Who are the greatest English cricketers of them all?
England’s 150-year cricket history has ebbed and flowed between golden eras and long spells of frustration.
But much has changed in recent years. With new greats like Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Alastair Cook, Jimmy Anderson, and Stuart Broad cementing their legacies, and the World Cup triumphs of 2010, 2019, and 2022 redefining England’s white-ball identity, the landscape looks different now.
Which is why today, we are revisiting the legends of English cricket across formats and era— from Hobbs to Root, from Grace to Stokes— where every era left its own unforgettable mark.
Key Takeaways
Joe Root tops the list as the greatest English cricketer of all time, followed by legends like Ian Botham, Ben Stokes, Wally Hammond, James Anderson, Jack Hobbs, Alastair Cook, Graham Gooch, Kevin Pietersen, and Len Hutton rounding out the Top 10.
The Top 65 features a well-balanced mix: 10 all-rounders, 9 fast bowlers, 7 spinners, 5 wicketkeepers, and 34 specialist batters.
Era-wise, the list includes 26 players who featured after the year 2000, 22 players from the 1950–1990 era, and 17 pioneers from 1877 to 1950.
To bring more structure, today we introduce a simple yet comprehensive points-based ranking system designed to fairly compare the greatest across eras, formats, and roles.
Clutch innings, key spells, decisive contributions under pressure.
Big Stage Impact
20
Performances in World Cups, ICC finals, or major Test series like the Ashes.
Longevity
15
Sustained excellence across years; number of matches.
Versatility
10
Success across formats, roles, conditions (e.g., all-rounders).
Accolades
10
Major awards, ICC recognitions, Player of the Match/Series awards.
Leadership
5
Impact as captain, leading bowling attacks, building winning cultures or historic victories.
Bonus Points
Bonus
Points
What It Rewards
Era Bonus
5
For excelling in tougher eras (uncovered pitches, no World Cups, etc.).
Fielding/Wicketkeeping Bonus
3
Outstanding fielding, slip catching, or wicketkeeping achievements.
100-Test Bonus
2
Reward for longevity milestones (100+ Tests played).
For the Era bonus, pre-1950 players received +5, 1950-1975 got +4 (when more Tests were played), 1975-1990 players got +3 (when ODI cricket was introduced), 1990-2002 players got +2.
In an event of a tie, a player who played more Test matches won the tiebreaker.
The point system may still include a bit of subjectivity, but you can see my thought process with this ranking. It was difficult to differentiate between #17-35 since each player excelled in one area or the other.
Note: This ranking only considers performances in the international arena (Test, T20, ODI) and not in County Cricket, other domestic cricket, or franchise T20 leagues (even though FC stats will be provided for players from earlier eras).
Top 65 Greatest English Cricketers of All-Time (Ranked)
Honorable Mentions: Those Who Came Close
Players who had exceptional careers and moments but just missed the cut for the Top 65.
Those Who Just Missed Out (66-70): Keith Fletcher, Angus Fraser, Frank Tyson, Geoff Arnold, Douglas Jardine
Others Considered:
Matthew Hoggard, Mark Butcher, Matt Prior, Ashley Giles, Andy Caddick, Steve Harmison, Dominic Cork, Criag Kieswetter, Liam Plunkett, Simon Jones, Monty Panesar, Alex Hales, Ted Dexter, Robin Smith, Mike Hendrick, Fletcher, Maurice Leyland, TG Evans, Bob Taylor, Jack Russell, Stanley Jackson, Tim Bresnan, David Lloyd, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Graeme Hick, John Emburey, Fred Titmus, Chris Old, Mike Smith, Archie Maclaren, Alfred Shaw, Basil D’Oliveira
Possible Future Stars: Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Ollie Pope, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Ollie Robinson
51-65: The Final Cut
Players who rose through the grind to leave their mark—not flawless, but unforgettable.
65. Mike Brearley (1976–1981, Middlesex) — 55 Points
Role: Batter (Captaincy Specialist)
Statistically not significant, Brearley makes the list on the back of his captaincy folklore. Mike Brearley led England through famous Ashes victories, maximizing the talents of those around him.
Matches: 39 Tests, 25 ODIs
Runs: 1442 (Tests), 510 (ODIs)
Hundreds: 0 (Tests), 0 (ODIs)
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (captained 31 Tests)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Legendary captain of England’s 1981 Ashes comeback; known for bringing the best out of Ian Botham. W/L ratio of 4.5 (only second to Douglas Jardine’s 9.00). Wisden Cricketer (1977).
Without Jason Roy, Australia would have won another ODI World Cup. Without Jason Roy, England’s white ball revolution would have been incomplete.
Role: Right-hand opening batter
Matches: 116 (ODIs), 64 (T20Is), 5 (Tests)
Runs: 4271 (ODIs), 1522 (T20Is), 187 (Tests)
Hundreds: 12 (ODIs)
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅ (2019 ODI WC)
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 3rd Most Hundreds in ODI cricket for England, Key figure in 2019 World Cup winning team, set multiple ODI partnership records with Jonny Bairstow.
Notable Achievements: Captained England to historic 2005 Ashes victory, vital figure in England’s early 2000s resurgence, Wisden Cricketer (2003). Member of 2007 ICC Test Team of the Year
59. Marcus Trescothick (2000–2006, Somerset) — 71 Points
Role: Left-hand Opening Batter
A fearless and free-scoring opener, Marcus Trescothick set the tone for England’s resurgence in the early 2000s with his aggressive approach at the top of the order.
Matches: 123 (ODIs), 76 (Tests), 3 (T20Is)
Runs: 4335 (ODIs), 5825 (Tests), 166 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 12/14 (ODI/Tests), Average: 43.79/37.37
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (briefly in 2 Tests and 10 ODIs)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Key architect of 2005 Ashes win, multiple ODI centuries, dominant opening partnerships, Wisden Cricketer (2005)
57. Chris Woakes — 72 Points (2011–Present, Warwickshire)
Role: Right-arm Fast-Medium Bowling Allrounder
A quiet achiever in England’s rise to white-ball dominance, Woakes delivered crucial spells in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and final, while offering reliable lower-order runs and new-ball consistency across formats.
Matches: 48 Tests, 119 ODIs, 33 T20Is
Wickets: 130 (Tests), 166 (ODIs), 29 (T20Is)
Runs: 1861 (Tests), 1526 (ODIs)
Hundreds: 1 (Test)
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅ ✅ (2019 ODI WC, 2022 T20 WC)
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 2019 World Cup semifinal – Player of the Match; consistent contributor in both white and red-ball cricket; one of England’s most trusted bowlers in recent years across conditions.
56. Moeen Ali (2014–Present, Worcestershire) — 73 Points
Role: All-Rounder (Left Arm Batter, Right Arm Off Spin)
England’s dynamic all-rounder across formats, Moeen Ali’s versatility and attacking flair made him a critical figure in both red-ball and white-ball revolutions. Part of England’s rise in limited overs cricket.
Matches: 138 (ODIs), 92 (T20Is), 68 (Tests)
Runs: 2355 (ODIs), 1229 (T20Is), 3094 (Tests)
Hundreds: 3/5 (Tests)
Wickets: 112 (ODIs), 53 (T20Is), 204 (Tests)
5-fers: 5 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 20
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained England? ✅ (captained in 12 T20Is)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 6th highest Player of the Match awards for England, Member of 2019 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup winning squads, crucial all-format contributions. Wisden Cricketer (2015),
England’s premier off-spinner of the modern era, Graeme Swann combined attacking flair with relentless consistency, playing a pivotal role in England’s rise to the No.1 Test ranking.
Matches: 79 (ODIs), 60 (Tests), 39 (T20Is)
Wickets: 104 (ODIs), 255 (Tests), 51 (T20Is)
5-fers: 1 (ODIs), 17 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅ (2010 T20 WC)
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Key bowler in England’s No. 1 Test team era, dominated 2009 and 2010–11 Ashes series, first English spinner to 50 T20I wickets. England’s fifth highest wicket-taker across formats, Wisden Cricketer (2010). Member of ICC Test Team of the Year (2010-11, 13) & 2011 ODI Team of the Year.
54. Adil Rashid (2009–Present, Yorkshire) — 74 Points
Role: Leg-Spinner
A world-class wrist spinner, Adil Rashid has been at the heart of England’s white-ball revolution, delivering consistently on the biggest stages including World Cup triumphs.
Matches: 19 (Tests), 132 (ODIs), 103 (T20Is)
Wickets: 60 (Tests), 207 (ODIs), 131 (T20Is)
Player of Match Awards: 11
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Crucial figure in England’s 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup victories; among England’s leading wicket-takers in white-ball cricket.
A tough, resilient opener, John Edrich combined immense patience with occasional ferocity, becoming one of England’s most reliable run-scorers during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Matches: 77 (Tests), 564 (FC)
Runs: 5,138 (Tests), 39,790 (FC)
Hundreds: 12/103 (Tests/FC), Average: 43.54
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (briefly captained one Test in 1971)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Scored 310* against New Zealand, crossed 100 first-class centuries milestone, key anchor in multiple Ashes campaigns, 1966 Wisden Cricketer.
A gritty, elegant craftsman, Graham Thorpe stood tall during a turbulent era for England, consistently delivering against top attacks around the world.Rest in peace.
Matches: 100 (Tests), 82 (ODIs)
Runs: 6744 (Tests). 2380 (ODIs)
Hundreds: 16 (Tests), Average: 44.66 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Stabilized England’s middle-order during the 1990s, key role in setting up the Vaughan-era resurgence, 1998 Wisden Cricketer
Career Stats (20)
Match-Winning (20)
Big Stage Impact (20)
Longevity (15)
Versatility (10)
Accolades (10)
Leadership (5)
Era Bonus (5)
Fielding Bonus (3)
100-Test Bonus (2)
Total
15
14
12
12
6
8
0
2
3
2
74
41-50: The Battle Hardened Greats
This tier includes battle-hardened leaders, early era greats, and players who quietly stitched together the spine of England’s teams — often without the spotlight, but never without impact.
Notable Achievements: England’s leading Test wicket-taker at retirement, dominated the 1953 Ashes, famous for mastery of the leg-cutter, Wisden Cricketer (1947)
49. Allan Lamb (1982–1992, Northamptonshire) — 75 Points
Role: Batter
A stylish, aggressive middle-order batsman, Allan Lamb was a pillar of England’s batting through the 1980s, shining brightly in high-pressure World Cup campaigns and major Test series. Lamb’s 45 (55) kept England close in the 1987 World Cup Final. So close, yet so far.
Matches: 79 Tests, 122 ODIs
Runs: 4,656 (Tests), 4,010 (ODIs)
Hundreds: 14 (Tests), 4 (ODIs)
Player of Match Awards: 14
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (briefly captained in 1990)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Key contributor to England’s run to the 1987 ODI WC Final, critical knocks during the 1986-87 Ashes, 1981 Wisden Cricketer.
48. Mike Gatting (1977–1995, Middlesex) — 75 Points
Role: Right-handed Middle-Order Batter
Gritty, resilient, and unafraid to take on the fastest bowlers of his time, Gatting helped England through a turbulent era with a combination of toughness and leadership.
Captained England? ✅ (led England to Ashes victory in 1986–87)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Captained England to their last Ashes victory in Australia for 24 years (1986–87), remembered for bravery against pace and playing a key part in England’s 1980s rebuild, Wisden Cricketer (1984)
One of cricket’s earliest true batting artists, Ranjitsinhji dazzled with elegance, introducing the leg glance and redefining batting technique for generations to follow.
Matches: 15 (Tests), 307 (First-Class)
Runs: 989 (Tests), 24,692 (First-Class)
Hundreds: 2 (Tests), 72 (First-Class)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Revolutionized batting with innovation and wristy strokeplay; scored a century on Test debut against Australia; his fluid style left a lasting legacy on the game’s evolution, Wisden Cricketer (1897)
One of England’s most prolific and dependable batsmen between the wars, Hendren was known for his technical mastery, durability, and cheerful resilience at the crease.
Matches: 51 (Tests), 833 (FC)
Runs: 3525 (Tests), 57611 (FC) — second-most in history)
Hundreds: 7 (Tests), 170 (FC)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer (1920), Scored over 57,000 first-class runs and 170 centuries; held England’s record for most Test appearances (51) until post-WWII; pivotal figure in stabilizing England’s batting during the interwar period.
Role: Right-handed Middle-Order Batter and Right-arm Medium-Fast Bowler (Allrounder)
Charismatic and controversial, Greig was a fierce competitor who inspired England with his leadership and impactful all-round performances in the 1970s.
Matches: 58 (Tests), 22 (ODIs)
Runs: 3599 (Tests), 269 (ODIs)
Wickets: 141 (Tests), 19 (ODIs)
Hundreds: 8 (Tests), 32 (FC)
5-fers: 4 (Tests), 45 (FC)
Player of the Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (led in 14 Tests, 1975–77)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer (1975), Consistently contributed with both bat and ball; captained England through a volatile era; known for his fighting spirit and adaptability in overseas conditions, especially against West Indies and Australia.
44. Tom Graveney (1951-1969, Gloucestershire & Worcestershire) — 76 Points
Role: Batter
A classical and elegant batsman, Tom Graveney combined grace with mountainous run-scoring, leaving behind one of the most prolific careers in English first-class history.
Matches: 79 (Tests), 515 (FC)
Runs: 4882 (Tests), 47793 (FC)
Hundreds: 11/122 (Tests, FC), Average: 44.37
Player of Match Awards: 1
Captained England? ✅ (captained 1 Test match)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 1953 Wisden Cricketer, Helped England regain the 1954-55 Ashes, Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1953)
43. Ian Bell (2004–2015, Warwickshire) — 76 Points
Role: Right-hand middle-order batter
England’s greatest cover driver.
Matches: 161 (ODIs), 118 (Tests), 8 (T20Is)
Runs: 5416 (ODIs), 7727 (Tests), 188 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 4 (ODIs), 22 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: figure in multiple Ashes wins, ICC Champions Trophy finalist, among England’s most aesthetically pleasing batters, 2008 Wisden Cricketer, 2006 Emerging Cricketer of the Year.
One of the greatest spin bowlers England has ever produced, Hedley Verity’s immaculate control and devastating spells made him a giant of the pre-war era. Tragically passed away at the age of 38 as a prisoner of war.
A magician with the ball, Jim Laker’s pinpoint accuracy and variations culminated in one of Test cricket’s greatest feats — 19 wickets in a single match.
Matches: 46 (Tests), 450 (FC)
Wickets: 193 (Tests), 1,944 (FC)
5-Wicket Hauls: 9/127 (Tests/FC)
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 19 wickets in a single Test (Old Trafford 1956), cornerstone of England’s spin dominance in the 1950s, Wisden Cricketer (1952)
Career Stats (20)
Match-Winning (20)
Big Stage Impact (20)
Longevity (15)
Versatility (10)
Accolades (10)
Leadership (5)
Era Bonus (5)
Fielding Bonus (3)
100-Test Bonus (2)
Total
16
18
14
12
5
8
0
4
0
0
77
31-40: The Defining Performers
Players who created decisive moments and major contributions even if not consistent dominators.
40. Paul Collingwood (2001–2011, Durham) — 77 Points
Role: All-Rounder
England’s ultimate team man, Paul Collingwood’s gritty batting, sharp fielding, and occasional bowling made him a pillar in all formats.
Matches: 197 (ODIs), 68 (Tests), 36 (T20Is)
Runs: 5092 (ODIs), 4259 (Tests), 583 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 10/5 (Tests), Average: 40.56/35.36
Wickets: 111 (ODIs), 17 (Tests), 16 (T20Is)
5-fers: 1 (ODIs)
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 2010 T20 World Cup-winning captain, three-time Ashes winner, known for spectacular fielding, Wisden Cricketer (2007) & Member of 2010 ICC ODI Team of the Year
Pioneered the wicketkeeper-batter role. Become one of England’s most reliable and stylish run-scorers in the 1930s.
Matches: 47 (Tests), 593 (FC)
Runs: 2434 (Tests), 37248 (FC)
Hundreds: 8 (Tests), 102 (FC)
Dismissals: 74 (Tests), 417 (FC)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (captained 1 Test match in 1939)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: First Wicketkeeper to score 100 FC hundreds, Record holder for most Test centuries (8) by a designated keeper (stood for decades). Wisden Cricketer (1929)
Sharp, aggressive, and fiercely competitive, John Snow spearheaded England’s bowling attacks in the late 1960s and early 1970s, thriving in hostile conditions and big series.
Notable Achievements: Lead bowler in England’s famous 1970–71 Ashes triumph; remembered for devastating spells against Australia and West Indies; among the finest hostile quicks of his generation, Wisden Cricketer (1973)
37. Michael Atherton (1989–2001, Lancashire) — 78 Points
Role: Right-hand opening batter
A stoic and resilient opener, Michael Atherton embodied grit and determination, often leading England’s resistance against dominant oppositions in the 1990s.
One of the finest glovemen in cricket history, Alan Knott combined acrobatic wicketkeeping with vital lower-order batting during England’s 1970s successes.
35. George Lohmann (1886–1896, Surrey) — 79 Points
Role: Bowler
One of the deadliest seam bowlers in cricket history, George Lohmann dominated with relentless accuracy and unrivaled averages during the late 19th century.
Matches: 18 (Tests), 204 (FC)
Wickets: 112 (Tests), 1,841 (FC)
5-Wicket Hauls:9 (Tests), 152 (FC)
Captained England? ✅ (captained England twice)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Fastest to 100 Test wickets (in just 16 matches), lowest career Test bowling average (10.75), was a menace to the batters throughout the 1890s, 1889 Wisden Cricketer
34. Harold Larwood (1926–1933, Nottinghamshire) — 79 Points
Role: Right-arm fast bowler
The fearsome spearhead of the Bodyline series, Harold Larwood terrorized batsmen with raw pace and precision during one of the most controversial but impactful eras in cricket history.
33. Brian Statham (1951–1965, Lancashire) — 80 Points
Role: Right-arm fast bowler
The silent assassin of England’s pace attack, Brian Statham combined relentless accuracy with remarkable sportsmanship, becoming one of England’s most respected seamers.
30. Ray Illingworth (1958–1973, Yorkshire & Leicestershire) — 80 Points
Role: Right-arm Off-Spinner and Middle-Order Batter
One of England’s most influential captains, Illingworth combined sharp tactical acumen with steady all-round performances, leading England to a dominant era in the early 1970s.
Matches: 61 (Tests), 787 (FC)
Runs: 1836 (Tests), 24134 (FC)
Wickets: 122 (Tests), 2072 (FC)
Hundreds: 2 (Tests), 23 (FC)
Five-fors: 3 (Tests), 152 (FC)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅ (Captain in 31 Tests, led famous 1970–71 Ashes series victory)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer (1960), Captained England to an unbeaten 27-Test run including winning the Ashes 1970–71 in Australia; contributed consistently with both bat and ball during his tenure; remembered as one of England’s most tactical and resilient leaders.
29. Bob Willis (1971–1984, Surrey & Warwickshire) — 80 Points
Role: Fast Bowler
A tireless and intimidating presence, Bob Willis spearheaded England’s attack with heart and pace, famously leading them to Ashes glory in 1981 with 29 wickets in the series.
Matches: 90 (Tests), 64 (ODIs)
Wickets: 325 (Tests), 80 (ODIs)
5-fers: 16 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 2
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Iconic 8/43 at Headingley 1981, over 300 Test wickets, vice-captain in pivotal Ashes moments, Wisden Cricketer (1978)
One of England’s most versatile and dynamic players, Jonny Bairstow has delivered match-winning performances across formats, redefining England’s aggressive batting identity.
Notable Achievements: Member of 2019 World Cup winning team, key figure in Bazball era, multiple match-winning innings in ICC tournaments. 2016 Wisden Cricketer, Member of 2018 ODI ICC Team of the Year & Test Team of the Year (2016, 2022)
24. Sir Andrew Strauss (2004–2012, Middlesex) — 82 Points
Role: Left Handed Opening Batter
A tactically sharp captain and solid opener, Andrew Strauss was central to England’s 2005 and 2010–11 Ashes triumphs.
Matches: 127 (ODIs), 100 (Tests)
Runs: 4205 (ODIs), 7037 (Tests)
Hundreds: 6 (ODIs), 21 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 8
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests?
Notable Achievements: Captained England to No. 1 Test ranking, captained Ashes victory in Australia (2010–11), 8 Player of the Series Awards, Wisden Cricketer (2005), Member of the 2009 ICC Test Team of the Year
22. Andrew Flintoff (1998–2009, Lancashire) — 84 Points
Role: Fast Bowling All Rounder
An explosive all-rounder, Andrew Flintoff captured the imagination of a generation with his power hitting, fiery pace, and larger-than-life charisma.Hope he recovers well from the horrific accident.
Matches: 141 (ODIs), 79 (Tests), 7 (T20Is)
Runs: 3394 (ODIs), 3845 (Tests), 76 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 3 (ODIs), 5 (Tests)
Wickets: 169 (ODIs), 226 (Tests), 5 (T20Is)
5-fers: 2 (ODIs), 3 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 20
Player of Series Awards: 7
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Player of the Series in 2005 Ashes, pivotal in England’s Test and ODI resurgence, 2004 Wisden Cricketer, ICC Cricketer of the Year (2005), ODI Cricketer of the Year (2004), Member of Test Team of the Year (2005-06), ODI Team of the Year (2004-06)
An adaptable and fiercely competitive cricketer, Alec Stewart’s flexibility across roles made him a cornerstone of England’s batting and leadership for over a decade.
A paragon of classical technique and gentlemanly spirit, Colin Cowdrey was the first cricketer to play 100 Tests and a bedrock of England’s batting for two decades.
Matches: 114 (Tests)
Runs: 7624
Hundreds: 22
Batsman of Match Awards: 1
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: First player to reach 100 Tests, key architect of Ashes battles in the 50s and 60s, Wisden Cricketer (1956)
Notable Achievements: 2019 World Cup winner (key Super Over & keeping contribution), 2022 T20 World Cup winning captain, revolutionized England’s white-ball batting, Wisden Cricketer (2019). Member of ICC ODI Team of the Year (2016, 2018-19) & T20I Team of the Year (2021-22). Highest run scorer for England in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
One of England’s most graceful cricketers, Frank Woolley dazzled as a flowing batsman, brilliant fielder, and reliable bowler over a staggering career.
Matches: 64 (Tests)
Runs: 3283
Hundreds: 5
Wickets: 83
5-fer: 4
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 58959 Runs with 145 tons in FC cricket and 2066 wickets. Third Longest Career, Wisden Cricketer (1911)
15. Fred Trueman (1952–1965, Yorkshire) — 86 Points
Role: Right Arm Fast Bowler
“Fiery Fred” was England’s ultimate fast bowling force, revered for his aggression, consistency, and trailblazing wicket-taking.
Matches: 67 (Tests)
Wickets: 307
5-fers: 17
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: First bowler to 300 Test wickets, dominant against top opposition, iconic figure of post-war English cricket, Wisden Cricketer (1953)
Role: Left-arm orthodox spinner, later opening batter
A timeless cricketing giant, Wilfred Rhodes starred as a bowler, batter, and all-rounder across one of the longest careers in cricket history.
Matches: 58 (Tests)
Runs: 2325
Hundreds: 2
Average: 26.96 (Bowling), 30.19 (Batting)
Wickets: 127
5-fers: 6
Captained England? ✅ (once)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Longest Test Career (30 years 315 days). Over 4,000 first-class wickets, opened both batting and bowling for England, Wisden Cricketer (1899)
Career Stats (20)
Match-Winning (20)
Big Stage Impact (20)
Longevity (15)
Versatility (10)
Accolades (10)
Leadership (5)
Era Bonus (5)
Fielding Bonus (3)
100-Test Bonus (2)
Total
15
15
16
15
8
8
3
5
2
0
87
Notable Achievements: Exceptional Test average for his era, key contributor to many Ashes triumphs, famed for adaptability under pressure
13. Stuart Broad (2007–2023, Nottinghamshire) — 87 Points
Role: Right Arm Pace/Left Arm Batter
Tall, aggressive, and unrelenting, Stuart Broad was the ultimate Ashes warrior and a relentless match-winner for England for over 15 years.Those Spells.
Matches: 167 (Tests), 121 (ODIs), 56 (T20Is)
Wickets: 604 (Tests), 178 (ODIs), 65 (T20Is)
5-fers: 20 (Tests), 1 (ODIs)
Runs: 3662 (Tests), 529 (ODIs), 118 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 1 (Test)
Player of Match Awards: 14
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained England? ✅ (T20I captain and briefly Test captain)
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Second-most wickets for England, Ashes hero (2015, 2019), devastating spells including 8/15 against Australia, Wisden Cricketer (2010), Selected in Test Team of the Decade, Selected as member of ICC Test Team of the Year (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2023)
12. Herbert Sutcliffe (1924–1935, Yorkshire) — 88 Points
Role: Right-hand opening batter
A master of technique under pressure, Herbert Sutcliffe forged one of the most formidable opening partnerships and dominated tough batting conditions.
Matches: 54 (Tests)
Runs: 4555
Hundreds: 16, Batting: 60.73 Average
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Only player to score 16+ centuries with a 60+ Test average. Formed key opening partnership with Jack Hobbs, Wisden Cricketer (1920)
11. Sydney Barnes (1901–1914, Staffordshire) — 89 Points
Role: Right Arm Fast Bowler
A revolutionary, Sydney Barnes blended pace, swing, and seam to become arguably the most unplayable bowler of his time.Consider the greatest fast bowler of the twentieth century.
Matches: 27 (Tests)
Wickets: 189
5-fers: 24
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Record 189 wickets in just 27 Tests, regarded by contemporaries as the finest bowler in history, Wisden Cricketer (1910)
Career Stats (20)
Match-Winning (20)
Big Stage Impact (20)
Longevity (15)
Versatility (10)
Accolades (10)
Leadership (5)
Era Bonus (5)
Fielding Bonus (3)
100-Test Bonus (2)
Total
18
19
17
13
7
8
2
5
0
0
89
Top 10: The Titans of English Cricket
The absolute legends. Players who did not just succeed, they transformed the game for England for generations to come.
Role: Right-handed middle order batter, Part-Time Off Spin
A fearless maverick, Kevin Pietersen’s flamboyant strokeplay and game-changing innings lit up all formats for England. Possibly England’s greatest matchwinner.
Matches: 136 (ODIs), 104 (Tests), 37 (T20Is)
Runs: 4440 (ODIs), 8181 (Tests), 1176 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 9 (ODIs), 23 (Tests)
Wickets: 7 (ODIs), 10 (Tests), 1 (T20Is)
Player of Match Awards: 26
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 2005 Ashes hero, key performer in England’s 2010 T20 World Cup triumph, known for audacious stroke innovation. Member of ICC Test Team of the Year (2007-08), ODI Cricketer of the Year(2005, 06, 09), Wisden Cricketer (2006), ICC Emerging Player of the Year (2005), Player of the Tournament (2010 T20 WC), ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year (2005)
Role: Top Order Batter, Part-Time Right Arm Medium Pace
One of England’s most prolific run-scorers, Graham Gooch combined physical fitness and mental toughness to dominate bowling attacks for two decades. Took England to the 1992 ODI World Cup Final.
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1980), Epic 333 against India, England’s leading scorer for years, captained England to a World Cup final (1992). 44,846 FC runs, 22,211 List A Runs.
Notable Achievements: England’s highest Test run-getter, captained England to series wins in India and Ashes triumphs, First England Batter to score 10,000 Test Runs, Wisden Cricketer (2012), ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2011). Selected in ICC Test Team of the Decade. Member of ICC Test Team of the Year (2011-13, 2015 & 16).
The “Master,” Sir Jack Hobbs was a complete cricketer, blending unmatched technique, patience, and grace to dominate both Tests and first-class cricket.
Matches: 61 (Tests)
Runs: 5410
Hundreds: 15, Average: 56.94
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer of the Year twice (1909, 1926), Oldest batter to score a hundred (46 years, 82 days). Over 61,000 first-class runs (record), most centuries across all formats at retirement
5. Sir James ‘Jimmy’ Anderson (2003–Present, Lancashire) — 92 Points
Role: Right Arm Swing Pacer
The master of swing, Sir James Anderson redefined fast bowling longevity, precision, and skill well into his 40s. 704 Test wickets by a pacer, will never be overtaken I reckon.
Matches: 194 (ODIs), 188 (Tests), 19 (T20Is)
Wickets: 269 (ODIs), 704 (Tests), 18 (T20Is)
5-fers: 2 (ODIs), 32 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained England? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Highest wicket-taker among pace bowlers in history, 100+ Ashes wickets, backbone of England’s Test success for two decades, Wisden Cricketer (2009), Selected in Test Team of the Decade, Member of ICC Team of the Year (2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2022)
An elegant powerhouse, Wally Hammond combined stylish strokeplay with brute force and athleticism to dominate interwar cricket.
According to Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack, “the judgment of cricket history is that the greatest batsmen of the game has known are – in order of appearance, only – WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, and Don Bradman. Others may come close indeed to those four but do not quite take place with them.”
Matches: 85 (Tests)
Runs: 7249
Hundreds: 22, Average: 58.45
Wickets: 83
5-fers: 2
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 1928 Wisden Cricketer, Former highest Test run-scorer, prolific century maker, England captain, famed for batting records and slip fielding. Best of 336* in Tests, scored 50,551 FC runs along with 167 hundreds.
Role: All-Rounder (Left Hand Batter, Right Arm Medium Pace), Captain
A once-in-a-generation match-winner, Ben Stokes’ fierce spirit, iconic innings, and leadership have etched him into English cricket folklore.He can take superhuman catches, win World Cup finals and Ashes out of thin air, and can bowl 140 kph+ as well.
Matches: 114 (ODIs), 110 (Tests), 43 (T20Is)
Runs: 3463 (ODIs), 6719 (Tests), 585 (T20Is)
Hundreds: 5 (ODIs), 13 (Tests)
Wickets: 74 (ODIs), 210 (Tests), 26 (T20Is)
5-fers: 1 (ODIs), 4 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 19
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 2019 ICC Cricketer of the Year, 2022 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, 2016 Wisden Cricketer, Selected in Test Team of the Decade. Member of ICC Test Team of the Year (2016, 17, 19, 22) & ODI Team of the Year (2017-19). Hero of the 2019 World Cup Final, 2022 T20 World Cup winner, Ashes miracle at Headingley 2019, current Test captain. Also, see Bazball.
Role: All-Rounder (Right Harm Batter/Right Arm Medium Pace)
Matches: 116 (ODIs), 102 (Tests)
Runs: 2113 (ODIs), 5200 (Tests)
Hundreds: 14 (Tests)
Wickets: 145 (ODIs), 383 (Tests)
5-fers: 27 (Tests)
Player of Match Awards: 19
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained England? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 1981 “Botham’s Ashes,” legendary performances with both bat and ball, England’s greatest match-winner for a decade, 1978 Wisden Cricketer
The calm in England’s chaos for over a decade, Joe Root piled on runs with grace and grit, becoming the heartbeat of the Test side and one of the most dependable batters the country has ever seen.He went from a consistent contributor to an all-time great post-2021.
Notable Achievements: Fifth-highest run-scorer in Test history, Player of the Series in 2019 Ashes, key contributor to England’s white-ball and Test success, Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2014, ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2021. Member of ICC Test team of the Year (2014-16, 2021, 2023-24) & ODI Team of the Year (2018).
Ranking the greatest English cricketers across eras is both a celebration and a challenge. How do you weigh Sydney Barnes’ domination against Jimmy Anderson’s longevity? Or Jack Hobbs’ legacy against Joe Root’s modern mastery? Should WG Grace have been ranked much higher?
Every player on this list left an undeniable mark on England’s cricketing story — and shaped how the game is remembered today.
Together, they told the story of English cricket in all its triumphs and trials.
Who are your top English cricketers of all time? Which moments or players would make your personal list? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments — we’d love to hear your takes on the legends who shaped the game.
****
Most Prolific England Cricketers: Statistical Overview
Which England Cricketer Has taken the Most Wickets?
We first look at the top 10 wicket-takers across formats. Also listed below are the top few wicket-takers in each format for England.
Test: Jimmy Anderson (704), Stuart Broad (604), Ian Botham (383), Bob Willis (325), Fred Trueman (307), Derek Underwood (297), Graeme Swann (255), Brian Statham (252)
ODI: Jimmy Anderson (269), Darren Gough (234), Adil Rashid (207)
T20I: Adil Rashid (131), Chris Jordan (108), Stuart Broad (65), Mark Wood (54), Sam Curran (54), Graeme Swann (51), David Willey (51), Moeen Ali (51)
Top 10 Most Wickets by England Bowlers Across Formats
Player
Wickets
Jimmy Anderson
991
Stuart Broad
847
Ian Botham
528
Darren Gough
466
Graeme Swann
410
Bob Willis
405
Adil Rashid
398
Andrew Flintoff
392
Chris Woakes
385
Moeen Ali
366
Which England Cricketer Has Scored the Most Runs?
We first look at the top 10 run scorer across formats.
Test: Joe Root (12972), Alastair Cook (12472), Graham Gooch (8900), Alec Stewart (8463), David Gower (8231), Kevin Pietersen (8181), Geoffrey Boycott (8114), Michael Atherton (7728), Ian Bell (7727), Colin Cowdrey (7624), Wally Hammond (7249), Andrew Strauss (7037), Len Hutton (6971), Ken Barrington (6806), Graham Thorpe (6744), Ben Stokes (6719), Jonny Bairstow (6042)
ODI: Eoin Morgan (6957), Joe Root (6541), Ian Bell (5416), Paul Collingwood (5092), Jos Buttler (5074)
T20I: Jos Buttler (3535), Eoin Morgan (2458), Alex Hales (2074), Dawid Malan (1892), Jonny Bairstow (1671), Jason Roy (1522)
Top 10 Most Runs by England Batters Across Formats
Player
Runs
Joe Root
20406
Alastair Cook
15737
Kevin Pietersen
13779
Ian Bell
13331
Graham Gooch
13190
Alec Stewart
13140
Jonny Bairstow
11581
Jos Buttler
11516
David Gower
11401
Andrew Strauss
11315
Ben Stokes
10767
Marcus Trescothick
10326
Eoin Morgan
10115
England Cricket Records
Most Dismissals/Catches: Jos Buttler (503), Alec Stewart (451), Jonny Bairstow (361), Matt Prior (344), Joe Root (310), Alan Knott (285)
100 Test Club: Anderson (188), Broad (167), Cook (161), Root (152), Stewart (133), Bell (118), Gooch (118), Gower (117), Atherton (115), Cowdrey (114), Stokes (110), Boycott (108), Pietersen (104), Botham (102), Bairstow (100), Strauss (100), Thorpe (100)
Most Matches as Test Captain: Joe Root (64), Alastair Cook (59), Michael Atherton (54), Michael Vaughan (51), Andrew Strauss (50), Nasser Hussain (45), Peter May (41), Graham Gooch (34), David Gower (32), Ben Stokes (32), Mike Brearley (31), Ray Illingworth (31)
Most Matches as ODI Captain: Eoin Morgan (126), Alastair Cook (69), Andrew Strauss (62), Michael Vaughan (60), Nasser Hussain (56), Graham Gooch (50)
ICC Hall of Fame: Sydney Barnes, Ken Barrington, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Denis Compton, Alastair Cook, Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Wally Hammond, Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, George Lohmann, Peter May, Wilfred Rhodes, Brian Statham, Herbert Sutcliffe, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Bob Willis
What is greatness? William Shakespeare once aptly said,
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.”
Today we discuss the greatest Indian cricketers of all-time across formats and eras. Some of them are born geniuses. Others toiled their way to greatness, one ball at a time.
Let’s be honest, we have all done this exercise in our head a few times in our lives. However, with India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory, the nation now has new heroes.
We considered over 150 cricketers who have represented India in the last 130 years and came up with the Top 60.
Here is sneak peek—Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni have been chosen as the Top 5 Greatest Indian cricketers of all-time.
We looked at India’s major victories and which players contributed to those triumphs. This includes famous Test wins, T20 & ODI World Cup wins, Champions Trophy, etc.
World Cup Wins: 1983 ODI World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup
Other ICC Wins: 2002 Champions Trophy, 2013 Champions Trophy
Runners Up: 2000 Champions Trophy, 2003 ODI World Cup, 2014 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy, 2023 ODI World Cup
Major Test Series Victories: India Tour of England 1971, India Tour of England 1986, Australia Tour of India 2001, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21
For cricketers who played before the 1970s, we considered anecdotal references and stories as well as first class statistics.
Statistics
We considered statistics across formats in each of the areas: batting, bowling, fielding, keeping, and captaincy.
Most Wickets
Test
ODI
T20I
A Kumble (619)
A Kumble (334)
Y Chahal (96)
R Ashwin (516)
J Srinath (315)
B Kumar (90)
K Dev (434)
A Agarkar (288)
J Bumrah (89)
H Singh (417)
Z Khan (269)
H Pandya (86)
I Sharma (311)
H Singh (265)
A Singh (83)
Z Khan (311)
K Dev (253)
R Ashwin (72)
R Jadeja (294)
R Jadeja (220)
K Yadav (69)
B Bedi (266)
V Prasad (196)
A Patel (62)
B Chandrashekar (242)
M Shami (195)
R Jadeja (54)
J Srinath (236)
I Pathan (173)
R Bishnoi (48)
Most Runs
Test
ODI
T20I
S Tendulkar (15921)
S Tendulkar (18426)
R Sharma (4231)
R Dravid (13265)
V Kohli (13872)
V Kohli (4188)
S Gavaskar (10122)
S Ganguly (11221)
SK Yadav (2432)
V Kohli (8848)
R Dravid (10768)
KL Rahul (2265)
VVS Laxman (8781)
R Sharma (10767)
S Dhawan (1759)
V Sehwag (8503)
MS Dhoni (10599)
MS Dhoni (1617)
S Ganguly (7212)
M Azharuddin (9378)
S Raina (1605)
C Pujara (7195)
Y Singh (8609)
H Pandya (1523)
D Vengsarkar (6868)
V Sehwag (7995)
R Pant (1209)
M Azharuddin (6215)
S Dhawan (6793)
Y Singh (1177)
Most Matches As Captain
*Matches Won/Matches Captained
Test
ODI
T20I
V Kohli (40/68)
MS Dhoni (110/200)
MS Dhoni (41/72)
MS Dhoni (27/60)
M Azharuddin (90/174)
R Sharma (49/62)
S Ganguly (21/49)
S Ganguly (76/146)
V Kohli (30/50)
M Azharuddin (14/47)
V Kohli (65/95)
H Pandya (10/16)
S Gavaskar (9/47)
R Dravid (42/79)
SK Yadav (7//10)
Most Dismissals As Keeper
Test
ODI
T20I
MS Dhoni (294)
MS Dhoni (438)
MS Dhoni (91)
S Kirmani (198)
N Mongia (154)
R Pant (49)
R Pant (133)
K More (90)
D Karthik (27)
K More (130)
R Dravid (86)
S Samson (13)
N Mongia (107)
KL Rahul (56)
I Kishan (12)
Most Catches
Test: R Dravid (209), VVS Laxman (135), S Tendulkar (115), V Kohli (111), S Gavaskar (108)
ODI: M Azharuddin (156), V Kohli (151), S Tendulkar (140), R Dravid (124), S Raina (102)
T20I: R Sharma (65), V Kohli (54), H Pandya (47), SK Yadav (45), S Raina (42)
The Honorable Mentions
Future Stars
These players were not considered in the list (currently), but will most likely be considered greats of Indian cricket by the time they retire.
Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill, Ravi Bishnoi, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal (712 runs in a series, wow!), Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul
For each cricketer listed, we considered the number of international matches played across formats (longevity), player of match/series awards (impact), notable achievements (specific Test series & World Cup stats), and if they captained India, played 100 Tests, and/or won a World Cup.
If a retired player satisfies any of the following criteria, then they automatically make the list:
9 Player of the Match Awards
300+ International Wickets
10000+ International Runs
*Note: Shri Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinhji, two of the greatest cricketers of Indian origin after whom the ‘Ranji’ and ‘Duleep’ trophies are named, do not feature in this list because they represented England in their international career.
Without taking any more of your time, let’s go!
60. Kiran More (1984-1993, Baroda)
Role: Wicketkeeper/Batter
A constant figure behind the stumps for India in the late eighties, More will be remembered for the most stumpings in a match (6) in Narendra Hirwani’s debut Test where he took 16 wickets.
Matches Played: 143
Runs: 1848
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 4th Most Dismissals in Test for India
Possibly the best forward short-leg fielder of all-time, his contribution cannot be understated in uplifting India’s spin quartet. Has one Test century to his name, 8 FC tons, and 276 FC wickets.
Matches: 34
Runs: 1095, Wickets: 22
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 53 catches in 27 Tests, the best ratio for a non-wicketkeeper.
The highest T20I wicket-taker for India…and has yet, never played a single T20 WC game. Was not picked for 2021 T20WC and was on the sidelines of the others (including 2024). However, it was ODI cricket between 2016-2019, where the duo of Chahal-Kuldeep became a deadly combination. Lack of batting prowess probably hurt his ability to find a place in the XI more often.
Matches Played: 152
Wickets: 217
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Highest wicket-taker in T20Is for India (96)
5359 runs at 37.47 average with 6 ODIs in the lower middle order, Jadeja will be remembered for match-winning knocks, quick finishes, and athletic fielding. International career ended due to match-fixing investigations.
Matches: 211
Runs: 5935
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 50 dismissals to his name in ODIs to go along with 5000 runs
Pivotal to India’s maiden Test series victory in England, Sardesai had a fruitful 1971. 789 runs at 60.69 with three centuries. Also had a spectacular 1965, averaging 120 in 3 Tests against New Zealand.
Matches Played: 30
Runs: 2001
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 642 Runs in West Indies (1970-71), 449 vs England (1963-64), scored 200* as his first hundred
Solid batter, had a great record against New Zealand – 507 runs at 84.5 with 3 centuries and England – 1181 runs at 43.74 with 3 centuries and 5 fifties.Scored 38 first class tons.
Matches Played: 55
Runs: 3208
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 586 runs vs England (1961-62), Scored 100 in final Test
India’s best wicketkeeper before Kirmani. Had the challenge to keep to the Fab 4 spin quartet. Handy batter himself, scored 2 Test hundreds and 16 fifties.
Matches Played: 51
Runs: 2725
Player of Match Awards: 2 (1 ‘fielder of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Took 66 catches and inflicted 16 stumpings in Tests.
Now known for his public speaking abilities, it was Sidhu’s bat that did the talking in the late 80s and early 90s. Could hit sixes at will and established a formidable career as an opener. Has a double century to his name in the West Indies.
Matches Played: 187
Runs: 7615
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Scored four consecutive centuries in the 1987 ODI WC
Player of the series in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, Shastri won several matches for India in his career. Scored 11 Test hundreds including a 206 in Sydney along with 11 four-wicket hauls in Tests. Later, coached Team India and lives in the hearts & minds of Indian cricket fans through his voice.
Matches Played: 230
Wickets: 280, Runs: 6938
Player of Match Awards: 14
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅ (11 ODIs, 1 Test)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 77.75 average vs Australia (10 Tests), Player of the series (World Championship of Cricket)
Was the central figure behind the stumps in the seventies and eighties. Kept for India’s spin quartet, the dibbly dobbly medium pacers, and Kapil Dev. Two Test tons to his name as well.
Matches Played: 137
Runs: 3132
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 3rd Most stumpings in a career.
India’s captain in the overseas 1971 Test victories over England and West Indies.Although he only had a solitary hundred in Test cricket (143), he dominated FC cricket: 15380 runs at 47.03 average and 36 centuries.
Matches Played: 39
Runs: 2186
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Got close to Test hundred several times: 99, 91*, 91, 87, 85, 80.
Uncoventional, yet effective. Pant may rise up this list as his career grows, but he has already made a case for himself with his exploits in Test cricket, especially against Australia. 89* at the Gabba, 97 at Sydney (2021), 159* also at Sydney (2019), 146 at Birmingham, and 114 at the Oval. Also to make an international comeback and and help India lift the 2024 T20WC squad after the accident that changed his life around is a wonderful story on its own. Short career so far, but impactful nevertheless.
Matches Played: 139
Runs: 4345
Player of Match Awards: 4
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Joint Most dismissal in a Test match (11 vs Australia, 2018), Six times dismissed in the 90s in Test cricket
43. Krishnamachari Srikkanth (1981-1992, Tamil Nadu)
Role: Batter
Before Sehwag, there was Srikkanth. Scoring 4091 ODI runs with 4 hundreds at 71.74 SR (quick for the time) established him as India’s mainstay at the top of the order. Top scored in the 1983 WC Final.
Matches Played: 189
Runs: 6153
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Has a high score of 123 in both Tests and ODIs, Most Runs in World Championship of Cricket (1985)
Ishant Sharma’s spell against Ricky Pontinghad everyone convinced that India had found their next fast bowling sensation. Did he fulfill his potential? Maybe, maybe not. Described as ‘unlucky’ for early part of the career, the 2011 series against West Indies rejuvenated his Test career. He would go on to establish himself as the leader of the attack with a magnificent 7/74 at Lord’s in 2014.
Matches Played: 199
Wickets: 434
Player of Match Awards: 6
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 22 wickets vs West Indies (2011)
One of India’s most gifted swing bowlers.Set the tone in ODI cricket. Had his best Test against England at Lord’s in 2014 when he took 6/82. Also made several crucial runs at #8.
Matches Played: 229
Wickets: 294
Player of Match Awards: 11
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 4th Most Maidens in T20I career (10)
Scored India’s first Test ton (and his only 100) and was independent India’s first Test captain. Also scored 31 first class hundreds and took 463 wickets to go along with 10,426 FC runs. A prominent figure in India’s early cricket history and contributed through various roles after his cricketing career.
Matches Played: 24
Runs: 878
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored India’s first Test hundred
Went onto score 112 during the partnership of 203 with Vijay Merchant, becoming the first Indian to score an overseas Test hundred. Had an outstanding FC career with 30 tons and over 13,000 runs.
Matches Played: 11
Runs: 612
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored India’s first overseas Test century, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is named after him
Not being picked for most of his 20s, Suryakumar Yadav has made the most of his opportunities since 2021. 2432* T20I runswith 4 T20I hundreds, 20 fifties, 168.65 SR at 42.66 average not only make him India’s premier T20 batter, but one of the best T20I batters of all-time.
Matches Played: 109
Runs: 3213
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Most Player of the Match Awards in T20Is (16), 2nd Most T20I runs in a year (1164 in 2022)
India’s number 4-5-6 of Yuvraj-Dhoni-Raina is one of the most dynamic middle orders of all-time. Raina had it all, the off spin, the fielding, and the batting. His clutch finishes in the 2011 QF and SF will be remembered for generations to come. 5615 ODI runs at 93.5 SR establishes him as an ODI great.
Matches Played: 322
Runs: 7988
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Hit century on Test debut (120), First Indian to score a century in each format
Mohammad Shami in the ODI World Cups is a legendary figure. 55 wickets, best of 7/57 at the best average (13.52) and best strike rate (15.81) of anyone in the list. Don’t forget his memorable spells in Test cricket either.
Matches Played: 188
Wickets: 448
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 5th Most Wickets in ODI World Cups (55)
Possibly India’s most misunderstood cricketer, Gautam Gambhir’s performances at clutch times established him as the batter of his times. The 2007 T20 WC Final, 2011 ODI WC Final, and the stonewalling 137 against New Zealand will be remembered as his most prominent knocks.
Matches Played: 242
Runs: 10324
Player of Match Awards: 15
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Highest Individual Scorer in the 2007 T20 World Cup Final (75) and the 2011 ODI World Cup Final (97), 463 runs vs Australia (2008-09), 445 runs vs New Zealand (2008-09)
Considered one of India’s greatest captains. Led India in its first overseas Test win (NZ, 1967).
Matches Played: 46
Runs: 2793
Player of Match Awards: 1 (‘batsman of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1968), Made 64 (206) and 148 (348) at #6 vs England in 1967. This still stands as a record for the most number of balls played by a #6 batter in the history of Test cricket (554).
Although Venkataraghavan had 1390 wickets in his first class career, he was often left out as the fourth of the spin quartet. Yet he played for 18 years and took 156 Test wickets. Was India’s captain in the 1975 & 1979 ODI World Cups.
Matches Played: 72
Wickets: 161
Player of Match Awards: 0
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅ (7 Tests, 5 ODIs)
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Best of 8/72 vs New Zealand (1965), took 35 wickets in the 1970-71 season
Will always be remembered for the player of the match in the 1983 ODI WC that changed the nature of Indian cricket. Was a stellar batter in his own right. In the 1982 season, he scored 1077 runs, 4 hundreds, and 7 fifties.
Matches Played: 154
Runs: 6302, Wickets: 78
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Player of the 1983 World Cup Final, 598 runs vs West Indies (1982-83), 584 vs Pakistan (1982-83), 445 runs vs Australia (1977-78), 237 runs & 8 wickets in 1983 ODI WC
Yet another member of the famed quartet, Prasanna was known for his flight. Dominated the Trans-Tasman teams in the late 1960s and the main contributor to India’s first Test overseas victory in New Zealand. He was a beast at the FC level, 957 wickets and 54,823 balls bowled. He was also an engineer.
Matches Played: 49
Wickets: 189
Player of Match Awards: 1 (‘bowler of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 26 Wickets vs Australia (1969-70), 25 Wickets vs Australia (1967-68), 24 Wicket vs New Zealand (1967-68), 8/76 vs New Zealand
A player for the ICC tournaments like no other. Shikhar Dhawan between 2013-2019 was one of India’s prime match winners. Unfortunate injury in the 2019 World Cup ended his stint at the top, but not before he scored yet another magnificent century. Formed the star top order with Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli.
Matches Played: 269
Runs: 10867
Player of Match Awards: 19
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 187 on Test debut, Player of the Series & Most Runs – 2013 Champions Trophy, Most Runs – 2017 Champions Trophy, Highest Runs for India – 2015 ODI World Cup, Scored 5193 runs with Rohit Sharma
Marred by polio, Chandrasekhar had a different sort of jumpy action. The fact that he established a career is astonishing by itself. That he took 242 Test wickets, 42 in overseas conditions, is even more staggering.
Matches Played: 59
Wickets: 245
Player of Match Awards: 1 (‘bowler of the match’)
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 35 wickets vs England (1972-73), 28 Wickets vs Australia (1977-78), Best of 8/79 vs England (1972), 16 career 50fers
The Ashes documentary sums up the significance of Cheteshwar Pujara pretty well. ‘This man just bats…and bats…and bats…’ India will always remain indebted to Pujara for their first Test series victory in Australia in 2018. And in the 2020-21 series, he was just as gritty, assured, and monumental to India’s win. With 100 Tests and 19 hundreds to his name, he is has become a certified legend.
Matches Played: 108
Runs: 7246
Player of Match Awards: 6
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India?❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 521 runs vs Australia (2018-2019)
One of the more stylish batters, Viswanath was a mainstay of the Indian middle order for much of the 1970s. His name is connected to Sunil Gavaskar in more ways than one.
Matches Played: 116
Runs: 6519
Player of Match Awards: 2
Player of Series Awards: 0
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅ (2 Tests, 1 ODI)
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 568 runs vs West Indies (1974-75), 518 runs vs Australia (1979-1980), 497 vs West Indies (1978-79), 473 vs Australia (1977-78), 466 vs England (1981-82), Scored a century on debut
A man with three FC triple centuries batting at #8 shows you the depth in Indian cricket. Jadeja can finish T20 games, can score 77 in an ODI World Cup semi-final, destroy opponents with his spin or with his iconic direct hits. An all-rounder in all sense of the game. Currently #7 on India’s most Test & ODI wicket-taker list and still rising up the charts. 25 player of the match awards – Wow!
Matches Played: 343
Wickets: 568, Runs: 6307
Player of Match Awards: 25
Player of Series Awards: 2
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 26 Wickets vs England (2016-17), 26 Wickets vs Australia (2016-17), 24 Wickets vs Australia (2012-13), 23 wickets vs South Africa (2015-16), Best of 7/42 vs Australia (2023), Most Wickets in the 2013 Champions Trophy
India’s 2011 World Cup is remembered by many moments—Dhoni’s 97* and the six, Gambhir’s 91, Yuvraj Singh’s all-round performances, Suresh Raina’s crucial finishes, Tendulkar’s hundreds. But none of it would be possible without Zaheer Khan’s 21 wickets (joint most of the WC). His Test career was pretty stellar as well with 311 wickets. His stellar record against Graeme smith, the swing, his action, and celebrations will be what he is remembered by.
Matches Played: 303
Wickets: 597
Player of Match Awards: 12
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌ (92)
Notable Achievements: Highest Wicket-Taker of the 2011 ODI CWC
116 Tests, 6868 runs, 17 hundreds, 42.13 average. By the time he retired, he was statistically the best batter in the country after Sunil Gavaskar. Made the #3 position his own.
Matches Played: 245
Runs: 10376
Player of Match Awards: 9
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored 4 hundreds in 1979, 4 in 1986, and 4 in 1987.
Captain charismatic, wristy, and soft spoken, Azharuddin ruled the hearts of Indian cricket fans in the 90s. With 9378 ODI runs and 6215 Test runs, Azhar was central to India’s middle order. Unfortunately, the match fixing scandal brought down his career.
Matches Played: 433
Runs: 15593
Player of Match Awards: 23
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌ (99)
Notable Achievements: Scored hundreds in 3 consecutive Tests, scored a hundred on debut.
Regarded as “Bradman of the East”, Merchant scored 13470 first class runs at an average of 71.64 with 45 centuries. His international career was stalled due to the Second World War, but was considered one of the greats of the era. Spearheaded the legacy of Bombay’s batting in Indian cricket.
Matches Played: 10
Runs: 859
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Scored his highest score of 154 in his last innings in 1951.
If you are an Indian cricket fan, you have copied Harbhajan Singh’s bowling action in your living room on your way to the kitchen. Harbhajan was a mainstay in India’s XI for the better part of the decade in both Tests and ODIs. His contributions to the 2001 Australia series will always go down as one of India’s best individual performances. Also a handy six hitter down the order.
Matches Played: 365
Wickets: 707
Player of Match Awards: 11
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 25 career Test 5-fers, 32 Wickets vs Australia (2000-01), Best of 8/84 vs Australia
47.65 average with 7 centuries in Test cricket. His record in FC cricket even more incredible—18,740 runs, 60 tons, average of 58.38, and a couple of triple centuries to go with it. Also had 595 first class wickets. Led India to its first Test win, and according to The Wisden Cricketer, “When World II brought cricket to a standstill, much of the credit for keeping the game alive in India must go to Hazare, who with Vijay Merchant took part in run-scoring duels that drew crowds of 20-30,000 to Bombay’s Braborne Stadium.”
Matches Played: 30
Runs: 2192
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: Scored an innings in each Test against Australia, first Indian to do so, scored centuries in 3 consecutive Tests, 543 runs vs West Indies (1948-49), first Indian cricketer to score a Ranji trophy triple century. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is named in his honor
Gupte was considered the best leg spinner of his era. His 9/102 was the best individual performance for decades to come. Unfortunately, he ended his career at 32 after a controversy in which he was wrongfully accused.
Matches Played: 36
Wickets: 149
Captained India? ❌
Notable Achievements: 34 wickets vs New Zealand (1955-56), 27 Wickets vs West Indies (1952-53), 9/102 vs West Indies (1958)
According to Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, Mankad was “one of the greatest allrounders that India has ever produced.” His name gets maligned with the form of dismissal, but Mankad is truly one of India’s legends. Was the other batter with Pankaj Roy in the record 413-run partnership.
Matches Played: 44
Runs: 2109, Wickets: 162
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: 526 runs vs New Zealand (1955-56), 34 wickets vs England (1951-52), 25 wickets vs Pakistan (1952-53), 8/52 vs Pakistan (1952), 9/55 vs England (1952)
When Yuvraj was on rhythm, there was no stopping him. He performed when it mattered the most, 2002 Natwest Trophy Final, 2007 SF vs Australia, and 2011 – The Entire World Cupwith both bat and ball. With the backdrop of cancer in the 2011 CWC, Yuvraj’s story is extraordinary. India never really truly replaced Yuvraj at #4 for the better part of the decade.
Matches Played: 399
Runs: 11686
Player of Match Awards: 34
Player of Series Awards: 8
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements:Six sixes vs England in the 2007 T20 World Cup, Player of the Tournament – 2011 ODI WC
Without Bumrah, there would be no 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Without Bumrah, there wouldn’t be several of the Test victories. When India needs to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, the ball is thrown to Jasprit Bumrah. Once in a generation comes a player so unique that everybody can just sit back and appreciate. We don’t know how Bumrah does what he does, but he is India’s national treasure for sure.
Matches Played: 195
Wickets: 397
Player of Match Awards: 13
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌ (Not Yet)
Notable Achievements: Player of the Tournament in the 2024 T20 World Cup, 23 wickets vs England (2021-22)
Perhaps played the greatest innings in the 21st century. The 281 against Australia came against a rampant Australian side while Indian cricket was reeling with the match-fixing scandal. VVS Laxman’s innings changed the narrative and drew India into its golden age. Will be remembered for his knocks against Australia across formats as well as the three gutsy rearguard knocks in 2010.
Matches Played: 220
Runs: 11119
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 1
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 503 runs vs Australia (2000-01), 494 runs vs Australia (2003-04), 474 runs vs West Indies (2002)
319, 309, 293, 254. Virender Sehwag’s legacy will forever be attached to his mammoth Test hundreds. He set the tone in ODI cricket as an opener, but it was Test cricket where Viru’s greatness is defined.
Matches Played: 363
Runs: 16892
Player of Match Awards: 31
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: Highest Individual Test Score for India, 219 in ODI, 544 runs vs Pakistan (2004-05), 491 vs Sri Lanka (2009-10), 464 vs Australia (2003-04)
According to Sunil Gavaskar, Bedi was the “finest left-hand bowler” he had ever seen. At the time of his retirement, Bedi’s was the highest wicket-taker in Tests for India (266). Also took a mammoth 1560 wickets in first class cricket thanks to his exploits with Northamptonshire in County Cricket. Formed India’s fearsome spin quartet.
Matches Played: 77
Wickets: 273
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 31 Wickets vs Australia (1977-78), 25 Wickets vs England (1976-77), 25 Wickets vs England (1972-73), 22 wickets vs New Zealand (1976-77), 14 career 5-fers
All the accolades India are receiving now can be traced back to the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. He instilled confidence in the young side and helped build the cored that lifted the 2011 ODI World Cup (Zaheer, Sehwag, Yuvraj). Apart from captaincy, will go down as one of the great ODI batters in the history of the game.
Matches Played: 421
Runs: 18433
Player of Match Awards: 37
Player of Series Awards: 9
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 534 runs vs Pakistan (2007-08), 4th Most Player of the Match Awards for India
One of the great Test off-spinners of all-time, Ravichandran Ashwin helped establish the home Tests as a fortress. Apart from bowling, Ashwin established himself as one of premier spinner all-rounders of the generations with six Test centuries. His fighting spirit in BGT in the Sydney Test, holding up an end while battling a back injury epitomizes his character. One of the great thinkers of the game.
Matches Played: 281
Wickets: 744, Runs: 4200
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 11
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ❌
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 32 Wickets vs England (2020-21), 31 Wickets vs South Africa (1979-1980), 29 Wickets vs Australia (2012-13), 28 Wickets vs England (2016-17), 27 Wickets vs New Zealand (2016-17), 26 Wickets vs England (2023-24), 25 Wickets vs Australia (2022-23), 36 career 5-fers
Took the baton from Vijay Merchant to continue to Mumbai school of batting. At the time of his retirement, Umrigar held the record for the most Tests, most runs, and most wickets.
Matches Played: 59
Runs: 3631
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
Notable Achievements: 560 runs vs West Indies (1952-53), Scored a 100 and took 5 wickets vs West Indies (1962)
One of the most pleasing batters to watch (especially the pull shot), Sharma has a made a career on the back of gigantic ODI hundreds: 264, 209, 208*, 171*, 162, 159, 152*, 150. Begun as a 2007 T20 World Cup champion, dropped before the 2011 WC, and reinvented his career as an opener in 2013. Post-2013, he never looked back. Finally made it big as a Test opener late in his career and capped his legacy with the great runs in the 2023 ODI WC and the 2024 T20 WC win as captain.
Matches Played: 481
Runs: 19199
Player of Match Awards: 42
Player of Series Awards: 9
World Cup Winner? ✅✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: 2024 T20 World Cup & 2025 ICC Champions Trophy winning captain, 529 runs vs South Africa (2019-20), Scored 3 double centuries in ODI cricket
‘Jumbo’ is still India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs and Tests. A central figure in India’s XI for a decade and a half, he will always be remembered for his 10-wicket inning haul against Pakistan. Retired on a high as India’s Test captain.
Matches Played: 401
Wickets: 953
Player of Match Awards: 16
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ❌
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 35 career 5-fers, 27 Wickets vs Australia (2004-05), 24 wickets vs Australia (2003-04), 23 wickets vs Australia (1997-98), 23 wickets vs West Indies (2006), 10/74 vs Pakistan and 8/141 vs Australia
The man in the center of each of India’s memorable overseas Test victories, Rahul Dravid, ‘The Wall’ was the glue to India’s middle order. He adapted his way to a fruitful ODI career, became a wicketkeeper, a captain, and eventually an U-19 & senior World Cup winning coach.
Matches Played: 504
Runs: 24064
Player of Match Awards: 25
Player of Series Awards: 4
World Cup Winner? ❌ (Not as player)
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 619 runs vs Australia (2003-04), 602 vs England (2002), 496 runs vs West Indies (2006), 461 runs vs England (2011), Highest Scorer of the 1999 ODI Cricket World Cup
MS Dhoni arrived to the scene with the 148 v Pakistan and 183* v Sri Lanka in 2005 with that iconic hair. However, it was his exploits as captain between 2007 to 2013 (and later with the Chennai Super Kings franchise), that took him from great to legendary status. And don’t forget, behind the stumps, he was best in the business with lightning fast stumpings.
Matches Played: 535
Runs: 17092
Player of Match Awards: 22
Player of Series Awards: 6
World Cup Winner? ✅ ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ❌
Notable Achievements: Player of the 2011 World Cup Final, Captain of India as India lifted the 2007 T20WC, 2011 ODIWC, and 2013 Champions Trophy
From a brash young man to fitness freak to the great Test captain, Virat Kohli’s evolution has been a dream to follow. Perhaps the greatest ODI batter and definitely the greatest chaser of all-time, his attitude defined his greatness and carried India to the upper echelons of world cricket.
Matches Played: 531
Runs: 26922*
Player of Match Awards: 67
Player of Series Awards: 19
World Cup Winner? ✅ ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements:
692 runs vs Australia (BGT 2014-15), 655 vs England (2016-17), 610 vs Sri Lanka (2017-18), 593 vs England (2018)
Captain. All-rounder. Fast Bowler. Lower Order Six Hitter. India has never and may never see an enigmatic character like Kapil Dev again.434 wickets and 175* in the pivotal 1983 WC match against Zimbabwe are some of the highlights of his career.
Matches Played: 356
Wickets: 687, Runs: 9031
Player of Match Awards: 19
Player of Series Awards: 5
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: India’s first WC winning captain, 303 runs & 12 wickets in the 1983 WC, 23 career Test 5-fers, Best of 9/83 vs WI, 8/85 vs Pakistan, and 8/106 vs Australia, 32 Wickets vs Pakistan (1979-1980), 29 wickets vs West Indies (1983-84), 28 Wickets vs Australia (1979-1980), 25 wickets vs Australia (1991-92), 24 wickets vs Pakistan (1982-83)
India’s first superstar, Sunil Gavaskar defied bowling attacks around the world without a helmet. 10,000 runs and 34 Test hundreds became the benchmark for other batters to follow. The original ‘Little Master.’
Matches Played: 233
Runs: 13214
Player of Match Awards: 10
Player of Series Awards: 3
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅
Notable Achievements: 774 runs in West Indies (1970-71), 732 runs vs West Indies in India (1978-1979), 542 runs vs England (1979), 529 runs vs Pakistan (1979-1980), 505 runs vs West Indies (1983-84), 500 runs vs England (1981-82), 450 runs vs Australia (1977-78), 447 runs vs Pakistan (1977-78), World Championship of Cricket Winning Captain (1985)
Virat Kohli summed up Tendulkar’s contribution aptly after the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, “Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years.” Probably the greatest batter since Donald Bradman, Tendulkar was the soul of Indian cricket for two decades. Oh and his 154 ODI wickets largely go unnoticed in a career of stellar batting performances, but could have made a career as a successful leg spinner as well.
Matches Played: 664
Runs: 34357, Wickets: 201
Player of Match Awards: 76
Player of Series Awards: 19
World Cup Winner? ✅
Captained India? ✅
100 Tests? ✅✅
Notable Achievements: Highest Scorer in the 1996, 2003, 2011 WCs, 51 Test 100s, 49 ODI 100s (Hundred Hundreds), First Player to Breach the 200-run mark in ODI cricket, 493 runs vs Australia (2007-08), 446 runs vs Australia (1997-98)
17 years since it’s inception, the Indian Premier League has taken world cricket by storm. Today we reflect upon the best IPL players to have ever played in the league.
Over a hundred players were considered in this rankings. Suresh Raina edges MS Dhoni for the top spot with AB de Villiers, Sunil Narine, David Warner, and Virat Kohli following closely.
Top 15 Greatest IPL Cricketers of All-Time: Undisputed Legends of the League
Notable Achievements: First Player to 5000 IPL Runs, 7 consecutive seasons with 400+ runs, has scored the most runs in IPL playoffs
For the first decade of the tournament, Suresh Raina was synonymous with the tournament. Mr. IPL, as he was often called, he took the tournament by force.
If you want to understand the impact Suresh Raina had on the IPL, just watch his 87 (25) against KXIP, which he scored during the Powerplay. ‘Chinna Thala’ to CSK fans, he kept the batting line up together for the Haydens & Husseys up top and the Dhonis & Jadejas to follow.
A handy spinner at the Chepauk and one of the best fielders India ever produced.
Notable Achievements: Most Number of Sixes Between 16-20 Overs, Second Most Wins as IPL Captain
When the IPL began way back in 2008, not many would have anticipated MS Dhoni to be as closely associated as we now know it. The boy from Ranchi is the ‘Thala’ to CSK fans.
MS Dhoni can finish games with his monstrous sixes, transform Shardul Thakur to become the Lord, take a dad’s army and win the IPL, and can win matches by ‘bits and pieces’ players.
He may be one of the best hitters of the IPL, but he is most definitely, the best captain the IPL has ever produced.
Notable Achievements: In IPL 2016, ABD scored 687 runs at 52.84 average and an astonishing SR of 168.79, which included one century and six fifties
AB De Villiers’ assault against Dale Steyn is perhaps the most eye catching batting in the IPL.
Countrymen, both at their peaks, battled against each other in a close game. AB de Villiers was the clear winner, sweeping & reverse swatting Steyn. In that game, de Villiers went from a great batter to a legendary one.
One of the few overseas players loved across all of India.
Notable Achievements: MVP IPL 2018, Best SR in 2018 (189.89), Economy Rate of 6.74, IPL career batting SR of 160.79
The cricket world has not seen as versatile of a player as Sunil Narine.
The first mystery spinner to consistently be a threat across multiple seasons, his economy rate suffocated the opposition.
Second highest wicket taker in IPL 2012 & 2014, Narine was one of the central cogs to KKR’s IPL triumphs.
After being called for illegal action in international cricket, Narine’s effectiveness temporarily decreased. However, he bounced off as a pinch hitter and a decent bowler. The 105-run partner with Chris ‘LynnSanity’ Lynn in the Powerplay is one of the iconic moments in all the IPLs.
Notable Achievements: Orange Cap Winner (2015, 2017, 2019). Boasts an average of 41.51 in IPL cricket
After arriving at Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner was a completely different beast.
From 2014 onwards, Warner scored 528, 562, 848, 641, 692, and 548 runs respectively in consecutive season.
Leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to a victory in 2016 having to go through the Eliminator, Qualifier, and the Finals has to be the highlight of his IPL career. He scored 93*(58) in the Qualifier and 69 (58) in the Final.
Unfortunate in the way he was removed from SRH after creating a lasting legacy.
Notable Achievements: Purple Cap (2011). Took 28, 22, and 20 in IPL 2011-13 respectively as well as 24 wickets in 2015.
In a world starting to love the six fest in T20 cricket, Lasith Malinga made pace, yorkers, and dot balls sexy.
One of the moments of the tournament was the IPL 2019 Final. 9 needed in the final over, Malinga kept it tight before delivering a slower yorker to outfox Shardul Thakur and win the tournament for the Mumbai Indians yet again.
Notable Achievements: Leading Run Scorer in all of the IPL, Most Hundreds in the IPL (7), Orange Cap Winner (2016) and scored the most runs in a single IPL season ever (973)
Virat Kohli’s 2016 season is the single greatest individual performance in any cricket league around the world.
With four centuries and 973 runs, Kohli lead RCB to the finals only to come agonizingly short by 8 runs in a high score chase.
A constant fixture for RCB over the years, forming great partnerships with Gayle, de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, and Maxwell, Kohli established himself as the premier Indian batter in the competition.
Notable Achievements: Purple Cap Winner (2013, 2015)
Constantly competing with his friend, Kieron Pollard, for the most T20 franchise wins in history, Bravo developed his skill as a canny medium pacer in the IPL.
He could bowl at the death or the middle overs and was a handful with his batting cameos as well.
One of the few players to win the IPL for both the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.
Notable Achievements: 5-Time IPL Winning Captain, Has a Hat-Trick in the IPL
Emerging Player award winner of IPL 2009 with DC, Rohit Sharma would fulfill his potential as a batter and as a captain.
Changed the trajectory of the MI franchise, created a legacy, and was the ideal opener till 2017.
Although the runs have dried up in the last seven years, he remains as shrewd as ever as a leader in the side. Will be interesting to see how he performs under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya.
Notable Achievements: MVP (2011), Orange Cap (2011, 2012), Most Sixes in a Season (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015), Most IPL Sixes of All-time (357), Highest Individual Score (175*)
An injury substitute changed the history of RCB forever. In 2011, Gayle came as a substitute and became the orange cap holder.
With Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers, RCB formed one of the great IPL top orders.
It is safe to say that Chris Gayle took the IPL to another level.
Notable Achievements: MVP (2015, 2019), Most Sixes in IPL 2019. The best IPL strike rates in all of IPL (175.55). Dre Russ has hit more sixes (200) than fours (153)
Muscular built like a NFL superstar, Andre Russell has changed power-hitting in cricket. Even mistime hits go into the second tier.
Dre Russ is the complete package as a boundary rider and a death bowling specialist. KKR has preserved him (and Narine) even though his knee doesn’t function every now and then.
Teams: Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings
Years Played: 2008-2020
IPL Wins: 2008, 2018
Notable Achievements: MVP (2008), Player of the Final (2018)
Shane Watson was one of the first international stars of the IPL. Out of favor from the international side, Watson’s 2008 all-round performance took RR to the inaugural win.
At the end of his career with CSK, his playoff and finals performance in IPL 2018 was one of IPL’s most memorable stories.
Notable Achievements: Part of the most IPL winning campaigns
Ambati Rayudu was the backbone of the middle order (and sometimes as an opener) for both the great IPL franchises, Mumbai Indians & Chennai Super Kings.
MI provided Rayudu the opportunity to bounce back after his ICL ban, while CSK provided the perfect farewell after he was no longer considered in international cricket.
Teams: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Years Played: 2011-
IPL Wins: 2016
Stats: 162 Matches, 170 Wickets, 32 Catches
Notable Achievements: Purple Cap Winner (2016, 2017)
The only bowler apart from Dwayne Bravo to win two Purple Caps in the IPL.
SRH showed the world that strong bowling wins tournaments, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar lead this effort for them. At the height of his IPL career, Bhuvneshwar spearheaded both the swing department and the death bowling.
Known for his leadership, Gambhir led from the front in 2012 with 590 runs. Along with Robin Uthappa & Manish Pandey, formed a top order to take KKR to great heights.
Back at Delhi after KKR stint, he took the courageous decision to drop himself midway through the IPL after a patch of poor form.
KKR has still not reached the heights that Gambhir took them to all these years later.
Teams: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings
IPL Wins: 2014, 2021
Stats: 205 Matches, 4952 Runs
Notable Achievements: Orange Cap Winner (2014)
If Gambhir scored the bulk of the runs in KKR’s 2012 triumph, it was Robin Uthappa who was a class apart in 2014.
It took Uthappa a while to find his feet in the IPL with different teams, but he had three brilliant phases.
In IPL 2010, he was the finisher of the tournament. Then he scored lots of runs at KKR, and finally ended his career at CSK after playing a couple of eye-catching innings.
One of the most talented batters India has ever produced, KL Rahul is always among the runs. Yet he finds himself under scrutiny from time to time for his strike rate and captaincy.
Expect him to rise in the list and win trophies over the next decade.
Teams: Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians
Years Played: 2008-
IPL Wins: 2014
Stats: 183 Matches, 181 Wickets
Notable Achievements: 3rd Highest Wicket-Taker in IPL History
For 10 months, you forget that Piyush Chawla is younger than Kohli, Russell, Narine, DK, and whole lots of other players. Enter IPL time, Chawla is on another level, one of the most consistent wicket-taker of the league.
In 2023, he ended up picking 22 wickets, his highest haul in a season.
Notable Achievements: 3rd Highest Wicket-Taker in IPL History
Suryakumar Yadav has made the #4 position his own at the Mumbai Indians.
Started his career with quick cameos at KKR but has produced 300+ seasons every year since 2018. In 2023, he scored 605 runs at 43.21 average and an astonishing 181.14 SR.
Probably one of India’s greatest T20 finisher, Dinesh Karthik had to redevelop his game over the years.
His first success was with the MI, batting at #3. Later, he developed as a dependable #5 batter-captain-keeper at KKR before becoming a full-time finisher (and commentator) during his time at RCB.
Notable Achievements: Three 500+ run seasons (2019, 2020, 2022)
Honorable Mentions:
Those Who May Make This List in the Future: Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nicholas Pooran, Axar Patel, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube, Prithvi Shaw, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje, Shimron Hetmyer
Unluckly to Miss Out: Kane Williamson, Saurabh Tiwary, Rahul Tripathi, Trent Boult, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Glenn Maxwell, Brendon McCullum, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey, Harshal Patel, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Wriddhiman Saha, Parthiv Patel, Nitish Rana, Hashim Amla, Siddharth Kaul, R Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Siddharth Trivedi, Rahul Dravid, Chris Morris, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Virender Sehwag, Ben Stokes, Andrew Symonds, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mike Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Murali Vijay, Andrew Tye, Rahul Tewatia, Jonny Bairstow, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Nitish Rana, Subramanian Badrinath, Rajat Bhatia, Dale Steyn, Manvinder Bisla, Yuvraj Singh, Sohail Tanvir, Laxmipathy Balaji, Kumar Sangakkara
Who are the greatest South African cricketers of all-time?
With the passing of Mike Procter, the Proteas family lost another legend. Today we explore the list of greatest cricketers this African nation has produced.
Let’s dive right in.
Key Takeaways
Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, AB De Villiers, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Mike Procter, and Allan Donald have been judged as the Top 10 South African Cricketers of All-Time.
We included several players whose careers coincided with South African’s international isolation due to apartheid (1970-1990), namely Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Mike Procter, Clive Rice, Eddie Barlow, Jimmy Cook, Kepler Wessels, Peter Kirsten, David Richardson, Garth le Roux, Ken McEwan and Vintcent van der Bijl.
By the Numbers: The Most Prolific South African Cricketers
Some of the criteria we used to compile this list includes: Most Wickets/Runs in International Cricket*, international caps, ICC Hall of Fame status, World Cup performances, captaincy record, fielding & keeping record, anecdotes (especially for players in the early twentieth century), and match winning performances.
*We considered also considered first class stats for the pre-1990s eras.
Top 10 Most Wickets by South African Bowlers Across Formats: Which South African Cricketer Has taken the Most Wickets?
We first look at the top 10 wicket-takers across formats. Also listed below are the top few wicket-takers in each format for South Africa.
Test: Dale Steyn (439), Shaun Pollock (421), Makhaya Ntini (390), Allan Donald (330), Morne Morkel (309)
ODI: Shaun Pollock (387), Alland Donald (272), Jacques Kallis (269), Makhaya Ntini (265), Dale Steyn (194)
*Does not include wickets taken for World XI teams
Top 10 Most Runs by South African Batters Across Formats: Which South African Cricketer Has Scored the Most Runs?
We now move on to the batting side of things.
Test: Jacques Kallis (13206), Hashim Amla (9282), Graeme Smith (9253), AB de Villiers (8765), Gary Kirsten (7289)
ODI: Jacques Kallis (11550), AB de Villiers (9427), Hashim Amla (8113), Herschelle Gibbs (8094), Graeme Smith (6989)
T20I: Quinton de Kock (2277), David Miller (2227), JP Duminy (1934)
Player
Runs
Centuries
Jacques Kallis
25422
62
AB de Villiers
19864
47
Hashim Amla
18553
55
Graeme Smith
17224
37
Herschelle Gibbs
14661
35
Gary Kirsten
14087
34
Quinton de Kock
12347
28
Faf du Plessis
11136
23
Mark Boucher
10289
6
Hansie Cronje
9279
8
Other South African Records
Here are some other stats that will help us give us a complete picture.
Most Dismissals/Catches Combined: Mark Boucher (988), Quinton de Kock (550), AB de Villiers (475), Jacques Kallis (334), David Richardson (317)
The 100-Test Club: Jacques Kallis (165), Mark Boucher (146), Hashim Amla (124), Graeme Smith (116), AB de Villiers (114), Shaun Pollock (108), Gary Kirsten (101), Makhaya Ntini (101)
Most Matches as Test Captain: Graeme Smith (108), Hansie Cronje (53), Faf du Plessis (36), Shaun Pollock (26), Dean Elgar (18)
Most Matches as ODI Captain: Graeme Smith (149), Hansie Cronje (138), AB de Villiers (103), Shaun Pollock (92), Kepler Wessels (52)
List of South African Players in the ICC Hall of Fame: Allan Donald, Aubrey Faulkner, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Pollock, Shaun Pollock, Barry Richards
Top 51 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time (Ranked)
Without further ado, here is the complete list of the 50 greatest South African cricketers of all-time. Enjoy!
Note: Basil D’Oliveira is not considered since he played international cricket for England. He was born in South Africa and moved to England in 1966.
51. Colin Bland (1961-1966)
Role: Batter
Matches: 21 (Test), 131 (FC)
Runs: 1669 (Test), 7249 (FC)
Hundreds: 3 (Test), 13 (FC)
Catches: 10 (Test), 51 (FC)
Colin Bland revolutionized fielding with unmatched athleticism and set an example for future Protea teams.According to ESPNCricinfo, “Colin Bland will go down in cricket history as one of the greatest cover fielders.” With such greatness, I had to put him in this list.
Role: All-Rounder (Left Handed Batter, Right Arm Off Spinner)
Matches: 46 (Test), 199 (ODI), 81 (T20I)
Runs: 2103 (Test), 5117 (ODI), 1934 (T20I)
Hundreds: 6 (Test), 4 (ODI)
Wickets: 42 (Test), 69 (ODI)
JP Duminy specialized in playing cameos in pressure situations down the order. Played a key part in the monumental 414 chase against Australia at Perth in the 4th innings, stitching a 111-run partnership with AB de Villiers.kepp
Fanie de Villiers, a force to be reckoned with in South African cricket during the 1990s, claimed 85 Test scalps and 121 ODI dismissals with his precise bowling
Jock Cameron, a cricketing stalwart of the early 20th century, distinguished himself with his masterful wicketkeeping skills and gritty batting. Once in a 1929 County cricket match, he took six catches and also had one stumping.
Kepler Wessels, a true pioneer in South African cricket, won hearts with his gutsy batting, shrewd leadership, and the sheer joy he brought to the game, playing a key part in the nation’s cricketing resurgence while charming fans with his infectious spirit and love for the sport. Played for both Australia and South Africa.
*Only South African statistics shown. Overall, he played 40 Tests & 109 ODIs.
First South African to play 50 Tests. A constant force behind the stumps much like Boucher in the 2000s. Holds the South African record for joint most dismissals (26) in a 5-Test series.
One of the most classical batters in South African history, producing some of the slowest innings of all-time. Noted for carrying the bat and batting for nine hours for a 105 against Australia.
A specialist limited over batter, Miller will go down as perhaps the greatest #6 ODI batter of all-time along with Michael Bevan, Jos Buttler, and MS Dhoni.
At #6, Miller scored 2718 runs, 3 centuries, and twenty 50+ scores at an average of 40.56 & 104.78 SR. When in form, Killer Miller is just a sight to watch.
*He might rise up the list by the end of his career.
Not many people can boast that they changed their field of expertise. Jonty Rhodes definitely did. With his iconic diving catches and flying run outs, he captured audiences worldwide.
Daryll Cullinan, renowned for his elegant batting, showcased his prowess in memorable matches like his 275 against New Zealand in 1999, and his crucial knocks against Sri Lanka and England, solidifying his reputation as a key figure in South African cricket during the 90s.
Brian McMillan, a key figure in South African cricket during the 1990s, played pivotal roles in memorable matches such as the 1992 World Cup and the historic readmission series, showcasing his all-round skills with both bat and ball
Garth le Roux, a fearsome fast bowler, struck fear into batsmen with his raw pace and hostile deliveries, making him a formidable force in South African cricket during the 1980s, and leaving a lasting impact with his aggressive bowling style and crucial wicket-taking ability.
*His entire career was during South Africa’s isolation
Herbie Taylor, a cricketing legend of the early 20th century, was celebrated for his elegant batting style and astute captaincy, leading South Africa with distinction and leaving an enduring legacy as one of the country’s finest batsmen and leaders on the cricket field.
Jimmy Sinclair, a cricketing pioneer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, captivated audiences with his exceptional batting and laid the foundation for South African cricket’s rich heritage.
Oneof the premier left handed batters of the 2010s, Elgar’s leadership ensured that South Africa had one world class senior batter during their transition period. One word comes to mind when watching Elgar bat, tenacity. Ready to take body blows and challenge the world.
Vernon Philander gave the South African bowling an edge like never before. They have always had pace, seam, and bounce. Philander’s ability to swing it both wayswas exactly what the Proteas needed to complement Steyn & Morkel.
Role: All-Rounder (Left Handed Batter, Left Arm Medium Pacer)
Matches: 41 (Test), 179 (FC)
Runs: 2516 (Test), 11289 (FC)
Hundreds: 1 (Test), 26 (FC)
Wickets: 123 (Test), 534 (FC)
5-fers: 5 (Test), 24 (FC)
Trevor Goddard, a cricketing stalwart of the 1950s and 1960s, was a formidable all-rounder celebrated for his left-arm spin bowling and solid batting, playing a pivotal role in South African cricket history with his match-winning contributions and leadership on the field, earning him a revered status among fans and peers alike.
A late entrant on the international stage, he grabbed his opportunity with both hands. His epic at Adelaide, blockathon at Delhi, and captaincy towards the end of his career, was the highlight of his career. Still plies his trade around the world after re-inventing himself as a swashbuckling T20 opener.
Bruce Mitchell, a luminary of South African cricket during the 1930s and 1940s, captivated audiences with his elegant stroke play and strategic brilliance, amassing over 3,000 Test runs at an impressive average of 48.88.
If you search hard enough, Imran Tahir is probably still playing somewhere around the world and running around the ground with his infectious celebration. Completed South Africa’s bowling attack in the 2010s. One of the greatest spinners to play for South Africa and definitely the greatest leg spinner.
Matches: 3 (Test), 4 (ODI), 270 (FC), 286 (List A)
Runs: 107 (Test), 67 (ODI), 21143 (FC), 10639 (List A)
Hundreds: 64 (FC), 24 (ODI)
Jimmy Cook, a stalwart of South African cricket during the apartheid era, demonstrated exceptional resilience and skill, dominating domestic cricket with his prolific run-scoring and earning widespread admiration despite being denied international opportunities due to the country’s sporting isolation.
Top 25 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time: Absolute Greats
We are halfway there…
25. Quinton de Kock (2012-)
Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
Matches: 54 (Test), 155 (ODI), 80 (T20I)
Runs: 3300 (Test), 6770 (ODI), 2277 (T20I)
Hundreds: 6 (Test), 21 (ODI), 1 (T20I)
Dismissals: 232 (Test), 226 (ODI), 92 (T20I)
A child prodigy that fulfilled his potential. After Graeme Smith retired, Quinton de Kock fit straight through. Even though his Test and ODI careers did not last as long as people would have wanted, he provided plenty of memories. He always got his best out against India and his swivel sixes is still one of the sweetestshots in cricket.
One ofthe top bowlers of the current era. Alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Rabada is a complete bowler across formats. If he stays fit, he has the potential to break Steyn’s record of 439 Test wickets.
Dudley Nourse, a cricketing legend of the mid-20th century, captivated audiences with his elegant batting style and remarkable consistency, leaving an enduring legacy as one of South Africa’s finest batsmen, whose contributions during the pre- and post-war era remain etched in cricketing folklore.
He served in the Middle East during the World War.
Peter Pollock, a pace bowling sensation of the 1960s and 1970s, showcased his fiery pace and lethal accuracy, leaving a lasting impact on South African cricket with his ability to dismantle batting lineups, epitomizing the spirit of aggression and skill on the field.
For every Michael Jordan, there is a Scottie Pippen. The height and constant line and lengthmade him a threatening bowler. Combined with Steyn, the duo destroyed plenty of batting line ups around the world.
Eddie Barlow, the dynamic all-rounder of South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s, left an indelible mark with memorable performances like his 114 against Australia in 1966 and his vital contributions in the series against England in 1965
Gary Kirsten, a prolific batsman of the modern era, distinguished himself with his exceptional technique and unyielding determination, playing a pivotal role in South African cricket’s resurgence in the 1990s and early 2000s. He produced memorable performances such as his monumental 275 against England in 1999 and 188* in an ODI, solidifying his status as one of the nation’s cricketing icons.
Coached India to 2011 World Cup victory to furthercement his name in history.
Makhaya Ntini, a relentless fast bowler, broke barriers as the first black African cricketer to play for South Africa, leaving an indelible mark with his raw pace, fierce competitiveness, and memorable performances, inspiring a generation of young cricketers and symbolizing the transformation of South African cricket.
Aubrey Faulkner, a cricketing pioneer of the early 20th century, mesmerized audiences with his remarkable all-round abilities, excelling as a stylish batsman and a cunning spin bowler, leaving an enduring legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest cricketers and a trailblazer for generations to come.
Hugh Tayfield, a spin bowling maestro of the 1950s, spun his way into cricketing history with his impeccable accuracy and cunning variations, amassing a record-breaking tally of wickets for South Africa and etching his name among the pantheon of cricketing legends.
Mark Boucher is perhaps the most prominent figure behind the stumps in modern cricket. For 15 years, he almost played every match for the Proteas and was a constant force. He had moments with the bat as well such as sealing the 434 chase against Australia in 2006.
Role: All-Rounder (Left Handed Batter/Right Handed Medium Pacer)
Matches: 49 (Test), 171 (ODI)
Runs: 1906 (Test), 3576 (ODI)
Hundreds: 4 (Test), 2 (ODI)
Wickets: 80 (Test), 192 (ODI)
5-fers: 1 (Test), 6 (ODI)
If you look purely from career stats, Klusener might not be able to compete with the rest of South Africa’s great all-rounders. However, his 1999 World Cup heroics pushes him up. This was the closest South Africa were to a World Cup win.
281 runs at 140.5 average and 122.17 SR to go along with his 17 wickets and 4 player of the match performances. Pioneered the finisher and power hitting role in ODI cricket.
Herschelle Gibbs was quite the character. The dynamic between the strokemaker Gibbs & gritty Smith helped them become a strong partnership over the years. Gibbs had several moments of his own- The Six Sixes in the 2007 ODI World Cup, 175 in that iconic 434 chase, (oh yeah, and dropping Steve Waugh in the 1999 World Cup).
Clive Rice, a dominant force in South African cricket during the apartheid era, showcased exceptional leadership and all-round skills, symbolizing resilience and determination, and leaving a lasting legacy as a true cricketing icon.
Top 10 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time: Undisputed Legends
Time for the Final 10!
10. Allan Donald (1991-2003)
Role: Fast Bowler
Matches: 72 (Test), 164 (ODI), 316 (FC)
Wickets: 330 (Test), 272 (ODI), 1216 (FC)
5-fers: 20 (Test), 2 (ODI), 68 (FC)
Allan Donald took South African fast bowling to new heights. Handed off the baton to the likes of Shaun Pollock, Ntini, and provided a template for Steyn to follow. Action, pace, celebration, Donald had it all.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Mike Procter was “probably one of the most natural talents the game has ever seen.” Set the tone for great right handed fast bowling all-rounders to come from this region of the world.
One of the most elegant opening batters of all-time. He had all the ingredients—Time, Placement, Finesse. Fastest to 3000, 4000, 6000, and 7000 ODI runs.
One of the greatest left-handed openers of all-time, certainly in the Top 3 of the 21st century. Not theprettiest stroke player, it was his grit, courage, and leadership that differentiated Smith from the rest. Playing with a broken hand, Smith earned the respect of themighty Australians and the rest of the cricketing fraternity.His captaincy led South Africa to a new era after the match fixing crisis.
A cricketing genius known for his sublime batting, international cricket missed out on one of the great talents. Played only 4 Tests but showed what he could do with 2 hundred, 2 fifties, and average of 72.57. Otherwise racked up 28358 runs with the best score of 356.
One of the most elegant left handers of his time, Graeme Pollock played the last of his 23 Tests at the age of 26. Scored a magnificent 274 in the same test as Richards’ 140. South Africa declared for 622/8 and won by an innings and 129 at Durban against Australia. Little did they know that this was their last international series.
Opened the bowling for over a decade and built partnerships with Donald, Ntini, and later Steyn. Solid batter down the order as well and captained South Africa to the 1998 Commonwealth Gold, still one of the only victories to their name.
The most versatile batter of the modern age. He had the technical abilities to score 33 (220) and 43 (297) and the destructiveness to score the fastest hundred.One of the original stars of the IPL. Unfortunate to not lift a World Cup and retired from international cricket during his prime.
The most prolific South African Test fast bowler and arguably the best fast bowler of all-time. He had the perfect action, the rhythm, the speed, and that iconic celebration. The heart of the South African Test team that won around the world between 2008-2015. Freak injuries curtailed his career but his passion came through with multiple comeback attempts.
Simply the Greatest. Jacques Kallis is a name synonymous with consistency, hardwork, and discipline. His batting numbers themselves push him into legendary status but it was his fast bowling that provided South Africa the balance they needed.
Honorable Mentions: List of Players that were considered
Honorable Mentions: Ken McEwan, Albie Morkel, Paul Adams, Cyril Vincent, Anrich Nortje, Vincent van der Bilj, Herbert Taylor, Alan Courie, Basil D’Oliviera, Frank Roro, Eric Petersen, Hylton Ackerman Sr, Henry Fotheringham, Ken McEwan, Stephen Jefferies, Denys Hobson, Ray Jennings, Jock Cameron, Denis Lindsay, Dave Richardson, Jimmy Sinclair, Herbie Taylor, Jackie McGlew, Temba Bavuma, Neil McKenzie, Ashwell Prince, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Charl Langeveldt, Keshav Maharaj, Andre Nel, David Richardson, Nicky Boje
Note: “Frank Roro is widely considered the first great black African cricketer” according to ESPNCricinfo although he did not play international cricket.
List of South African Players in World Cup Squads
One key aspect of picking South Africa’s greats was looking at their tournament history and squads.
South Africa won the 1998 Commonwealth Games, 1998 Champions Trophy, and the ICC Test Mace (2013-2015). They were also semi-finalists in the 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, and 2023 ODI World Cups along with the 2009 & 2014 T20 World Cups.
Here are the complete squads of those tournaments (except for the Test mace).
1998 Champion Squads
1998 Champions Trophy: Hansie Cronje (C), Mark Boucher (WK), Dale Benkenstein, Nicky Boje, Derek Crookes, Daryll Cullinan, Alan Dawson, Steve Elworthy, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Pat Symcox
1998 Commonwealth Games: Shaun Pollock (C), Mark Boucher (WK), Alan Dawson, Andrew Hudson, Dale Benkenstein, Derek Crookes, Henry Williams, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Michael Rindel, Nicky Boje, Paul Adams, Steve Elworthy
ODI World Cups
1992 ODI CWC: Kepler Wessels (C), David Richardson (WK), Tertius Bosch, Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Omar Henry, Andrew Hudson, Peter Kirsten, Adrian Kuiper, Brian McMillan, Meyrick Pringle, Jonny Rhodes, Mark Rushmere, Richard Snell
1999 ODI CWC: Hansie Cronje (C), Mark Boucher (WK), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Dale Benkenstein, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald, Derek Crookes, Alan Dawson, Lance Klusser, Steve Elworthy, Nicky Boje
2007 ODI CWC: Graeme Smith (C), Mark Boucher (WK), AB de Villiers (WK), Loots Bosman, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus
2015 ODI CWC: AB de Villiers (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir
2023 ODI CWC: Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andel Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams, Rassie van der Dussen, Sisanda Magala*, Anrich Nortje*
*replaced due to injury
T20 World Cups
2009 T20 WC: Graeme Smith (C), Mark Boucher (WK), Yusuf Abdulla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe
2014 T20 WC: Faf du Plessis (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Final Thoughts
The rich tapestry of South African cricket is woven with the extraordinary contributions of countless remarkable players spanning different eras.
From the pioneering feats of Jimmy Sinclair and Herbie Taylor to the modern-day brilliance of stars like AB De Villiers and Dale Steyn, each player has left an indelible mark on the sport, shaping its history and inspiring generations.
Through their skill, resilience, and unwavering passion, these cricketing icons have not only entertained fans but also united a nation, showcasing the transformative power of sport in South Africa and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time
Who are the greatest South African cricketers of All-Time?
Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, AB De Villiers, Greame Pollock, Barry Richards, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Mike Procter, and Allan Donald were judged as the Top 10 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time.
Which cricket talent did South Africa lose out during their international cricket isolation due to apartheid?
Some great players like Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Mike Procter, Clive Rice, Eddie Barlow, Jimmy Cook, Kepler Wessels, Peter Kirsten, David Richardson, Garth le Roux, Vincent van der Bijl, and Ken McEwan lost out on some or all of their careers in the isolation era.
There has never been a shortage of South African fast bowlers.
While the era or Dale Steyn & Morne Morkel has ended, the era of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, and Gerald Coetzee is beginning to rise.
Today we explore who the greatest South African fast bowler of all-time was, including the era of 1970-1992, the lost generation due to South Africa’s global isolation.
By the Numbers: Which South African Fast Bowlers Have Taken the Most Wickets Across Formats?
Across formats, fast bowlers Shaun Pollock (829), Dale Steyn (699), Makhaya Ntini (662), Allan Donald (602), Jacques Kallis (577), Morne Morkel (544), and Kagiso Rabada (495) took the most wickets for South Africa.
List of the Most Wickets by South African Fast Bowlers Across Formats
Player
Wickets
Shaun Pollock
829
Dale Steyn
699
Makhaya Ntini
662
Allan Donald
602
Jacques Kallis
577
Morne Morkel
544
Kagiso Rabada
495
Lance Klusener
272
Vernon Philander
269
Andre Nel
231
Lungi Ngidi
199
Fanie de Villiers
180
Wayne Parnell
173
Hansie Cronje
157
Andile Phehlukwayo
146
Brian McMillian
145
Anrich Nortje
144
Andrew Hall
143
Charles Langeveldt
133
Craig Matthews
131
Trevor Goddard
123
Lonwabo Tsotsobe
121
Peter Pollock
116
Neil Adcock
104
Kyle Abbott
99
Ryan McLaren
97
Chris Morris
94
Marco Jansen
85
Dwaine Pretorius
77
Nantie Hayward
75
Albie Morkel
74
Jimmy Sinclair
63
Richard Snell
63
Duanne Olivier
62
Jimmy Blanckenberg
60
Peter Heine
58
Roger Telemachus
58
Buster Nupen
50
Others: Gerald Coetzee (46), Eddie Barlow (40)
*Note: This includes wickets taken for World XI teams as well.
Top 25 Greatest South African Bowlers of All-Time (Ranked)
We considered multiple aspects while ranking these pacers: (1) Longevity, (2) Stories from opposition batters, (3) Test wickets, (4) World Cup Performances (both ODI/T20I), and (4) Pace/Talent/Swing.
It was a bit difficult to incorporate the talent lost from the 1970s-1990s since these bowlers had great first-class stats without international experience to back them up. We ranked out-and-out fast bowlers with higher Test match pedigree (ex: Steyn, Donald, Morne Morkel, Rabada) higher than some of these great first-class bowlers (like Mike Procter and Vince van der Bijl). We also considered one day internationals and T20Is for more recent players.
Lots of great South African pace bowling all-rounders in this list as well. If you haven’t read the 55 greatest all-rounders of all-time article, I would suggest you check that article out as well. Clive Rice, Jacques Kallis, Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Lance Klusener, and Brian McMillan make both of these lists.
Here we go!
Honorable Mentions: Vincent Barnese, Trevor Goddard, Adrian Kuiper, Gerald Coetzee, Duanne Olivier, Albie Morkel
One of my favorite memories growing up in the 2000s was watching the South African fast bowlers.
Dale Steyn’s energy, Shaun Pollock’s accuracy, Vernon Philander’s swing, the beauty in Makhaya Ntini’s action, and the tireless nature of Morne Morkel hitting the deck. The Australia Test series wins in recent times were largely based on the back of these bowlers.
The next generation of South African fast bowlers have not disappointed either. Kagiso Rabada has taken the mantle from Dale Steyn, Anrich Nortje is a star, Marco Jansen continues to impress, Lungi Ngidi keeps the bowling unit together, and Gerald Coetzee’s celebrations are a sight to behold.
Anyway, who was your favorite South Africa fast bowler?
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest South African Fast Bowlers
Which South African fast bowlers have taken the most wickets?
Across formats, fast bowlers Shaun Pollock (829), Dale Steyn (699), Makhaya Ntini (662), Allan Donald (602), Jacques Kallis (577), Morne Morkel (544), and Kagiso Rabada (495) took the most wickets for South Africa.
Who are the most famous South African fast bowlers?
Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Makhaya Ntini, and Mike Procter are some of the most famous South African fast bowlers.
Who are the Top 10 best South African fast bowlers?
Dale Steyn, Allan Donald, Morne Morkel, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Vince van der Bilj, Mike Procter, and Jacques Kallis are the Top 10 best South African fast bowlers of all-time.
Cricket has been blessed with wonderful West Indian fast bowlers, particularly in the golden era between 70s & the 90s. Join us as we explore the historic menace of West Indian fast bowlers–Who are the greatest? The unluckiest? Who took the most wickets?
By the Numbers: Which West Indian Fast Bowlers Have Taken the Most Wickets Across Formats?
West Indies cricket has a beautiful legacy of fearsome fast bowlers.
Courtney Walsh (746), Curtly Ambrose (630), Malcolm Marshall (533), Joel Garner (405), and Kemar Roach (400) are the Top 5 wicket-takers in West Indies cricket history across formats.
Here is the complete list of the most wickets by West Indian fast bowlers or medium pacers – all formats combined (Test/ODI/T20I).
Most Wickets by West Indies Fast Bowlers
Player
Wickets
Courtney Walsh
746
Curtly Ambrose
630
Malcolm Marshall
533
Joel Garner
405
Kemar Roach
400
Michael Holding
391
Jason Holder
375
Jerome Taylor
291
Andy Roberts
289
Ian Bishop
279
Dwayne Bravo
263
Mervyn Dillon
261
Fidel Edwards
245
Sir Garfield Sobers
236
Alzarri Joseph
225
Daren Sammy
209
Shannon Gabriel
202
Ravi Rampaul
197
Wes Hall
192
Patrick Patterson
183
Corey Collymore
176
Winston Benjamin
161
Daren Powell
158
Colin Croft
155
Pedro Collins
145
Reon King
129
Vanburn Holder
128
Kenny Benjamin
125
Andre Russell
113
Sheldon Cottrell
106
Tino Best
97
Kieron Pollard
97
Charlie Griffith
94
Nixon McLean
90
Ian Bradshaw
87
Phil Simmons
87
Anderson Cummins
86
Cameron Cuffy
84
Winston Davis
84
Vasbert Drakes
84
Franklyn Rose
82
Carlos Brathwaite
75
Dwayne Smith
75
Keith Boyce
73
Frank Worrell
69
Bernard Julien
68
Jermaine Lawson
68
Tony Gray
66
Keemo Paul
65
Wayne Daniel
59
Learie Constantine
58
Gerry Gomez
58
Romario Shepherd
58
Roy Gilchrist
57
Sylvester Clarke
55
Eldine Baptiste
52
Oshane Thomas
50
Kesrick Williams
50
Others: Kyle Mayers (48), Jomel Warrican (46), Obed McCoy (46), Herman Griffith (44), Jayden Seales (43), Manny Martindale (37), George Francis (23)
Top 21 List of Greatest West Indian Fast Bowlers (Ranked)
We considered several aspects while ranking these pacers: (1) Number of Wickets, (2) Longevity, (3) Anecdotes of opposition players, (4) Impact in Test Matches, (5) Impact in World Cups (both ODI/T20I), and (6) Pace/Talent/Swing.
Fast bowling videos linked for your enjoyment. Don’t forget to relieve some of these magical moments!
Honorable Mentions: Sir Garfield Sobers (Not included in the list because he bowled both medium pace & left arm spin), Wayne Daniel, Manny Martindale, George Francis, Learie Constantine, Herman Griffith, Reon King, Franklyn Rose, Phil Simmons, Winston Davis, Mervyn Dillon, Roy Gilchrist, Sylvester Clarke, Tony Gray, Andre Russell, Daren Sammy
When West Indies cricket does well, the world becomes a happy place.
Every cricket fan loves watching highlights of the pace bowlers from the 80s or the T20 World Cup teams of the 2010s. From the fierce five (Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Colin Croft, Joel Garner, Michael Holding) to the duo of Ambrose-Walsh to the current era of Roach-Gabriel-Holder, it has been wonderful to watch.
I hope future generations of West Indian fast bowlers continue the legacy of the giants that came before them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest West Indian Fast Bowlers
Why does West Indies cricket produce so many fast bowlers?
West Indies cricket continues to produce so many fast bowlers due to their fast-bowling culture, physical attributes (tall & strong), and domestic pitches that historically have produced pitches with pace and bounce.
Who are some of the most famous fast bowlers from the West Indies?
Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop, and Wes Hall are some of the most famous fast bowlers from the West Indies.
Which bowlers have taken the most wickets in West Indian cricket history?
Courtney Walsh (746), Curtly Ambrose (630), Malcolm Marshall (533), Joel Garner (405), and Kemar Roach (400) have taken the most wickets in West Indian cricket history.
