, Left Arm Slow Orthodox)
Teams: England, Nottinghamshire, East Midland
Known For: Scored back-to-back Test centuries. First England Test cricketer to score a 100 and take a 10-fer in the same match; Scored the most runs in the inaugural 1973 Cricket World Cup, including a 100 in the final as England took the trophy home.
Known For: Scored 3 Test Centuries and captained England to the inaugural 1973 ODI World Cup victory. Flint was England’s captain for more than a decade. When she retired, had the most Test runs in women’s cricket. Best of 179 in Tests (521-minute innings). Considered one of the pioneers of women’s cricket. Also played for the England field hockey team as a goalkeeper.
ICC Cricket Hall of Famer, Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2014), ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2008)
Role: Top Order Batter
Teams: England, Kent, Northern Districts, Western Australia, South Australia, Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Southern Vipers
Known For: At her debut, Edwards was the youngest woman to play for England at 16. With 13 international centuries, player of the 2012 T20 WC, an innings of 173* in an ODI World Cup, three-time Ashes winning captain, WT20 winning captain, and ODI winning captain, she goes down as the greatest female cricketer of all-time. Won numerous County titles with Kent as well.
Some of her other records include2nd Most career ODI runs (5992), 2nd most ODI fifties (55), 3rd Most centuries (9), 4th Most runs in the ODI World Cup (1231), 3rd Most ODIs played (191), 2nd Most matches as ODI captain (117, won 72) and T20I captain (93 matches, won 68).
Shortlisted for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2009, 2011), ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (2014), ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2013, 2014)
Although the ranking of the 75 greatest women cricketers of all-time was subjective, we made sure to include all the players that fit the following criteria:
Member of ICC Hall of Fame
Received or were shortlisted for the ICC Women Cricketer of the Year Award (T20I, ODI, or Player of the Decade)
Made the Wisden Women Cricketer of the Year or the Wisden Leading Women Cricketer lists
Top 5 run scorers in the Women’s ODI World Cup, Women’s T20 World Cup, Women’s Test cricket or Top 10 run scorers in Women’s ODI and Women’s T20I overall.
Top 5 wicket-taker in Women’s T20 World Cup, Women’s ODI World Cup, Women’s Test or Top 10 wicket-takers in Women’s ODI and Women’s T20I overall
Top 2 in all-timedismissals as a wicketkeeper in Tests, ODIs, or T20Is
Note, since Women’s Test are a rarity (27 Tests is the maximum a women’s cricketer has played), more consideration is given on T20I & ODI records as well as World Cup performances.
Final Thoughts
The top 75 women cricketers of all-time have not only made an indelible mark on cricket’s history but also paved the way for future generations to follow in their footsteps.
There is no doubt that the current crop of incredible female athletes will continue to inspire generations to come and shape the future of cricket, but we should remember, none of these would have been possible without the generations of cricketers that preceded them.
These remarkable players have set a high bar for those who are willing to strive and succeed in this amazing sport we all love.
Charlotte Edwards, Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Enid Bakewell, Mithali Raj, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Belinda Clark, Betty Wilson, Claire Taylor, and Jhulan Goswami are adjudged as the 10 greatest women cricketers of all-time.
Who is the most famous female cricketer?
Ellyse Perry is the most famous female cricketer, followed by Smriti Mandhana.
Who is the greatest women’s cricketer of all time?
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint has remained an important woman’s cricketer for over twenty years. During her time playing in the early women’s game she revolutionized the cricketing world. She helped to create and promote the women’s World Cup and was involved in a number of administrative aspects of cricket. Without Heyhoe-Flint, talented cricketers may have been tainted by a lack of international competition.
With the Major League Cricket beginning this year, we look at all the cricketers who left their countries and moved to play cricket in the USA.
The United States of America is becoming an increasingly popular destination for cricketers looking to pursue a career in the sport. Over the years, many international players from around the world have left their home countries and moved to the US in search of greater opportunities. From West Indies to South Africa, here are 53 cricketers who have left their countries and moved to play cricket in the USA.
Key Takeaways
At least 85 cricketers have left their home countries to pursue cricket in the USA.
This includes 16 West Indian cricketers, 19 South Africans, 22 Indians, 4 Sri Lankan, 4 Australian, 11 Pakistani, 2 from New Zealand, 2 from Nepal, and 5 from other nations (England, UAE, Canada, Afghanistan, Bangladesh)
11 of these players have played international cricket, at least 11-15 others have played at an U-19 level in their home countries, and a few others (Sunny Sohal, Siddharth Trivedi, Bipul Sharma, etc.) have even been picked up deals in the IPL.
Other current WI international players like Rakheem Cornwall & Chandrapaul Hemraj are not officially included in this list. However, a few such WI players play in Minor League Cricket (MiLC) and other local American clubs for extra practice in their off-season.
Credit: This list is largely inspired from the updated reports and tweets of American cricket journalist, Peter Della Penna. For example, see this tweet.
ICYMI – here's all the former South Africa U19 players so far (not including ex-SA senior international Dane Piedt) who have signed for ACE/MLC + started 3-year residency clock to play for USA:
David Bunn Cody Chetty Justin Dill Corne Dry Willem Ludick Obus Pienaar David White
Which Cricketers Changed Their Nationality to play for the USA?
From the 2012 U-19 winning captain, Unmukt Chand to the 2019 Cricket World Cup winner, Liam Plunkett, here is the list of Top 24 players who left their countries to play cricket in the USA (extended list of 56 players and honorable mentions below)
*Note: Not all of these players are eligible to play for the USA national team at the moment. The residency process will take 3-4 years. Until that is achieved, the players will live here and play in the Minor/Major League Cricket.
1. Xavier Marshall (West Indies, 2005-2018)
Teams: Jamaica, West Indies, West Indies U-19s
Age When Left Home Country: 32
Current Age: 36
Minor League Team: New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers
Claim to Fame:Broke Shahid Afridi’s record with 12 sixes in an innings when he scored 157*(118) vs Canada in 2008. West Indies Youth Cricketer of the Year (2005), played 7 Tests and numerous limited overs game for the West Indies
Teams: Pakistan, Pakistan U-19s, Balochistan, Sindh, Lahore Eagles, National Bank of Pakistan
Age When Left Home Country: 25
Current Age: 27
Claim to Fame: Played in 2012 & 2014 U-19 WCs, captaining Pakistan to the final in the latter. 2nd Highest U-19 ODI run-scorer. Promising start to Test career with 7 fifties and best of 91.
Teams: New Zealand, New Zealand U-19, New Zealand A, Auckland, Canterbury, Northern Districts, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Somerset, Lahore Qalandars, Barbados Tridents
Teams: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka U-19s, Sri Lanka U-23s, Sri Lanka Board President’s XI, Police Sports Club, Chittagong Kings, Galle Gladiators
Age When Left Home Country: 29
Current Age: 31
Claim to Fame:Scored 96 in an ODI vs Pakistan in a rearguard effort to bring SL from 28/5 to 205/6. SL still lost the game, but good innings nevertheless.
Minor League Team: Silicon Valley Strikers
Role: Allrounder (Left-handed batter, Right arm off break)
Teams: West Indies, West Indies U-19s, West Indies A, Guyana, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs
Age When Left Home Country: 32
Current Age: 37
Claim To Fame: Leading scorer in the 2008-09 domestic tournament. Took Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test wicket. Played 18 Tests, 31 ODIs, and 8 T20Is for the West Indies.
Minor League Team: Silicon Valley Strikers
Role: Allrounder (Left Hand Bat, Right Arm off break)
Claim to Fame: 2019 Cricket World Cup winner (3 wickets in the final including Kane Williamson), key to England’s limited overs revival. 2008-09 County Champions with Durham. Played 13 Tests, 89 ODI, and 22 T20Is for England
Minor League Team: The Philadelphians (Player/Coach)
Role: Right Arm Fast Bowler (and lower order hitter)
Note, Plunkett traveled to the USA and has played club cricket in the USA earlier even when he was representing England since his wife is from the United States.
Teams: South Africa, South Africa A, Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Eastern Province, Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs
Age When Left Home Country: 31
Current Age: 37
Claim to Fame: MTN Domestic Championship Cricketer of the Year (2008), Player of the Match for Kings XI Punjab in an IPL 2010 match. He was selected for the 2010 T20 World Cup
Teams: India U-19s, India U-23s, India Blue, Indian Board President’s XI, Baroda, Gujarat, Tripura, Goa, Barbados Royals
Age When Left Home Country: 28
Current Age: 29
Claim to Fame: 2012 U-19 WC Final star, forming a 130-run partnership with Unmukt Chand and himself scoring 62*(84). Scored a total of 11 first-class centuries.
Minor League Team: Manhattan Yorkers
Role: Wicketkeeper, Right Hand Batter
*Note, Patel is a green card holder and has been in the USA on and off since 2010, when his family moved to Pennsylvania.
Teams: India U-19s, India A, Punjab, Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Barbados Tridents, Winnipeg Hawks
Age When Left Home Country: 27
Current Age: 36
Claim to Fame: Highest run-scorer for Punjab in the 2008-09 Ranji Season, player of the Match in an IPL match, India U-19 player in 2007-08 alongside Virat Kohli, Piyush Chawla, Ravindra Jadeja, etc.
Teams: Western Australia, Queensland, Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades
Age When Left Home Country: 30
Current Age: 34
Claim to Fame: Took 31 wickets in the 2012-13 Sheffeld Shield season
Role: Right Arm Fast Bowler
*still has a contract with Western Australia. He played a few T20Is for the USA in 2019 but returned to Australia domestic cricket. He has since been recalled in USA training camps.
West Indies International Players who Play in the MiLC
Although Chandrapaul Hemraj (New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers) played in Minor League Cricket (and hit lots of sixes), he still eyes a West Indies recall and is using MiLC as off-season practice
Similarly, Rakheem Cornwall plays for the Atlanta Fire
Hayden Walsh Jr. was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and played for the US national team between 2018-19. However, he switched his cricket allegiance to the West Indies after 2019.
Now 40, Fidel Edwards plays for the Silicon Valley Strikers after a long (on & off) West Indies international & illustrious County career.
Final Thoughts – Why Are Cricketers Leaving Their Countries to Play Cricket in the USA?
Competition and financial security are two of the biggest reasons why cricketers are choosing to leave their home countries to play cricket in the USA.
Several of these cricketers played up till the U-19 and domestic levels. However, they could not make the cut to the international level. This has an impact on both personal desires and direct monetary value. Since USA cricket has been offering decent contracts to cricketers, and national boards of West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand continue to struggle, we may continue to see the exodus of cricketers from those nations.
Will this help USA cricket qualify for world tournaments and establish Major League Cricket in this crowded T20 calendar?
How many cricketers left their countries to play cricket in the USA?
At least 85cricketers have left their home countries to pursue in the USA, including 11 former international cricketers. This includes 14 West Indian cricketers, 12 South Africans, 11 Indians, 3 Sri Lankans, 3 Australians, 2 Pakistanis, 2 from New Zealand, and 6 from other nations (England, UAE, Canda, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh).
Which Pakistani cricketer moved to the USA?
Sami Aslam and Shayan Jahangir are the Pakistani cricketers who moved to the USA.
Which Indian cricketers moved to the USA?
Unmukt Chand, Smit Patel, Sunny Sohal, Siddharth Trivedi, Harmeet Singh, and Bipul Sharma are six of the most prominent Indian cricketers who moved to the USA.
Which cricket players changed their nationalities?
Xavier Marshall, Gajanand Singh, Timil Patel, and a few other cricketers have changed their nationalities to play cricket in the USA. Others like Eoin Morgan, Ed Joyce, Boyd Rankin (Ireland to England) and Kepler Wessels (South Africa to Australia) are other examples of cricketers changing their nationalities and playing for two nations.
This comprehensive guide provides an in-depth look at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), one of the most celebrated Test series in the cricket world today.
We will discuss the history of BGT, and look at some of the prominent players who have played a major role in making this tournament what it is today, including the most runs and wickets. The upcoming BGT 2023 schedule and how they can follow the tournament as it unfolds in India is also displayed.
Key Takeaways
The Border Gavaskar trophy has been held 15 times since 1996, 8 of which were hosted by India and 7 by Australia.
India has won the Border–Gavaskar Trophy 9 times(96-97, 97-98, 2000-01, 04-05, 08-09, 2010-11, 12-13, 16-1)
Australia has won the Border Gavaskar Trophy 5 times (1999-2000, 04-05,07-08,11-12, 14-15).
Sachin Tendulkar (3262), Ricky Ponting (2555), and VVS Laxman (2434) are the highest run scorers in Border Gavaskar Trophy history.
Anil Kumble (111), Harbhajan Singh (95), and Nathan Lyon (94) are the highest wicket-takers in the Border -Gavaskar Trophy.
India has won in Australia twice (2018-19, 2020-21). Australia has won in India 4 times, but only once since 1996 (1947-48, 1956-57, 1959-60, 2004-05).
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a Test series held between India and Australia named after Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border. Although India and Australia have been playing Test series since 1947, this series officially began in 1996 when Australia toured India for one Test match. Since then, it has been held every 2-3 years in either India or Australia.
History of India vs Australia Test Series at a Glance
Since 1947, both Australia and India have hosted the Test series on 14 occasions each (28 series total). Australia has won 12 times each, India has won 11 times, and the series has been drawn five times. The entire table of the India-Australia Test series is summarized below.
*Note that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy officially begins in 1996.
Host
SeasonPlayed
Series Winner
Series Score
Tests
Australia
1947-1948
Australia
4-0
5
India
1956-1957
Australia
2-0
3
India
1959-1960
Australia
2-1
5
India
1964-1965
Drawn
1-1
3
Australia
1967-1968
Australia
4-0
4
India
1969-1970
Australia
3-1
5
Australia
1977-1978
Australia
3-2
5
India
1979-1980
India
2-0
6
Australia
1980-1981
Drawn
1-1
3
Australia
1985-1986
Drawn
0-0
3
India
1986-1987
Drawn
0-0
3
Australia
1991-1992
Australia
4-0
5
India
1996-1997*
India
1-0
1
India
1997-1998
India
2-1
3
Australia
1999-2000
Australia
3-0
3
India
2000-2001
India
2-1
3
Australia
2003-2004
Drawn
1-1
4
India
2004-2005
Australia
2-1
4
Australia
2007-2008
Australia
2-1
4
India
2008-2009
India
2-0
4
India
2010-2011
India
2-0
2
Australia
2011-2012
Australia
4-0
4
India
2012-2013
India
4-0
4
Australia
2014-2015
Australia
2-0
4
India
2016-2017
India
2-1
4
Australia
2018-2019
India
2-1
4
Australia
2020-2021
India
2-1
4
India
2022-2023
India
2-1
4
History of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Now we will present each Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in detail, in reverse chronological order.
BGT 2022-23 (India 2-1)
Hosts: India
Number of Tests: 4
Venues: Nagpur, Delhi, Indore, Ahmedabad
This series was marked by the excellence of India’s three spin allrounders – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, & Axar Patel. Resurgence of Virat Kohli, Usman Khawaja’s defiance, and Nathan Lyon’s effectiveness were factors in yet another absorbing Test series.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2022-23: Ravichandran Ashwin
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2022-23: Usman Khawaja (333)
Virat Kohli’s 50, Tim Paine’s rearguard effort, 36 ALL OUT, Ajinkya Rahane’s Melbourne 100 & captaincy, Shubman Gill’s emergence, Smith and Labuschagne’s successful partnership, and Pat Cummins doing it all. Siraj suffers but delivers, Thakur & Sundar lead India’s next generation, Ashwin-Paine spice up the tournament, Vihari takes body blows, and the yin and yang of Pujara-Pant gives India series victory and breaches the Gabba fortress.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2020-21: Pat Cummins
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2020-21: Marnus Labuschagne (426)
Note: Bharat Sundaresan is going to release his book on the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy during the 2023 BGT in India. He was in the thick of things traveling to each city and discussing the events of each day with Melinda Farrell.
BGT 2018-19 (India 2-1)
Hosts: Australia
Number of Tests: 4
Venues: Adelaide, Perth (Perth Stadium), Melbourne, Sydney
If you saw the first season of The Test, you will realize what a thorn Pujara was in Australia’s plans. He defended, defended, and defended some more. In the process, he scored tons of runs. Rishabh Pant & Tim Paine provided several cute moments, Nathan Lyon vs Pujara & Pant was mesmerizing. Bumrah’s slower delivery to dismiss Shaun Marsh will forever be etched in memory. To sum it up though, it was Kohli’s captaincy and the fast-bowling revolutionwas key to India’s success.Australia was without the services of Warner & Smith as they tried to recover from the ball tampering scandal, but this does not take anything away from India.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2018-19: Cheteshwar Pujara
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2018-19: Cheteshwar Pujara (521)
Rishabh Pant (350), Virat Kohli (282)
Marcus Harris (258), Travis Head (237)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 2018-19: Jasprit Bumrah, Nathan Lyon
Mohammad Shami (16)
Pat Cummins (14), Josh Hazlewood (13), Mitchell Starc (13)
Steven Smith’s 109 in Pune – One of the greatest centuries on Indian soil by an Australian batter.
Australia started with a massive win and hope to win a series in India.Pujara scored another double century and a couple of fifties. Beginning to be a pattern, isn’t it? Steve Smith with scores of 109, 178, 111 was at his absolute best, but the Ravis (Ashwin & Jadeja) were just too hot to handle. Other players played decent roles as well. Nathan Lyon took an eight-for and Steve O’Keefe delivered that first win with 6-fers. KL Rahul with twin fifties, Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Rahane, Wade all contributing as well in what was a competitive series.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2016-17: Ravindra Jadeja
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2016-17: Steven Smith (499)
Although India did not exorcise the ghosts of 2011, Team India provided that glimmer of hope. It was Mitchell Johnson’s year and even though he was Australia’s highest wicket-taker, the partnership between Virat Kohli & Ajinkya Rahane will be remembered forever.Just check this clip out.Virat Kohli’s twin tons in Adelaide made for a classic Test and set his career up. But Steve Smith. 769 Runs. Genius. Nathan Lyon. 23 Wickets. Australian legends coming into their own in this series.MS Dhoni surprises with his retirement after the 3rd Test, and Ryan Harris retires after yet another memorable performance.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2014-15: Steven Smith
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2014-15: Steven Smith (769)
Michael Clarke’s unforgettable year, MS Dhoni’s double, and the greatness that Ravichandran Ashwin is.Pujara scored a double as well, and Vijay continued in the prime of his life with 167.But this series will be remembered for Shikhar Dhawan’s glorious 187 on debut, Starc’s 99 at #8, and Steven Smith starting to make runs on Asian soil.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2012-13: Ravichandran Ashwin
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2012-13: Murali Vijay (430)
Cheteshwar Pujara (410), MS Dhoni (326), Virat Kohli (284)
Michael Clarke (286), Ed Cowan (265), David Warner (192)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 2012-13: Ravichandran Ashwin (29)
Australia crushes India. Shall I say anymore?A drubbing. A disaster. Michael Clarke smashes 329* and 210, Ricky Ponting averages 108.8 and also scores a double. Hilfenhaus & Siddle take 50 wickets among themselves. James Pattinson announces himself (briefly) on the international stage. Rahul Dravid gets bowled 7 times. An end of an era. Kohli’s 116 in the 4th Test India’s only positive. This tour will always be remembered for the infamous 0-8.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2011-12: Michael Clarke
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2011-12: Michael Clarke (626)
Ricky Ponting (544), Mike Hussey (293), David Warner (266)
Virat Kohli (300), Sachin Tendulkar (287)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 2011-12: Ben Hilfenhaus (27)
Short but sweet series. The Mohali Test is an all-time classic. VVS Laxman, back spasms, and a successful chase with the lower order. In the second Test, Tendulkar continued his dream resurgent year with 214 & 53*. In the second innings, Rahul Dravid was yet again going to be demoted from his #3 position for someone else. That someone else turned out to be Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a counterattacking 72. Cheteshwar Pujara—counterattacking Australians since 2010.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2010-11: Sachin Tendulkar
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2010-11: Sachin Tendulkar (403)
Murali Vijay (176), Suresh Raina (118)
Shane Watson (271), Ricky Ponting (224), Tim Paine (183), Marcus North (141)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 2010-11: Zaheer Khan (12)
Harbhajan Singh (11), Pragyan Ojha (9)
Mitchell Johnson (8), Ben Hilfenhaus (8), Nathan Hauritz (6)
Anil Kumble retires at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Ishant Sharma continues his growth with a player of the series performance. Although Hussey, Katich, Johnson, Krezja, and Watson played key roles for Australia, it was clear that Australia was in a transition era.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2008-09: Ishant Sharma
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2008-09: Gautam Gambhir (463)
The series turned out to have both off-field and on-field drama. What began as a great era of Test series from 2000-01 ended with 2007-08 with some questionable decisions and the Monkeygate crisis.Tendulkar still scored runs, Anil Kumble still took wickets, but Brett Lee was the pick of the players in the series.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2007-08: Brett Lee
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2007-08: Sachin Tendulkar (493)
VVS Laxman (366), Virender Sehwag (286)
Matthew Hayden (410), Andrew Symonds (410), Michael Clarke (316), Michael Hussey (292), Ricky Ponting (268)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 2007-08: Brett Lee (24)
Australia finally breaches the India fortress feat Damien Martyn. A young Michael Clarke, game-changing Gilchrist, and Gillespie all contributed to their effort. India’s spin trios—Kumble, Harbhajan, and Murali Kartik took 60 wickets among themselves but fell short.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2004-05: Damien Martyn
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2004-05: Damien Martyn (444)
Michael Clarke (400), Simon Katich (276), Matthew Hayden (244), Justin Langer (228), Adam Gilchrist (218)
A series for the ages. Ricky Ponting & Rahul Dravid at the top of their games scoring 706 & 619 runs respectively. Dravid’s 233 & 72* with VVS Laxman torturing Australia once again. Sachin Tendulkar resists his cover drive temptation to score 241*, Kumble India’s top performer with the ball yet again, Ganguly scores a ton. Sehwag, Hayden, Martyn, Steve Waugh all among the runs. Gillespie, Agarkar, MacGill, and Lee among the wickets. Something for everybody. Many great players of this era in peak form. Deserved 1-1 drawn series.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2003-04: Rahul Dravid
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2003-04: Ricky Ponting (706)
Matthew Hayden (51), Justin Langer (369), Simon Katich (353)
The series that began the rivalry. Steve Waugh’s final frontier was so close, yet so far. VVS Laxman’s greatest innings of the century, the 281, and the partnership turned narrative around for this series and Indian cricket in general. Shane Warne’s expression that day said it all. Sourav Ganguly, the charasmatic captain leading India after the match-fixing era, Sachin Tendulkar doing what he does best (along with his googlies), and Harbhajan Singh being a class apart. India’s top three bowlers in the charts read: Harbhajan (32), Tendulkar (3), Zaheer Khan (3).From Australia’s end, Hayden, McGrath, Gilchrist, Waugh, Warne, and Gillespie all played a role in the series.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 2000-01: Harbhajan Singh
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 2000-01: Matthew Hayden (549)
Steve Waugh (243), Michael Slater (166)
VVS Laxman (503), Rahul Dravid (338), Sachin Tendulkar (304), SS Das (173)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 2000-01: Harbhajan Singh (32)
Sachin Tendulkar (3), Zaheer Khan (3)
Glenn McGrath (17), Jason Gillespie (13), Shane Warne (10), CR Miller (6), Mark Waugh (3)
With the exception of individual performances by India, Australia completely blew the visitors away. Ricky Ponting was the top run-scorer and Glenn McGrath was the highest wicket taker of ther series, two names that would come up time and again over the next decade. Tendulkar was the player of the series, but VVS Laxman’s 167 gave Australia a taste of what they were about to face in the future.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 1999-2000: Sachin Tendulkar
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 1999-2000: Ricky Ponting (375)
Justin Langer (289), Steve Waugh (276), Adam Gilcrist (221)
1998—The year of Sachin Tendulkar. He continued his Sharjah exploits in Test cricket. Here is a clip of the battle between Shane Warne vs Sachin Tendulkar in India for the first time. Although Australia got a consolation win, India defeated Australia by healthy margins in the first two Tests.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 1997-98: Sachin Tendulkar
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 1997-98: Sachin Tendulkar (446)
Navjot Singh Sidhu (341), Mohammad Azharuddin (311)
Mark Waugh (280), Mark Taylor (189), Ian Healy (165)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 1997-98: Anil Kumble (23)
Javagal Srinath (8), Venkatapathy Raju (7)
Gavin Robertson (12), Shane Warne (10), Michael Kasprowicz (8)
Nayan Mongia starred in India’s first Border-Gavaskar Trophy win over Australia. Another key contributor, Anil Kumble, would stand up again and again in the India-Australia Tests for years to come.
Stats
Player of the Series in BGT 1996-97: Nayan Mongia
Highest Runs Scorer in BGT 1996-97: Nayan Mongia (152)
Highest Wicket-Taker in BGT 1996-97: Anil Kumble (9)
The schedule for the 2023 BGT 2023 is shown below:
1st Test, Nagpur, 9-13 February, 2023
2nd Test, Delhi, 17-21 February, 2023
3rd Test, Dharamsala, 1-5 March, 2023
4th Test, Ahmedabad, 9-13 March, 2023
The ODI series is scheduled as follows:
1st ODI (D/N), Mumbai (Wankhede), 17 March, 2023
2nd ODI (D/N), Visakhapatnam, 19 March, 2023
3rd ODI (D/N), Chennai, 22 March 2023
Who were Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border?
Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border were two of the greatest cricketers in history.
Gavaskar was an iconic Indian batsman who played 125 Tests for India, scoring a then-record 34 centuries. He held several batting records and is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen ever to have graced the game. On the other hand, Border was an Australian all-rounder who captained Australia to their first World Cup win in 1987. He played 156 Tests for Australia and is widely considered to be one of the greatest captains of all time. Together, these two legends were instrumental in establishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which has become one of the most eagerly anticipated cricket series.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was established in 1996 as a tribute to two of cricket’s finest players, Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border. The series has since become one of the most anticipated events in international cricket, with some of the greatest matches being played between India and Australia over the past two decades. The trophy is contested every two years, alternating between India and Australia, with the last edition being hosted Down Under in 2020-21. The series has seen some of the greatest contests in cricket history, providing for a thrilling and intense experience for all fans.
We will just wait and watch what BGT 2023 has to offer. With all the recent past, I’m sure it will be nothing short of delightful.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was established in 1996 as a tribute to two of cricket’s finest players, Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border. The series has since become one of the most anticipated events in international cricket, with some of the greatest matches being played between India and Australia over the past two decades. The trophy is contested e very two years, alternating between India and Australia, with the last edition being hosted Down Under in 2018-19. The series has seen some of the greatest contests in cricket history, providing for a thrilling and intense experience for all fans.
When is the next Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
The next Border-Gavaskar Trophy will take place in February-March 2023 in India. It will consist of 4 Tests and 3 ODIs.
Who has won the most Border-Gavaskar trophies (BGT)?
India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 9 times, while Australia have held it five times.
How many times has India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia?
India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy twice (2018-19 & 2020-21).
How many times has Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in India?
Australia has won the Border Gavaskar Trophy exactly once in India (2004). However, Australia has won it thrice more before the inception of the BGT.
How many times has Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
Australia has won the BGT 5 times.
How many times has India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
India has won the BGT 9 times.
Who currently holds the Border Gavaskar Trophy?
India is the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning away from home 2-1 in 2020-21.
Currently, there are at least 34 cricket stadiums in USA (including grounds, parks, etc.), two of which have been certified by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and 24 local cricket grounds are being used by Minor League Cricket teams. Additionally, five more upcoming stadiums are currently being planned.
These stadiums are located all across the US, from California to Florida, North Carolina to Texas, and Georgia to name a few. Their sizes range from large-scale venues with plenty of seating space to small grassy fields that are more intimate in size.
In the United States, cricket has gained more popularity in recent years, leading to the development of cricket stadiums in various parts of the country. This article will discuss how many cricket stadiums are in the United States, which ones they are, and what kind of events they host. Read on to discover more about cricket stadiums in America!
At present, there are at least two international-level cricket stadiums in the United States, with plans to expand the number up to five to ten in the near future.
These include:
Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida (10000 seating capacity, ICC status for ODI & T20 cricket)
Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina (3500 permanent seating with potential expansion to 5000 seats)
AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas (7000 seating capacity with a potential expansion to 20000 seats)
Smart Choice Moosa Stadium in Pearland, Texas (near Houston)
Indianapolis World Sports Park in Indianapolis, Indiana
Leo Magnus Cricket Complex, ‘Woodley’ Park in Los Angeles, California
Each of these stadiums has its own unique history and features that make it an exciting place to watch cricket. Most of them host domestic and international matches, as well as tournaments and development programs for the sport itself.
Upcoming Cricket Stadiums in the USA
Apart from existing cricket stadiums, there are also four upcoming venues in plan — each with varying seating capacities and location.
Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, California
An upcoming proposed stadium in Orange County, California
New York Oval. in New York
Marine Park in Brooklyn, Spring Creek Park in Queens, or Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens (Shortlisted locations for a possible major cricket stadium in the New York area)
It is expected that the stadiums in the Bay Area and Washington may each seat around 10,000-20,000 spectators with a cost of $30 million combined.
Historic & Smaller Cricket Grounds in the United States
Apart from the major stadiums, there are also numerous smaller cricket grounds in the United States. These grounds have been used by Minor League clubs and other clubs for generations as well as hosting various tournaments over time.
Philadelphia Cricket Club Ground in Wissahickon Heights, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Belmont Cricket Club Ground in Elmwood, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Young America Cricket Club Ground in Stenton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown Cricket Club Ground in Manheim, Pennsylvania (earlier in Nicetown)
Merion Cricket Club Ground in Haverford, Pennsylvania
Boca Raton Cricket Club Ground in Boca Raton, Florida
Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
St. George’s Club Ground in Bloomingdale Road, Manhattan, New York
Red House Cricket Ground in Harlem, New York
*Citi Field in New York
*Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas
*Dodger Stadium in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
*Note, the Cricket All-Stars tournament featuring Shane Warne, Sachin Tendulkar, Shoaib Akthar, etc. took place at famous baseball grounds—Citi Field, Minute Maid Park, and Dodger Stadium.
Minor League Cricket is a new franchised cricket league in the United States, which was founded in 2019. It currently has 26 teams, most of which have their own home cricket parks.
Handy line up 🏏
World Cup winner Former fastest 100 world record holder U19 World Cup winner and captain USA first IPL player S&C coach 🤣
I am very fortunate and grateful at the same time that I get coach and support all the players.
Established in 2007, the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill is the biggest cricket stadium in the United States. It has two pitches and offers seating for up to 10,000 fans. Every Spring it hosts the American college cricket tournament and is also home to the Ft. Lauderdale Lions of Minor League Cricket.
The Moosa Stadium in Pearland, Texas was established in 2015 and is a rising cricket stadium. It provides seating for up to 2,500 fans with the potential for further expansion. It is the home of Lone Star Athletics.
The AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas is a professional baseball stadium that has been transformed into a cricket ground. It offers seating for up to 7,000 spectators and has the potential for further expansions. This ground has become quite popular with local cricket enthusiasts.
The Indianapolis World Sports Park was built with an investment of $5 million and it hosted the 2015 ICC T20 World Cup Americas Division One qualification tournament.
The Leo Magnus Woodley Park is a sporting complex established in 1978 and named after Jamaican cricketer, Leo Magnus. It comprises five cricket fields (Marder, Severn, Wong, Woodley and Wright) and is home to the Hollywood Master Blasters and Socal Lashings of Minor League Cricket. Historically, it was the home of the Hollywood Cricket Club.
Founded in 1854, Philadelphia Cricket Club Ground is the oldest cricket club in the USA, while Germantown Cricket Club is the second oldest surviving cricket club in the United States. The Belmont Cricket Club (1874-1914), home to one of America’s greatest cricketers, Bart King, was one of the great clubs in American cricket.
The stadiums listed above host a variety of events for both spectators and players.
These include domestic and international matches, tournaments, camps and academies to help with cricket development in the US. The following is a list of some of the events hosted at US cricket stadiums:
International Matches & CPL
A total of 27 ODI matches (12 Moosa, 15 Ft. Lauderhill) and 14 T20I matches (all Ft. Lauderhill) international matches have been hosted by the US.
New Zeland, Sri Lanka, India, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Nepal, Oman, Namibia, and the USA have all played here. Ft. Lauderhill has been used as one of West Indies’ home venue in bilateral series.
Minor League Cricket began in 2020 as the precursor to Major League Cricket, USA’s much anticipated T20 franchise competition. 27 teams took place in the inaugural tournament with Silicon Valley Strikers emerging as the winner.
National Championships and Other tournaments
These tournaments are organized by US cricket associations and involve women’s, men’s, U-19, and other teams from different states across the country.
Apart from major leagues, regional club tournaments, tape ball cricket, and college cricket also occur on a regular basis.
4. Major League Cricket and 2024 T20 World Cup to Take Place Across USA’s Top Cricket Stadiums
In 2023, Major League Cricket (MLC) is set to take place between July 13th and 30th.
The Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas is the main location with franchises from Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and Washington D.C. The following year in 2024, the 20-team T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies.
5. Conclusion – The Growing Popularity of Cricket in America
Cricket is quickly gaining popularity in the United States, with more people becoming aware of and involved in the game.
The US Cricket Association has advocated for the expansion of cricket in America, resulting in cricket stadiums located across the country, academies and clubs to help players hone their skills.
Stadiums such as Church Street Park & Moosa Stadium are paving the way for even more growth. The upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup and Major League Cricket will bring even more attention to the sport, and with continued growth, cricket will become an increasingly popular sport in America.
Maybe the future even holds a partnership with Minor League Baseball stadiums similar to the conversion of the Texas Airhogs stadium.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Cricket Stadiums in USA
How many cricket stadiums in the USA?
Currently, there are at least 33 cricket stadiums in the USA. Two stadiums are ICC certified, 5 are in the planning phase, while the rest are park and local grounds.
Which cricket stadiums will host the 2023 Major League Cricket?
The Airhogs stadium in Dallas, Texas will be the host of the inaugural Major League Cricket held between July 13-30.
How many teams participate in Minor League Cricket in the USA?
26 teams compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC) in the United States.
How many teams will compete in the 2023 Major League Cricket in the USA?
Six franchises from from Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and Washington D.C. will compete in the 2023 Major League Cricket (MLC).
Discussing the richest cricket boards is common in the world of cricket today.
Dwaine Pretorius becomes the latest to retire from internationals to focus on T20 leagues. He follows Colin de Grandhomme, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, and several others in becoming free agents. The SA 20 league, aka IPL in South Africa, has gained a lot of attention in being the ‘final hope’ for South African cricket. But why is that South African, New Zealand, and West Indies cricketers in particular are leaving international cricket?
It all boils down to the money. Today, we discuss the richest cricket boards in Part 4 of our series, Cricket & Finances. Here is quick overview:
The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is the richest cricket league in the world with an estimated $2 billion annual revenue. The BCCI is followed by the ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board) at $368 Million, and CA (Cricket Australia) at $270 Million in annual revenue. The CSA (Cricket South Africa) has revenues of $46 million, NZC (New Zealand Cricket) is at $42 million, and CWI (Cricket West Indies) is at $28 million. Those are not bad numbers, but exploring a bit in-depth, we see that CSA had a total comprehensive loss of $11.6 million, NZC suffered a loss of $4.6 million, and CWI incurred a loss of $10 million.
World’s Richest Cricket Boards (Lowest to Highest)
We looked at the financial statements and Annual Reports of each of these respective boards to come up with the revenue, expenditure, and total surplus/loss.The ranking of the national cricket board is displayed with the (annual revenue) and partners/sponsors.
*all figures are in $US dollars.
12. Zimbabwe Cricket – ZC ($5.5 Million)
Revenue:$5,520,442
Total Operating Costs:$6,953,991
Total Deficit:–$1,239,606 (LOSS)
Total Comprehensive Income (after surplus on lands and buildings): – $1,192,166
Is Zimbabwe Cricket profitable?No, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) is not profitable with a deficit of $1.1 million in 2020.
Based on Annual Reports & financial statements ending on 31 December 2020.
Partners
Banaqua, Swift, Zimpharm, Dandemutande, A May, Ihsan, Swift, Windmill Pvt Ltd
Is Afghanistan Cricket Board profitable?Yes, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is marginally profitable with a surplus of $390,000 in 2019 (breakeven).
*Note: This is based on the 2019 Annual Report, published in 2020. US withdrawal of Afghanistan occurred around August 2021. No new annual reports have been published since then.
Highlights from the 2019-20 Annual Report
“Afghanistan Cricket Board as the owner of the league spent around $369,000 for the implementation of the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL).
The distribution of revenue for ACB was as follows:
84% ICC Distribution
9% Government
4% Marketing
3% Shpageeza
Partners
Main Sponsor:Partner with ACB
National Team Sponsor:Super Cola
Official NFT:Rario
Cloth Manufacturing Partner:TYKA
IT Partner:Afghan Telecom
Other Partners:Asian Cricket Councial, ICC
SCL Sponsor: Etisalat
Main Jersey Sponsor:Diva Group
Medical Partner:Blossom Health Care
Beverage Partner:Habib Gulzar Limited
Umpires Jersey Sponsor:RTA Sports
Other Sponsors:Kam Air, Dafa News, Madava Hospital, Tayyab Yasir Limited, Refai Shaheen Construction Company
Retained earnings at the end of the financial year:310,166 ($333,000)
Based on Annual Reports & financial statements ending on 31 December 2021.
Is Cricket Ireland profitable?No, Cricket Ireland is not profitable with a deficit of 1,230,869 Euros ($1.3 Million). On the other hand, in 2020, the Cricket Ireland was profitable with a surplus of 1,537,632 Euros ($1.65 Million).
Partners
Main Sponsors & Men’s Shirts Rights Holder:ITWConsulting
Official Ireland Women’s Team Partner & Official Technology Partner:Hanley Energy
Official Airline Partner:Turkish Airlines
Official sponsor of Inter-Provincial Series:Test Triangle
Official IT Services Partner:Techfynder
Official Currency Exchange Partner:ClearCurrency
Official Partners:Amul, O’Neills, Ulster University, Tildenet, Club Travel, La Manga Club, ICC, Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland, The Hope Foundation, Federation of Irish Sport, Arachas Insurance, Mansfield Sports Group
Total Revenue:7,994,291,865 SL Rupee ($22,022,843)
Total Expenses:5,883,380,298 SL Rupee ($16,207,659)
Net Surplus:2,138,726,491 SL Rupee ($5,891,809)
Total Comprehensive Income (after assets, taxes, actuarial gain, etc.): 2,478,605,198 SL Rupee ($6,8282,113)
Is Sri Lankan Cricket Board profitable? Yes, Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLCB) is profitable with a surplus of 2,478,605,198 SL Rupee ($6,8282,113) in 2021.
Based on Annual Reports & financial statements ending on 31 December 2021.
Highlights from the 2021 Annual Report
The distribution of SLCB’s revenue was as follows:
Total Income: PKR Rs. 6,330,842,117 ($27, 665,780)
Total Expenses:PKR Rs. 7,086,927,287 ($31 Million)
Total Deficit: -PKR 756,085,170 (-$3.3 Million) (LOSS)
Is Pakistan Cricket Board profitable? No, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not profitable with a deficit ofPKR 756,085,170 (-$3.3 Million) in the 2020-21 season.
Based on Annual Reports & financial statements ending on 30 June 2021.
*PKR Rs. denotes Pakistan Rupees
Commercial Partners
Men’s team:Pepsi, TCL, Parkview City
Women’s team: Pepsi
Commercial Partner:Trans Group
Broadcast & Live Streaming Partner: Ary Zap, Willow, Sony, Etisalat, Fox Sports, Flow Sports, SkySport, Sky Sports, ICC TV, SuperSport
Is the Bangladesh Cricket Board profitable? Yes, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was profitable in 2020 with a surplus of BDT 832,68,87,010 ($79.2 Million)
Based on AnnualGeneral Meeting 2021, which summarized CWI’s financial statements from 2020.
*BDT – Bangladesh Taka
Highlight from the 2017-2020 BCB Activity Report
“In the six years between 2011 and 2016 the Board had earned US $33.32 million in media, team sponsor, and other rights while in just three years from 2017 to 2020, the BCB’s earnings stood at approximately US $29 million from the same sources.”
Total Revenue:$66,401,000 NZD ($42, 217, 755.80 USD)
Total Expenditure:$46,496,000 NZD ($29,604,000 USD)
Total Surplus: $792,000 NZD ($504,000 USD)
Total Comprehensive Deficit (after Unrealized Loss and Valuation of Foreign Currency Hedging): – $6.7 Million NZD (- $4.26 Million USD)(LOSS)
Is New Zealand Cricket profitable?No, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is not profitable with a net deficit of $ 6.7 Million NZD ($ 4.26 Million USD) in 2021.
Based on the 2021-22 Annual Report and corresponding financial statements for fiscal year ending on 31 July 2022.
Highlight from the 2021-22 Annual Report
ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 – Surplus of $2.6 Million NZD ($ 1.653 Million USD)
$1.8 Million NZD ($1.14 Million USD) provided to support NZC’s High Performance Center.
“Over 95% of all NZC revenue is derived from our teams’ participation in these FTP and ICC events…”
NZCB Commercial Partners
Official Broadcast Partner:SparkSport
International Broadcast Partner:Pitch
Major Bank & Official Bank:ANZ
Official Vehicle Provider:Ford
Official Hotel Supplier:Accor
Official Supplier:Air New Zealand
Official Clothing Sponsor:Canterbury of New Zealand
Official Sports Drink:Powerade
Official Sponsor of NZ Cricket Umpires:G.J. Gardner Homes
Official Car Rental Partner:Hertz
Partner of the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS (3 -year Deal): KFC
Official Radio & Digital Partner:MediaWorks
Official Partners:Gillette, Les Mills, Dulux, Asahi Beverages NZ
Funding Partners:Sports NZ, New Zealand Community Trust, Perry Foundation, Southern Trust
Total Revenue:778, 353,000 Rands ($45,767,156 USD)
Total Expenses:995,624,000 Rands ($58,492,910 USD)
Total Comprehensive Loss: -197,874,000 Rands ($-11,625,097 USD) (LOSS)
End of Year Balance (After adding up previous years’ savings):272 Million Rands ($16 Million)
Is Cricket South Africa profitable? No, Cricket South Africa was not profitable in 2021-22 with a net deficit of -197 Million South African Rands (loss of $11.625 Million US dollars).
Based on the 2021-22 Integrated Report and corresponding financial statements for fiscal year ending on 30 April 2022.
Highlights from the Integrated Report 2021-22
“The curtailment of the planned four T20 matches against India due to Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted CSA’s results, with a -R 250 Million (- $14.7 Million USD). This revenue loss was mitigated to a certain extent by committed cost reductions through all business areas, resulted in a reported loss of R198 Million ($11.6 Million USD).”
“CSA does not own cricket stadiums, so proceeds generated by these venues are shared, with CSA receiving 20% and stadium operators (CSA members) receiving 80%.”
Revenue Division
53% Broadcast Rights: 413 Million SA Rands ($24 Million)
33% ICC distribution: 256 Million SA Rands ($15 Million USD)
4% Sponsorships (Professional), 2% Sponsorships (Amateur): 52 Million SA Rands ($3 Million USD)
Is Cricket Australia profitable? Yes, Cricket Australia (CA) is profitable with a net surplus of $ 10.7 million AUD ($7.4 million USD) in 2021. Hence, Cricket Australia is on #3 in the richest cricket boards in the world.
Based on the 2021-22 Annual Report and Statement of Comprehensive Income for fiscal year ending on 30 June 2022.
Partners
Broadcast Partners:Fox Sports, Seven West Media, ABC Radio, Macquarie Radio Network, Sports Entertainment Network
International Broadcast Partners:Sony, Fox Sports Asia, beIN, BT Sport, Supersport, Kwese Sports, Sports Max, Flow Sports, Willow, ATN, SKY Network Television, National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea
Total Comprehensive Income:$20,751,000 Pounds ($25,229,066 USD)
Is the England & Wales Cricket Board profitable? Yes, England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is profitable. According to the 2021-22 Financial Statements, the ECB had a net surplus of $20.7 million pounds ($25.2 million US dollars). Hence, the ECB is the 2nd among the richest cricket boards on the planet.
Based on the 2021-22 Financial Statements for fiscal year ending on 31 January 2022.
Is the Board of Control for Cricket in India profitable? Yes, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is profitable with a net surplus of INR 529 Crore ($64.8 million US dollars). Furthermore, the profit has grown to an estimated $2 billion as of 2022.
Based on the 2016-17 Financial Statements for fiscal year ending on 31 March 2017.
Although official documents were limited to 2017, we investigated further based on Twitter data and media reports from reputable sources. For example, the infographic by Forbes India shows the mammoth growth in BCCI’s net worth between 2014 & 2018. BCCI’s net worth is shown to be INR 11,916.8 crore ($1.224 billion US dollars).
Since then, BCCI’s rise has been exponential. Here are some of the highlights of major rights and sponsorships, including the mammoth $6.2 billion IPL media rights between 2023-2027.
In conclusion, about $1.24 billion revenue will be achieved annually by the IPL media right alone. The ICC revenue and all of the other sponsorships will make up another billion (and will change everywhere as the negotiations with each sponsor changes). The BCCI is easily #1 on the list of the world’s richest cricket boards.
*Note: The estimated Revenue for ICC’s broadcasting income from the 2023 ODI World Cup is about $533.29 Million, from which $58.23-116.47 million is expected to be taxed by the Indian government.
Partners
India’s sponsors and partners are as follows:
Team Sponsor:BYJU’S: The Learning App
Official Broadcaster:Star Sports ($944 Million)
Title Sponsor:Mastercard
Official Partners:Dream11, Hyundai, Ambuja Cement, Killer Jeans(Kewal Kiran Clothing)
The only profitable cricket boards are the BCCI, ECB, CA, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLCB).
This is the concerning aspect. If the national body is not profitable, they have to cut back on salaries, systems, and leagues. This is exactly why South Africa are hoping that the SA20 league generates so much revenue that the surplus can raise players’ salaries and keep them in the domestic circuit.
How Do Cricket Boards Earn Money?
Cricket boards earn money in a variety of ways—ICC revenue, media rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, etc. Here is a visual from ESPNCricinfo illustrating the2016-2023 revenue distribution from the ICC to the top cricketing nations.
It’s time to discuss the greatest cricketers of all time. This ultimate list will feature 155 top cricketers across formats and eras—from WG Grace to Kieron Pollard.
Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo just retired as players from the IPL and left their imprints on T20 cricket. As T20s evolve and become central to the cricketing universe, why not make a list of the greatest cricketers of all time across formats and eras?
Over 250 cricketers were considered for this list. We consider Tests, ODIs, T20Is, T20 leagues, and first-class cricket played over 145 years.
Sir Donald Bradman is chosen as the Greatest Cricketer of All-Time with WG Grace, Sachin Tendulkar, Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne, Frank Worrell, and Sir Garfield Sobers close behind.
England (40), Australia (31), West Indies (24) dominated the list due to their rich first class and World Cup histories. The breakdown of the rest of the countries are as follows: India (14), Pakistan (13), South Africa (12), Sri Lanka (10), New Zealand (7), Zimbabwe (1), Afghanistan(1), and Bangladesh (1).
Charles Bannerman, Johnny Tyldesley, Subhash Gupte, Mitchell Johnson, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, David Warner, Jeff Thompson, Shahid Afridi, Mark Waugh, Makhaya Ntini, Mike Brearley, Harbhajan Singh, Glenn Turner, Ben Stokes, Cheteshwar Pujara, Lance Klusener, Yuvraj Singh, Ian Healy, Vijay Hazare, Trent Boult, Ian Chappell, Saeed Ajmal
155 Greatest Cricketers of All Time: The Ultimate List
Picking the Top 155 players was a tough task, but do you know what was even tougher? Ranking them.
Without furthur ado, here is the list. Enjoy the classic photography and check out the videos linked under some players.
Disclaimer: The ranking is most likely going to not align with your views. Expect the unexpected. Several ‘great’ cricketers did not make the list (see the extended list of honorable mentions below) but the ones that did fundamentally helped change the game. Feel free to comment below on players who you think should be in the list.
155. Learie ‘Lord’ Baron Constantine (West Indies, 1921-1939)
Major Teams: West Indies, Barbados, Freelooters, Trinidad
An allrounder by trade, Constantine was one of West Indies’ early stars. More than his on-field accomplishments, he made an impact as a lawyer, politician, and Trinidad & Tobago’s High Commissioner to the UK.
An Australian left-arm pacer who “would be the most menacing new-ball bowler of his day” and was a handy batter in the lower order—The original Mitchell Johnson and Mitch Starc.
Major Teams: Australia, Australia U-19, New South Wales, Sydney Sixers, Yorkshire, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Speaking of Australian left arm pacers, Mitchell Starc. His World Cup exploits are alone to guarantee him a spot in the all-time list. Player of the Tournament when he helped Australia lift the trophy in 2015, he bettered himself in 2019 with the record tally of 27 wickets. Starc’s yorkers, early swing, and ability to clean up tails will be remembered forever.
Playing alongside Don Bradman, he was often overshadowed but was said to be a beautiful batter to watch. Even Sir Len Hutton remarked, “It would be hard to think of a greater Australian batsman. He had qualities that even Bradman hadn’t got.”He is best known for scoring 385 runs in that infamous Bodyline series.
Wisden remarks the Hunte “was one of the greatest West Indian batsmen of a great generation.” Even the great Desmond Haynes picked Hunte over himself in the All-Time Barbados XI “because he was simply the better batsman.”
ESPNCricinfo states that Evans was “arguably the best wicketkeeper the world has ever seen.” Played 91 Tests and even scored a couple of tons. Inflicted 1066 dismissals in his first-class career.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Delhi Giant, Sinhalese Sports Club
From 0,0.0,1,0,0 to establishing himself as the backbone of Sri Lanka’s Test batting seven years later and ending with six double centuries is a beautiful story. Decent ODI player with 8500 runs as well.
Before he was the voice of cricket, he was remembered as one of Australia’s greatest captains. His aggressive captaincy led to the first tied Test in cricket’s history. As a leg spinning allrounder, he was the first man to complete the double of 200 Test wickets and 2000 runs.
Major Teams: India, India U-19, Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians, Mumbai
264, 209, 208*, 171*, 162, 159, 152*, 150.
An ODI legend with a penchant for the mammoth hundreds. Easy on the eye, one of the best IPL captains, a T20 World Cup winner, and one of the best pullers the game has ever seen.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia
Played the third longest Test innings (743 balls) when he scored 311 against England in 1964. A leg-spinner allrounder who became an opening Test batter is a noteworthy achievement.
Major Teams: Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, United Bank Limited, Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan
A graceful left-hander, his 194 withstood the test of time until Sachin Tendulkar’s 200 broke his record. Anwar was the highest scoring opener in the 1990s in ODI cricket.
Major Teams: West Indies, Barbados, British Guiana
One of the famous ‘3 Ws’ in West Indies’ middle order, he was a steady cog of West Indies’ middle order. 15 Test hundreds, 40 first class centuries, and Test average of 56.68. Fun fact, Walcott holds the record for the fewest ducks in career.
Also See: Sir Frank Worrell (#6), Sir Clyde Walcott (#134)
Weekes was one of the best in his time. Centuries in five consecutive innings, joint fastest to a 1000 Test runs, and ended with a Test average of 58.61.
Major Teams: Pakistan, Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan, Chittagong Division, Durham, Islamabad Leopards, Khan Research Labs, Kolkata Knight Riders, Pakistan International Airlines, Rawalpindi, Somerset, Surrey, Worcestershire
There’s a good reason why the England-South Africa trophy is named Basil D’Oliveira Trophy. As a South African-born mixed player, he was picked for England during the Apartheid era (known as the Oliveira affair). With 19,490 first class runs & important social legacy, he was named as South Africa’s Top 10 players of the century despite never representing the Proteas.
The greatest Zimbabwean batter and scored the highest runs in an innings by any keeper (232*). Over 11,000 international runs across formats, Flower lead the way during Zimbabwe’s golden years.
The most prolific bowler-keeper combination in the history of Test cricket is “c Rod Marsh, b Dennis Lillee”(95). World record holder for most Test dismissals at the time of his retirement, he was the best keeper Australia produced…until Ian Healy & Adam Gilchrist surpassed him.
Major Teams: India, Deccan Chargers, Hyderabad, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Lancashire
If you played the greatest innings of the twenty-first century, THAT 281*, you deserve to be on this list. Had a stellar Test career of performing under pressure with the lower order (and frequent back spasms).
Major Teams: West Indies, Combined Islands, Leeward Islands, Hampshire, Leicestershire, New South Wales
The face of West Indies’ pace quartet, his bouncers were ruthless.Apart from his 202 Test wickets, also had an effective ODI career—87 wickets at 20.35.
Major Teams: New Zealand, Auckland, Central Districts, Wellington, Somerset
The greatest New Zealand batter of his generation and definitely one of the best captains. Hamstring Injury in the 1992 World Cup semi-final was a huge factor in their defeat. Apart from his cricketing talent, was one of the leading thinkers of the game.
Major Teams: Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Wellington
Credited for inventing the flipper, he was the second fastest to 200 Test wickets (and fastest before Yasir Shah) and the second oldest to take ten wickets in a Test match (44 years). New Zealand born Australian player.
Regarded as one of the best batters to ever don the baggy green. 7110 runs with 24 Test tons at 53.86 looks especially great given that batted in the era of the ferocious West Indian attack.
Major Teams: West Indies, Canterbury, Derbyshire, Jamaica, Lancashire, Tasmania
Although 249 Test wickets at an average of 23.68 & 50.9 strike rate already puts him in the top echelons of world cricket, it was his impact with sheer pace and that menacing action that took him to the next level. An iconic commentator as well.
Major Teams: West Indies, West Indies U-19, Adelaide Strikers, Barbados Tridents, Cape Cobras, Deccan Gladiators, Dhaka Dynamites, Karachi Kings, Kerala Kings, London Spirit, Melbourne Renegades, Multan Sultans, Mumbai Indians, Peshawar Zalmi, Somerset, South Australia, St. Lucia Stars, Stanford Superstars, Toronoto Nationals, Trinbago Knight Riders, Trinidad, Welsh Fire
With almost 12,000 T20 Runs at 150.25 SR, batting predominantly at the lower order, Kieron Pollard was arguably the first bona fide T20 globetrotter. A pioneer in T20 power-hitting and mainstay for the Mumbai Indians in their 5-peat, he was a crucial member of West Indies’ 2012 T20 World Cup victory.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Hampshire, Pune Warriors
Had one of the greatest peaks of a Test batter. 1595 runs at 106.33 with 5 hundreds, including a 329* and a couple of double hundreds. Captain of Australia’s 2015 World Cup victory.
Major Teams: South Africa, Border, Cape Cobras, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore
The wicketkeeper during South Africa’s golden generation and the most prolific keeper of all-time. Unfortunately, a bail hitting his eye ended his career. Played 147 Tests and inflicted an iconic 999 international dismissals (555 Tests, 425 ODIs, 19 T20Is).
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Kent, Auckland
107*(124), 3/42, & 2 catches—One of the best performances in a World Cup final. With over 15,000 international runs, Aravinda played his part in bringing Sri Lanka to the top tiers of world cricket.
At 6 ft 8 inches, Garner towered above all and provided West Indies with that extra edge. With 259 Test wickets at 20.97 and 146 ODI wickets, he was one of the best. Holds the record for the best ODI economy (3.09) and won the 1979 WC final with a 5/38 show.
Major Teams: South Africa, Free State, Warwickshire, Worcesterershire
Before there was Steyn, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, and Kagiso Rabada, there was Allan Donald. Bowled with menace and one of South Africa’s premier icons after they were reinstated in international cricket. Will also be remembered to be at the receiving end in the most infamous run-out of them all.”
Major Teams: West Indies, Barbados, Somerset, South Australia
115. Brett Lee (Australia, 1999-2012)
Major Teams: Australia, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, New South Wales, Otago, Sydney Sixers, Wellington
Probably the smoothest fast bowling action of all time. Over 700 international wickets, never compromised on pace despite injuries, THAT chainsaw celebration, and ended cricket career with a magnificent final over in the Big Bash.
Major Teams: South Africa, Barbados Tridents, Cape Cobras, Derbyshire, Dolphins, Essex, Khulna Tigers, Kings XI Punjab KwaZulu-Natal, Surrey, Trinbago Knight Riders
Elegant, high-class opener, and a massively underrated ODI batter. 55 International centuries, fastest to 7000 ODI runs, a triple centurion, partnership maker. From blockathons to two hundreds in T20 cricket, versatility was Amla’s strength.
Major Teams: England, Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils, Dolphins, Hampshire, KwaZulu-Natal, Melbourne Stars, Nottinghamshire, Quetta Gladiators, Rising Pune Supergiants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, St. Lucia Zouks, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Surrey
The ODI series against home country, South Africa, would sum up his career. Had his doubters early on with the rebel style, but his gameplay was too good to ignore. The 2005 Ashes, 2010 T20 World Cup, and 2012 Test series victory in India. England legend, just left with self-inflicted unfortunate circumstances.
Major Teams: Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Yorkshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Sussex
Before MS Dhoni, Michael Bevan pioneered the ‘finisher’ role in ODI cricket. Averaging 53.98 after 232 matches, remaining unbeaten and hitting last-ball boundaries to win matcheswas his specialty.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Kandurata Maroons, Moors Sports Club, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, Wayamba, Surrey, Hampshire
A specialist of sorts. If ever a bowler was needed on spinning tracks in the fourth innings, it was Herath. 433 Test wickets and Sri Lanka’s only hope in the transition years.
Major Teams: Afghanistan, Afghanistan U-19, Kabul, Adelaide Strikers, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Barbados Tridents, Comilla Victorians, Durban Heat, Kabul Eagles, Lahore Qalandars, Maratha Arabians, MI Cape Town, MI Emirates, Nangahar Leopards, Quetta Gladiators, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Sussex, Trent Rockets
Not many have seen a rise as exponential as Rashid Khan has in cricket. 501 T20 wickets in 374 T20 matches. Already a legend and sought out for, he has played in almost every league around the world. Afghanistan cricket rises when Rashid Khan rises.
Major Teams: India, Delhi Leicestershire, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab
You would think aggressive batting meant Sehwag would be dangerous in limited overs cricket. He was, but he truly changed the role of the opening batter in Test cricket. First ball boundaries and hitting double centuries in a single day was his forte. 319, 309, and 293 will be remembered forever.
Major Teams: West Indies, British Guiana, South Australia, Warwickshire
First spinner to pass 300 wickets and accumulated 1024 first class wickets, he will go down as West Indies’ greatest Test spinner. Has a Test hat-trick and once bowled a miserly spell of 53.3-37-38-8. Wow.
Major Teams: New Zealand, Brisbane Heat, Canterbury, Chennai Super Kings, Glamorgan, Gujarat Lions, Kochi Tuskers Kerela, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lahore Qalandars, New South Wales, Otago, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sussex, Toronto Nationals, Trinbago Knight Riders, Warwickshire
Match after match, captain McCullum would announce that this journey was ‘the time of their lives’ in the 2015 World Cup hosted at home. Took New Zealand to the World Cup finals for the first time, brought NZ out of lows of 2012, and for all his T20 exploits, had the skill to score 302 vs India I’m a Test match. Retired with the fastest Test century of all-time. Also credited for launching the IPL with a remarkable 158.
One of the best Ashes batters, a member of the ‘Invincibles,’ Australian army man during World War II, and a rugby player, Morris can truly say he did it all.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Galle Cricket Club, Kandy, Kent, Galle Gladiators, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Melbourne Stars, Rangpur Riders, Southern Express, Kent, Mumbai Indians
Malinga built a career out of pinpoint accurate yorkers and a slingy action. 4 wickets in 4 balls, couple of other hat-tricks, a T20 World Cup, and several IPL trophies with Mumbai Indians. Simply a legend.
Major Teams: Australia, Australia U-19, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder, Canterbury, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Dhaka Dynamites, Rangpur Rangers, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, St. Lucia Zouks
History will regard Shane Watson in awe. Gifted with a rare combination of skills, he established himself as a fast-bowling order who could bat in the top order. Player of the tournament in the 2012 T20 World Cup, 2008 & 2013 IPLs, the 2009 Champions Trophy, and key play-off knocks with CSK in the 2019 IPL, he stood up on the big occasions. A successful Test opener between 2009-10 alongside Simon Katich speaks to his versatility.
The Top 100 cricketers of all time will at least consist of all the 10,000 runs scorers (either format), or members of the 500+ (Test), 400+ (ODI) wicket taker group.
100. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka, 1993-2017)
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Basnahira South, Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, Delhi Daredevils, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Kalutara Town Club, Karachi Kings, Northern Districts, Peshawar Zalmi, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club, Singha Sports Club, Surrey, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club
Dilshan is one of the most innovative cricketers of the modern era. Known for ‘The Dilscoop,’ he was one of the pillars of the Sri Lankan in their 2014 T20 World Cup victory, along with numerous other finals between 2007-2014. Also a handy off-spinner & acrobatic fielder.
Major Teams: India, Bengal, Glamorgan, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Kolkata Knight Riders, Pune Warriors
Changed how India was viewed. Captained India to the 2003 World Cup final and several overseas Test victories. I will forever remember him for his ODI exploits and down the ground sixes.
Major Teams: Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Somerset
Noble is “regarded as the greatest Australian all-rounder ever produced by Australia.” In all, he took 624 first class wickets and hit 37 centuries as well.
Major Teams: Pakistan, Surrey, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, South Australia, Rajasthan Royals
One of the only constants in Pakistan’s era of uncertainty. 10,000 runs Test runs, crisis man in the 4th innings, solid ODI batter & slip fielder, and a T20 World Cup winning captain.
Major Teams: India, Delhi, Northern Punjab, Northamptonshire
Part of India’s spin quartet, Bedi had it all—the flight, guile, turn, and grace. With plenty of county experience, he ended with a mammoth 1560 first class wickets.
Major Teams: Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Strikers
A mainstay in Australia’s bowling line up. Bowling on Australian pitches for the majority of his career, Lyon became the tireless figure. Consistent line and length. Ball after ball. For an entire decade. 450+ Test wickets and counting.
Major Teams: New Zealand, New Zealand U-10, Central Districts, Durham, Sussex, Middlesex, Victoria, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Victoria, Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals
The best #4 ODI batter of all-time and between 2016-19, was the best ODI batter. Started as a leg side slogger and became a steady middle order batter. Nice to sign off with an unbeaten knock in New Zealand’s WTC win.
Major Teams: England, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Kings XI Punjab, Hobart Hurricanes
Statistically, the second highest fast bowling wicket-taker of all-time. Speaks of his fitness. Could get hit for six sixes or bowl spells to remember forever. At one point, also a handy batter down the order.
Major Teams: India, Tamil Nadu, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire
5 Test Hundreds. One of the greatest off spinners of all-time. Removed the stigma of non-strikers run-out almost single-handedly. Pioneered the ‘retired out’ in T20 cricket. Improved his batting to be a #3 in T20s, a decent finisher, Test match blockathon-specialist, off-spinner, leg-spinner, mystery spin, carrom ball. Has a succesfful YouTube channel. Cricket improviser at his absolute best. Ahead of his times.
Major Teams: England, Yorkshire, Northern Transvaal
Although Boycott had his troubles off the field, on the field, he was one of the great ones. In his era, not many scored more than his 151 first class hundreds and 8114 Test runs.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Nottinghamshire
Miller is regarded as Australia’s greatest ever all-rounder. Although 2958 runs & 170 Test wickets flatter to deceive now, it was the best figures for an allrounder at the time.
Graham Gooch has perhaps scored the most runs. EVER. 44,846 First Class runs with 128 hundreds & 217 fifties to go along with 22, 211 List A runs with 44 hundreds and 139 fifties. In international cricket, he amassed 8900 Test runs, 4200 ODI runs, and 28 tons overall.
Major Teams: South Africa, Gauteng, Western Province, Somerset, Surrey, Cape Cobras, Rajasthan Royals
One of the greatest captains and grittiest opening batters of all-time. Batting with a broken hand against Mitchell Johnson in attempt to save a Test match will go down as one of the most courageous acts on the cricket field.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Basnahira North, Colts Cricket Club, Deccan Chargers, Hampshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire
The only player to take 8 wickets in an ODI matchand the spearhead of Sri Lanka’s fast bowling attack with 781 international wickets. Has a World Cup hat-trick, Test hundred, and ODI fifty as well.
In modern cricket, one of the most dominant opening batters. 7558 Test runs and 37354 runs with 92 centuries. Had a stellar ODI career as well in World Cups—highest scorer of the 1979 World Cup.
One of the greatest all-rounders in the modern era. If the pitch has something to offer, his left-arm spin is tricky to tackle. A great show at #3 in the 2019 World Cup. In one phrase, a living legend of Bangladesh.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Colombo Cricket Club, Somerset, Mumbai Indians
Apart from Sachin Tendulkar, he has the most man of the match awards.Revolutionized ODI powerplay batting in 1996, and a great asset with the ball as well.
Major Teams: Australia, Queensland, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Chennai Super Kings, Brisbane Heat
An epic conversion rate (30-100s, 29-50s) and one of the most dominant openers of the generation. Dancing down the wicket with broad shoulders, he sent tremors in the opposition bowlers.
First England player to score 10,000 Test runs, Cook was the key constructor of England’s Ashes 2010 and India 2012 victories. Survived as an opener in one of the toughest eras to play fast and swing bowling. Best England Test batter (until Joe Root that is).
Major Teams: West Indies, Barbados, Middlesex, Western Province
Making one half of the third-highest Test partnership (6482 with Greenidge) of all time (and highest at the time), Haynes was a modern-day giant. In ODI cricket, he scored 8,648 runs with 17 centuries, a record that stood until 1998.
68. Robert George Dylan ‘Bob’ Willis (England, 1969-1984)
Major Teams: England, Surrey, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal
One of the fastest English bowlers. Despite injuries, he took 325 Test wickets and played 90 Tests. Longevity and England fast bowlers is a common theme.
After being criticized for not converting fifties into hundreds, Joe Root’s stellar 2021 etched his name into greatness—1708 runs with six daddy hundreds. An ODI World Cup winner as well.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Sinhalese Sports Club, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab
Class batter. 11,000 runs+ in each format. Most runs on a single ground (2921 runs in Sinhalese, Colombo), seven double hundreds, and a knack for long-partnerships.
Major Teams: West Indies, British Guiana, Lancashire
One of the most recognized left-handers in the game with the glasses & moustache, his calm demeanor was the feature that stood out the most. Playing over 100 Test matches and 490 first class matches, it was his captaincy with two ODI World Cups that crystalized his name in the hall of legends. Made a century in the inaugural World Cup final as well.
64. Fred “The Demon” Spofforth (Australia, 1874-1897)
Major Teams: Australia, South Australia, Victoria
Spofforth is regarded as “Australia’s first true fast bowler.”First bowler to take a Test hat-trick, he zoomed to 94 wickets in only 18 career Test matches.
According to Larwood’s Wisden obituary, he was “one of the rare fast bowlers in the game to spread terror in opposition ranks by the mere mentions of his name.” If Don Bradman struggled, then Larwood must have been really, really good.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Worcestershire, Rajasthan Royals
Averaging 60.00 after 87 tests with 28 hundreds is no joke. Started as a leg-spinner batting at #8 and ended up becoming the greatest modern-day Test batter.
Major Teams: West Indies, Royal Challengers Bangalore, West Indies U-19, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Balkh Legends, Barisal Burners, Chattogram Challengers, Dhaka Gladiators, Dophins, Fortune Barishal, ICC World XI, Jamaica, Jamaica Tallawahs, Jozi Stars, Kandy Tuskers, Karachi Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lahore Qalandars, Lions, Matabeleland Tuskers, Melbourne Renegades, Quetta Gladiators, Rangpur Riders, Somerset, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Sydney Thunder, Vancouver Knights, Western Australia, Worcester
Although he is known for his big hitting and T20 exploits, Chris Gayle conquered all-formats over two decades. Just look at his record—14562 (T20), 13189 (List A), 13226 (First Class) runs, best of 333 in Tests, best of 215 in ODIs, 175* in T20s, and 117 in T20Is.
Major Teams: South Africa, Dolphins, KawZulu-Natal, Durham, Warwickshire
From a family of cricketing greats, Shaun Pollock became the most prolific wicket-taker of his time with 829 international wickets. Great consistent bowling and an effective all-rounder.
Major Teams: England, Somerset, Surrey, London County
Wisden’s obituary stated that “He will live in cricket history as perhaps the finest of all fast bowlers.” With 2104 first class wickets, best of 10/45 in an innings, and an average of 9.64 (11.06 average in Tests), he is certainly one of the best fast bowlers.
58. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies, 1991-2015)
Major Teams: West Indies, Guyana, Durham, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Guyana Amazon Warriors
With his side-on technique and under-the-eye stickers, one of the most recognized batters. A hard batter to dismiss, will go down as a West Indian legend with 164 Test matches, 30 Test hundreds, and over 20,000 international runs.
Major Teams: India, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chennai Super Kings
Greatest ODI finisher of all-time and one of the best captains in international cricket & the IPL. Gave Indian fans a moment to cherish with a World Cup winning six. Genius behind the wickets as well.
Major Teams: England, Sussex, Cambridge University, London County
Way ahead of his time, Ranjitsinhji “was probably one of the finest batsman of all time, not only in terms of runs scored but also because he brought new strokes to the game.”
Major Teams: Pakistan, Karachi, Habib Bank Limited, Sind, Glamorgan, Sussex
According to ESPNCricinfo, Miandad is the “greatest batsman Pakistan ever produced.” With over 16,000 international runs, 31 centuries, and 80 FC centuries, that certainly seems to be the case.
Major Teams: Sri Lanka, Kandurata, Warwickshire, Surrey, Kings XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Like fine wine, Sangakkara grew better with age. Most runs in a calendar year across formats in 2014 and retired with 12,400 Test runs at an average of 57.40. A T20 World Cup winner and great keeper as well.
Yes, he played in the nineteenth century, but the best career bowling strike rate (34.1) of all-time meant he was a class apart. A medium fast bowler, Lohmann took 112 Test and 1841 first class wickets.
Top 50 Cricketers of All Time: The Absolute Greats
The next 50 are the absolute greatest cricketers of all time. They either played historic knocks, are highly spoken of, or changed the way the game was played.
50. Steve Waugh (Australia, 1984-2004)
Major Teams: Australia, South Australia, Kent, Somerset
Led Australia to an ODI World Cup and 16 consecutive Test wins. A middle order stronghold in Australia’s great generation with over 10,000 Test runs and 32 tons.
Major Teams: West Indies, Leeward Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Northamptonshire
One of the most lethal bowlers of his time, he bowled some of the best spells in memory. Just watch his 7-1 spell. Ended up with 630 international wickets.
Major Teams: India, Karnataka, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Surrey)
Kumble’s 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan wrote his name in folklore. With 619 Test wickets & 337 ODI wickets, he was a central figure in India’s XI for over a decade.
Major Teams: South Africa, Northerns, Titans, Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore
AB De Villiers could score the fastest hundred of all-time or could score 43 (297) in an attempt of a blockathon. The most versatile and innovative batter this world has ever seen. Also, Bangalore’s favorite son.
Major Teams: India, Karnataka, Kent, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals
The glue that held India together. ‘The Wall’ played the most balls in the Test history (despite playing seven years less than Tendulkar). His versatility speaks volumes—Kept wickets, became an effective ODI floater, and hit three sixes in T20s. Major contributions in India’s overseas Test victories.
The original ‘Little Master’, Hanif’s 970-minute 337 vs West Indies in 1958 is forever etched in history. His highest score was 499 in first class cricket. How unfortunate.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab
Revolutionized the role of the wicketkeeper. 9619 ODI runs at 96.94 SR and 5570 runs at 81.95 SR. After Gilchrist, wicketkeepers were expected to score runs and score them quickly.
Major Teams: West Indies, Jamaica, Gloucestershire
Before Mcgrath, Anderson, & Broad, Walsh bowled the most balls in his Test career (30019) and took the most wickets by a fast bowler (519). Not to mention 1807 first class wickets.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Essex, Gloucestershire
First captain from Australia to lift the World Cup trophy, he set an example for the Waughs and Pontings to follow. With more than 11,000 Test runs and 156 Test caps (record at the time), he was a constant for Australia for the better part of two decades.
Major Teams: Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Surrey, Glamorgan
Credited for the ‘reverse’ swing, his bowled compilations are droolworthy to watch. 373 wickets at a strike rate of 43.4 and 416 ODI wickets puts him at the top of the crop.
Major Teams: South Africa, Cape Cobras, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Arguably the best fast bowler of all-time. Fast, pace, swing, consistency, he had it all. With a clean action, he dominated opposition at home and abroad. Unfortunately, freak injuries ended his career. Went past Pollock to become South Africa’s highest Test wicket-taker.
Major Teams: India, Delhi, Royal Challengers Bangalore, India U-19
Will go down as the greatest ODI batter of all-time. Definitely the best chaser in the game, his peak across formats was second to none. Twice the T20 player of the World Cup, his aggressive attitude and captaincy was crucial to India’s rise in Test cricket.The King of Cricket in the modern era.
The world has never seen an Imran Khan before, and never will again. Fast bowler, effective batter, philanthropist, a Prime Minister, and a top candidate for the best-looking cricketer of all-time.
Major Teams: India, Haryana, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire
Three decades after he retired, India is still looking for another Kapil Dev. A long term fast-bowling all-rounder, he captained India to their first World Cup triumph.
Had it not been for World War II, who knows how much George Headley could have accomplished. Retired with an average of 60.83 after 22 Tests and 69.86 in 103 first class matches. Wisden remarked that “he scored an avalanche of runs with a style and brilliance few of any age have matched.” Must have been wonderful to watch.
The first player to break the 10,000 run Test barrier, the ‘Little Master’ set the standards for opening batsmanship in cricket. Playing without helmets against the West Indies was a daring task for sure.
Wisden remarked that O’Reilly was “probably the greatest spin bowler the game has ever produced” and Don Bradman is credited of saying, “he was the greatest bowler he had ever faced or watched.”
Greatest 25 Cricketers of All Time: The Undisputable Legends, Kings of Cricket
Time for the Undisputable Legends. These players are truly the greatest cricketers of all time.
25. Les Ames (England, 1926-1951)
Major Teams: England, Kent
According to Wisden, Ames was “without a doubt the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman the game [had] so far produced.” 418 stumpings, over 1,000 dismissals, and 102 first-class centuries.
The greatest line and length bowler the world has ever seen. He was instrumental in Australia’s World Cup wins. Holds the record for most World Cup wickets (71) and was the highest fast bowling Test wicket taker before Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad surpassed him.
22. Robert Graeme Pollock (South Africa, 1960-1987)
Major Teams: South Africa, Eastern Province, Transvaal
ESPNCricinfo reckons that Graeme Pollock was “perhaps the finest left-hand batsman the game has ever produced.” Another casualty of South Africa’s international exile, Pollock’s 60.97 average in his short 23-Test career gave the world a glimpse of his ability to go along his 64 hundreds in 262 first class games.
First to score 4 Test centuries in a series and fastest to 1000 Test runs (12 innings), he was easily one of the greatest. Wisden’s obituary remarks that “he never knew a season of failure” as he would score over 50,000 first class runs with 151 tons.
World War I meant that he lost some early years and only started his career around the age of 25.
The cricket world lost a gem in 1999 when Malcolm Marshall passed away at the young age of 41 due to cancer. However, he will be remembered as one of the most feared fast bowlers of all-time. 376 wickets at a strike rate of 46.7 & 20.94 average. Just watch some of his bouncers.
19. Barry Anderson Richards (South Africa, 1968-1983)
Major Teams: South Africa, Natal, Transvaal, Gloucestershire, Hampshire
South Africa’s exile meant Barry Richards could only play 4 Test matches, but still showed the world what he got—2 100s, 2 50s, and an average of 72.57. “One of the finest talents of the 20th century“, scoring 28,000 first class runs, 80 tons, and nine centuries before lunch display his greatness.
Best left-arm fast bowler of all time, key to Pakistan’s rise, and took the most wickets by a fast bowler in ODI cricket. He was the hero of the 1992 World Cup final and with Waqar Younis, formed a pair of the ages. Still holds the highest score by a #8 in Test matches, 257*.
58,959 runs. 145 centuries. 2066 Wickets. 978 first class matches. Wisden describes as “beyond doubt one of the finest and most elegant left-handed all-rounders of all-time.”
Brian Lara was one of the best left-arm batters of all-time His name will forever be etched in record books with 400* (Test) and 501* (first class).More than the numbers, though, you always wanted to watch him bat. Top notch elegance.
Ricky Ponting was one of the most dominant players of his generation. He ruled the world as a batter, fielder, and captain. Ponting holds the record for the fastest to 12,000 runs in both ODI and Test cricket, only behind Tendulkar.Ended with more than 27,000 international runs, 71 centuries, and 364 catches. However, his legacy is cemented with two World cup wins as captain.
129 first class hundreds in 513 matches. Not quite 99.96, but 40,140 runs at 55.51 is quite special. Handy leg spinner as well. Wisden remarked in Hutton’s obituary that he was “one of the greatest batsman the game has produced in all its long history.”
Major Teams: South Africa, Western Province, Warriors, Cape Cobras, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sydney Thunder, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Middlesex, Glamorgan
Once playing against India, a stat came up that aptly described Jacques Kallis contribution in Test cricket. With runs and centuries, Kallis rivalled Tendulkar. With the ball, he was an equal to Zaheer Khan. One of the greatest allrounders of the game, 10,000+ runs in each format, and had a decent T20 career as well. Would take South Africa two players to replace the balance he provided the Proteas.
Most prolific first-class wicket-taker of all time. 4204 wickets from 1110 matches. Close to 40,000 first class runs as well. Moreover, he had the longest first-class career with 30 years & 315 days. That’s commitment.
The best off-spinner of all-time and the most prolific international wicket taker of all-time with 1347 wickets. Takingthe 800th Test wicket with his final ball will go down as the one of the iconic moments in the game. A 1996 World Cup winner to cap it off.
10. Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander ‘Viv’ Richards (West Indies)
Major Teams: West Indies, Leeward Islands, Glamorgan, Somerset
Sir Viv Richards had just the right amount of talent, intimidation factor, and swag. One of the central pins of West Indies’ golden generation and way ahead of his time. Pioneer of modern ODI cricket.
9. Walter Reginald ‘Wally’ Hammond (England, 1920-1951)
Major Teams: England, Gloucestershire
7249 Test runs with 22 hundreds in the era that he played is already a huge achievement. Add to that, 50,551 first-class runs with a mammoth 167 centuries, 185 fifties, and 732 wickets, he is definitely one to be remembered.
Major Teams: England, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Wales
6,229 wickets at an average of 8.33 from club to Test matches. Most wickets ever in a Test series (49). S.C. Griffith, secretary of MCC summed it up perfectly, “The extraordinary thing about him was that all his contemporaries considered him the greatest bowler.”
Sir Learie Constantine described Worrell as, ” a happy man, a good man, and a great one.” Worthy middle order batter & allrounder with a knack of big hundreds, his influence as a social icon was far greater. First long-term black captain of West Indian cricket, he helped unify the islands and moved West Indies move into the success of the 70s & 80s. Unfortunately, passed away at the age of 42 with a rich legacy, nevertheless. Key player in the first Tied Test, the Australia-West Indies series is still named the “Frank Worell Trophy.”
Major Teams: Australia, Victoria, Rajasthan Royals, Melbourne Stars
If you bowled the ‘Ball of the Century,’ took 708 wickets, and won a World Cup final on your own, you deserve to be in the Top 5 of every list. A larger-than-life icon who revolutionized leg spin. A leader that Australia never had as his later years with the Rajasthan Royals and T20 leagues showed. His death in 2022 shocked one and all.
4. Sir John Berry ‘Jack’ Hobbs (England,1908-1930)
Major Teams: England, Surrey
Most prolific first-class batter of all-time. 61,760 runs, 199 centuries, 273 fifties, oldest Test centurion (at 46), and opened the batting and bowling in South Africa in 1910. The original ‘Master‘ and first cricketer to receive Knighthood.
The greatest batsman the world in the modern era. Over 34,000 international runs, 100 hundreds, World Cup winner. The original God of cricket, and a beacon of hope for a billion people for over two decades.
2. Dr. William Gilbert ‘WG’ Grace (England, 1865-1908)
Major Teams: England, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Gloucestershire, London County Cricket Club
Without Grace’s grace, we can only imagine how different cricket’s development as an official sport would have been in its early days. 44 years, 870 first class matches, 54,000 runs, 2800 wickets. Also practiced medicine and had that iconic beard.
Major Teams: Australia, New South Wales, South Australia
Not only regarded as the greatest Test batter of all-time in the world of cricket but also a well know trivia fact outside of the sport. 99.94. The elusive 4 runs. 6996. In fact, he scored 117 centuries in 234 matches at an average of 95.14 with the best of 452* in all first-class cricket. Technically gifted, daddy hundreds, Test captain, ‘Borderline’ series, leader of the ‘Invincibles’, and the comeback after World War II break. Legend in all senses.
Extended List (By Country): The Honorable Mentions
These players are one of the best to have played for their nations. Several of these players played over 100 Test matches. However, due to the extensive competition, they did not make the Top 151 Greatest Cricket Players of All Time List.
Greatest Players of All Time #175-270
England: Patsy Hendren, Graeme Hick, Phil Mead, Douglas Jardine, Eoin Morgan, Ian Bell, Jos Buttler, Andrew Strauss, Alec Stewart, Dennis Amiss, Bernard Bosanquet, Mike Atherton, Maurice Tate, Graeme Swann, Charlie Parker, Andrew Flintoff, Frank Tyson, Graham Thorpe, Sir Pelham Warner, Bill Lockwood, John Jackson, Johnny Briggs, Hugh Trumble
West Indies: Alvin Kallicharran, Rohan Kanhai, Carl Hooper, Lawrence Rowe, Roy Fredericks, Vanburn Holder, Charlie Griffith, Andre Russell, Jackie Hendricks, Colin Croft, Ian Bishop
Australia: Dean Jones, David Boon, Bill Ponsford, Charles Turner, Bill Lawry, Mark Taylor, Aaron Finch, Clem Hill, Andrew Symonds, Geoffrey Marsh, Mike Hussey, Charlie McCartney, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood
India: Lala Amarnath, Mohammad Azharuddin, Erapalli Prasanna, Zaheer Khan, Mohinder Amarnath, Dilip Vengsarkar, S Venkataraghavan, B Chandrasekhar, Vijay Merchant, Gundappa Vishwanath, Vijay Manjrekar, Farokh Engineer, Javagal Srinath
South Africa: Trevor Goddard, Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Dudley Nourse, Mike Proctor, Jonty Rhodes, John Waite, Faf du Plessis
New Zealand: Tim Southee, Glenn Turner, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Stewie Dempster, Martin Donnely, John R Reid, Shane Bond, Martin Guptill, Ian Smith, Jack Cowie, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Bruce Taylor, Neil Wagner
Pakistan: Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Fazal Mahmood, Yasir Shah, Saleem Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Asif, Misbah Ul-Haq, Rashid Latif
Top 10 Greatest Cricketers of All-Time (By Country)
Who are the greatest Australian cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Australian cricketer of all-time is Sir Donald Bradman (#1). The Top 10 Australian cricketers in history are Don Bradman (#1), Shane Warne (#5), Ricky Ponting (#15), Dennis Lillee (#23), Glenn McGrath (#24), Bill O’Reilly (#26), Allan Border (#39), Adam Gilchrist (#41), Victor Trumper (#46), Steve Waugh (#50).
Who are the English cricketers of all-time?
The greatest England cricketer of all-time is Dr. WG Grace (#2). The Top 10 England cricketers in history are WG Grace (#2), Sir Jack Hobbs (#4), Sydney Barnes (#8), Wally Hammond (#9), Wilfred Rhodes (#12), Sir Len Hutton (#14), Frank Wooley (#17), Herbert Sutcliffe (#21), Les Ames (#25), and Fred Trueman (#27).
Who are the greatest Indian cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Indian cricketer of all-time is Sachin Tendulkar (#3). The Top 10 Indian cricketers in history are Sachin Tendulkar (#3), Sunil Gavaskar (#28), Kapil Dev (#32), Virat Kohli (#35), Rahul Dravid (#45), Anil Kumble (#48), Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji (#56), MS Dhoni (#57), Ravichandran Ashwin (#88), and Bishan Singh Bedi (#95).
Who are the greatest West Indian cricketers of all-time?
The greatest West Indian cricketer of all-time is Sir Garfield Sobers (#6). The Top 10 West Indies cricketers in history are Sir Garfield Sobers (#6), Frank Wooley (#7), Sir Vivian Richards (#10), Brian Lara (#16), Malcolm Marshall (#20), George Headley (#30), Courtney Walsh (#40), Curtly Ambrose (#49), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (#58), and Chris Gayle (#61).
Who are the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Sri Lankan cricketer of all-time is Muttiah Muralitharan (#11). The Top 10 Sri Lanka cricketers in history are Muttiah Muralitharan (#11), Kumar Sangakkara (#52), Mahela Jayawardene (#66), Sanath Jayasuriya (#74), Chaminda Vaas (#77), Tillakaratne Dilshan (#100), Lasith Malinga (#102), Rangana Herath (#109), Aravinda de Silva (#119), Arjuna Ranatunga (#126), and Marvin Atapattu (#149).
Who are the greatest South African cricketers of all-time?
The greatest South African cricketer of all-time is Jacques Kallis (#13). The Top 10 South Africa cricketers in history are Jacques Kallis (#13), Barry Richards (#19), Graeme Pollock (#22), Dale Steyn (#36), AB De Villiers (#47), Shaun Pollock (#60), Graeme Smith (#78), Aubrey Faulkner (#81), Hashim Amla (#114), and Allan Donald (#116).
Who are the greatest Pakistan cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Pakistani cricketer of all-time is Wasim Akram (#18). The Top 10 Pakistan cricketers in history are Wasim Akram (#18), Imran Khan (#34), Waqar Younis (#38), Zaheer Abbas (#43), Hanif Mohammad (#44), Javed Miandad (#55), Mohammad Yousuf (#69), Inzamam Ul-Haq (#93), Younis Khan (#97), and Saqlain Mushtaq (#112).
Who are the greatest New Zealand cricketers of all-time?
The greatest New Zealand cricketer of all-time is Sir Richard Hadlee (#37). The Top 10 New Zealand cricketers in history are Richard Hadlee (#37), Daniel Vettori (#89), Ross Taylor (#92), Brendon McCullum (#104), Kane Williamson (#108), Martin Crowe (#129), Stephen Fleming (#131), Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Glenn Turner.
Who are the greatest Bangladesh cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Bangladeshi cricketer of all-time is Shakib Al Hasan (#75).
Who are the greatest Afghanistan cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Afghanistan cricketer of all-time is Rashid Khan (#107).
Who are the greatest Zimbabwe cricketers of all-time?
The greatest Zimbabwean cricketer of all-time is Andy Flower (#132).
The Criteria
The goal of this list is that from these 152 greatest cricketers of all time, you can pick sub-lists of the “Greatest All-Rounders of All-Time,” “Greatest Fast Bowlers of All-Time,” etc.
So how did we pick the greatest cricketers of all time? Well, we considered it all—Impact, captaincy, World Cup contributions, longevity, legacy, and statistics (10,000 runs, player of the match awards, 5-fers, 10-fers, ICC Hall of fame, Wisden cricketer of the century list, etc.)
This was a tougher challenge than I had initially anticipated. So to narrow down our choices, if a player satisfied any of the criteria below, they were automatically added to the list:
Member of ICC’s Hall of Fame
10,000 ODI or Test Runs
500 Test Wickets, 400 ODI Wickets
Selected as the Six Giants of the Wisden Century or Wisden Cricketers of the Century
To understand a player’s true impact from before the 1950s, excerpts from Wisden’s Almanack and ESPNCricinfo were used (and cited).
*Note: Sydney Barnes, Don Bradman, W.G. Grace, Jack Hobbs, Tom Richardson, and Victor Trumper were selected as the Six Giantsof the Wisden Century and Donald Bradman, Garfield Sobers, Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne, and Viv Richards were voted as Wisden Cricketer of the Century in 2000.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Greatest Cricketers of All Time
Sir Donald Bradman is considered the best cricketer of all-time, followed closely by WG Grace, Sachin Tendulkar, Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne, Frank Worrell, and Sir Garfield Sobers.
Who is the best batsman of all time?
Sir Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Jack Hobbs, Sir Frank Worrell, and Sir Viv Richards are the best batsman of all time. Sir Len Hutton, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Barry Richards, and Graeme Pollock are close behind.
Who is the best bowler of all time?
Shane Warne are Sydney Barnes are the best bowlers of all time. Behind them are Muralitharan, Wasim Akram, Malcolm Marshall, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Mcgrath, Fred Trueman, Jimmy Anderson, Dale Steyn, and Waqar Younis.
Who is the best all-rounder of all time?
Sir Garfield Sobers is the best all-rounder of all time with Jacques Kallis close behind. Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee, Jayasuriya, Shakib Al Hasan, Miller, and Faulkner also make the list.
Rain, rain go away, come again another day, little Rashid Khan wants to play. They never got to showcase their whole talent, did they? Ran Australia close with Rashid brilliance in Adelaide, Mujeeb’s Magic Ball, and Farooqi’s swing, some moments to cherish.
2. Australia
Foolish batting vs New Zealand, net run rate drops, never recovered, Stoinis only star, Starc-Cummins drop T20 credentials, Finch nearing the end.
3. Bangladesh
The Tigers were one win away from the semi-finals. That is already a big plus, isn’t it? Nothing was expected from them. Also Taskin’s menace and the elegancethat Liton Das is.
4. England
Double World Champions, shall I say more? The talent that Sam Curran is, redemptions of Alex Hales & Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler’s calm captaincy paves new era for England cricket. England’s message to the whole world – Change or Perish. This is the way to go in T20s.
A script so predictable that is starting to get boring. Virat Kohli’s usual magic, India breezes to the semi-finals, and then packs their bags only to return home. But disappointment aside, That Haris Rauf shot, SKY’s 360 game, and the emergency of Arshdeep is what we will all remember.
Coming of age. The Campher-Dockrell recovery vs Scotland set the tone for this World Cup, Balbirnie led from the front, Stirling with his one great innings, Fionn Hand’s Ball vs Stokes, Tector’s 71, and wins versus West Indies and England. Ireland are big boys now.
7. Namibia
Set the World Cup on fire with a dominating victory against Sri Lanka in the first game. Almost through to the Super 12s with David Wiese’s heroics but unfortunately the long boundaries went against them.
8. Netherlands
South Africa will be scarred forever courtesy Roelof Van Der Merwe’s catch and all-round performance. Consistent bowling throughout, Tim Pringle’s glasses, Max O’Dowd’s class, Ackermann’s assault, eye injury to de Leede, Van Meekeren’s fast bowling arrival, and enough support from the rest of the crew.
They came, they saw, they left from the knockout stageswithout conquering. Same old, same old. Glenn Phillips, Santner, and one innings each of Conway/Allen only positives.
10. Pakistan
Almost a replica of 1992. World Cup down under, lost the first couple, almost out.Then came the Shadab show versus South Africa and they never looked back. Naseem-Shaheen-Haris-Wasim made a potential fast bowling attack that challenged England, but an archaic batting strategy cost them.
The reflection of Rilee Rossouw. 100s or nothing. Dominated Bangladesh & India and lost must win games against Pakistan & Netherlands. Another legendary choke in the books.
Good, but not good enough. Injuries meant they were not even close to replicating their Asia Cup heroics. Hasaranga among the wickets again. But Off-field controversies are not helping.
13. Scotland
Brilliant victory against the West Indies but will be disappointed. Had one door in the Super 12s but could not stop an Ireland comeback. An end of era, retirements forthcoming.
14. UAE
Great bowling attack, some power hits, and one win against Namibia. That’s better than most expected.
15. West Indies
Hetmyer missed flight, West Indies missed on common sense cricket. Crashed out of the first round. Digging themselves in a hole now.
16. Zimbabwe
The team to support in this World Cup, lead superbly by Sean Williams with charismatic Sikandar Raza as their main man. Defeated Pakistan and were close to the semis if they hadn’t panicked in the Bangladesh run chase. Chakaba solid behind the stumps, Ngarava the pick of the bowlers with Muzarabani and Brad Evans other positives.
Thanks for reading the 2022 T20 World Cup Review article.
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