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Top 51 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time (Updated 2024) | List of the Best South African Cricket Players (A Complete Guide)

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.

Table of Contents

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)
  • T20I: Tabriz Shamsi (78), Dale Steyn (64), Imran Tahir (61), Lungi Ngidi (60), Wayne Parnell (59)
PlayerWickets
Shaun Pollock823
Dale Steyn697
Makhaya Ntini661
Allan Donald602
Jacques Kallis572
Morne Morkel535
Kagiso Rabada506
Imran Tahir291
Lance Klusener272
Vernon Philander269

*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)
PlayerRunsCenturies
Jacques Kallis2542262
AB de Villiers1986447
Hashim Amla1855355
Graeme Smith1722437
Herschelle Gibbs1466135
Gary Kirsten1408734
Quinton de Kock1234728
Faf du Plessis1113623
Mark Boucher102896
Hansie Cronje92798

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

Also Read:

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.

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50. JP Duminy (2004-2019)

  • 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

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49. Fanie de Villiers (1992-1998)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 18 (Test), 83 (ODI)
  • Wickets: 85 (Test), 95 (ODI)
  • 5-fers: 5 (Test)

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

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48. Jock Cameron (1927-1935)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
  • Matches: 26 (Test), 107 (FC)
  • Runs: 1239 (Test), 5396 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 11 (FC)
  • Dismissals: 51 (Test), 224 (FC)

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.

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47. Kepler Wessels (1982-1994)

  • Role: Left Handed Batter
  • Matches: 16 (Test), 55 (ODI)
  • Runs: 1027 (Test), 1627 (ODI),
  • Hundreds: 2 (Test)

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.

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46. Jonny Waite (1951-1965)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
  • Matches: 50 (Test), 199 (FC)
  • Runs: 2405 (Test), 9812 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 4 (Test), 23 (FC)
  • Dismissals: 141 (Test), 511 (FC)

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.

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45. David Richardson (1991-1998)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
  • Matches: 42 (Test), 122 (ODI)
  • Runs: 1359 (Test), 868 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 1 (Test)
  • Dismissals: 152 (Test), 165 (ODI)

Now known for his administrative positions in the ICC, Richardson was earlier South Africa’s keeper post the isolation period. Solid keeper.

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44. Jackie McGlew (1951-1962)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 34 (Test), 190 (FC)
  • Runs: 2440 (Test), 12170 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 7 (Test), 27 (FC)

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.

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43. David Miller (2010-)

  • Role: Left Handed Batter
  • Matches: 173 (ODI), 116 (T20I)
  • Runs: 4458 (ODI), 2268 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 6 (ODI), 2 (T20I)

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.

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42. Jonty Rhodes (1992-2003)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 52 (Test), 245 (ODI)
  • Runs: 2532 (Test), 5935 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 3 (Test), 2 (ODI)
  • Catches: 34 (Test), 105 (ODI)

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.

Also Read: Top 32 Best Fielders in Cricket History: Jonty Rhodes, Paul Collingwood…Can You Guess The Rest?

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41. Daryll Cullinan (1993-2001)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 70 (Test), 138 (ODI)
  • Runs: 4554 (Test), 3860 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 14 (Test), 3 (ODI)

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.

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40. Vintcent van der Bijl (1967-1983)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 156 (FC), 92 (List A)
  • Wickets: 767 (FC), 132 (List A)
  • 5-fers: 46 (FC), 4 (List A)

Held the record for most wickets in a South Africa’s domestic season (65) at that time. Played his entire career in South Africa’s isolation.

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39. Brian McMillan (1991-1998)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 38 (Test), 78 (ODI)
  • Runs: 1968 (Test), 841 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 3 (Test), 1 (ODI)
  • Wickets: 75 (Test), 70 (ODI)

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

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38. Garth Le Roux (1975-1989)

  • Role: Bowling All-Rounder
  • Matches: 239 (FC), 250 (List A)
  • Runs: 5425 (FC), 3151 (List A)
  • Wickets: 838 (FC), 378 (List A)
  • 5-fers: 35 (FC), 5 (list A)

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

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37. Herbie Taylor (1912-1932)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 42 (Test), 206 (FC)
  • Runs: 2936 (Test), 13105 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 7 (Test), 30 (FC)

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.

Also served in World War I.

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36. Jimmy Sinclair (1896-1911)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 25 (Test), 129 (FC)
  • Runs: 1069 (Test), 4483 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 3 (Test), 6 (FC)
  • Wickets: 63 (Test), 491 (FC)
  • 5-fers: 1 (Test), 33 (FC)

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.

One of South Africa’s earliest cricket legends.

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35. Dean Elgar (2012-2024)

  • Role: Left Handed Batter
  • Matches: 86 (Test), 8 (ODI)
  • Runs: 5347 (Test), 104 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 14 (Test)

One of 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.

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34. Vernon Philander (2007-2020)

  • Role: Fast Bowling All-Rounder
  • Matches: 64 (Test), 30 (ODI), 7 (T20I)
  • Wickets: 224 (Test), 41 (ODI), 4 (T20I)
  • 5-fers: 13 (Test)

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 ways was exactly what the Proteas needed to complement Steyn & Morkel.

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33. Trevor Goddard (1955-1970)

  • 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.

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32. Peter Kirsten (1973-1997)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 12 (Test), 40 (ODI), 327 (FC), 358 (List A)
  • Runs: 626 (Test), 1293 (ODI), 22635 (FC), 11403 (List A)
  • Hundreds: 1 (Test), 57 (FC), 10 (List A)

Played international a few years past his prime due to international isolation. 22,635 first class runs is a testament to his talent.

*played 12 Tests and 40 ODIs from 1991-1994

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31. Ken McEwan (1972-1992)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
  • Matches: 428 (FC), 409 (List A)
  • Runs: 26628 (FC), 11866 (List A)
  • Hundreds: 74 (FC), 16 (List A)
  • Dismissals: 366 (FC), 142 (List A)

30. Neil Adcock (1953-1962)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 26 (Test), 99 (FC)
  • Wickets: 104 (Test), 405 (FC)
  • 5-fers: 5 (Test), 19 (FC)

First South African fast bowler to 100 test wickets. One of the early greats of South African proud fast bowling history.

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29. Faf du Plessis (2011-)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 69 (Test), 143 (ODI), 50 (T20I)
  • Runs: 4163 (Test), 5507 (ODI), 1528 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 10 (Test), 12 (ODI), 1 (T20I)

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.

Also Read: Faf du Plessis & AB De Villiers’ Friendship: Broken Dreams of Faf and ABD

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28. Bruce Mitchell (1929-1949)

  • Role: Batter/Leg Spinner
  • Matches: 42 (Test), 173 (FC)
  • Runs: 3471 (Test), 11395 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 8 (Test), 30 (FC)

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.

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27. Imran Tahir (2011-2019)

  • Role: Leg Spinner
  • Matches: 20 (Test), 107 (ODI), 38 (T20I), 404 (T20)
  • Wickets: 57 (Test), 173 (ODI), 63 (T20I), 502 (T20)
  • 5-fers: 2 (Test), 3 (ODI), 2 (T20I), 4 (T20)

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.

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26. Jimmy Cook (1972-1995)

  • Role: Batter
  • 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.

*played 3 Tests and 4 ODIs between 1991-1993.

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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 sweetest shots in cricket.

*may continue to rise up the list

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24. Kagiso Rabada (2014-)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 62 (Test), 101 (ODI), 56 (T20I)
  • Wickets: 291 (Test), 157 (ODI), 58 (T20I)
  • 5-fers: 14 (Test), 2 (ODI)

One of the 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.

*will most likely continue to rise up this list

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23. Dudley Nourse (1935-1951)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 34 (Test), 175 (FC)
  • Runs: 2960 (Test), 12472 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 9 (Test), 41 (FC)

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.

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22. Peter Pollock (1961-1970)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 28 (Test), 127 (FC)
  • Wickets: 116 (Test), 485 (FC)
  • 5-fers: 9 (Test), 27 (FC)

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.

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21. Hansie Cronje (1992-2000)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 68 (Test), 188 (ODI)
  • Runs: 3714 (Test), 5565 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 6 (Test), 2 (ODI)
  • Wickets: 43 (Test), 114 (ODI)
  • 5-fers: 1 (ODI)

Charismatic batter. Even more charismatic captain. Legacy tarnished due to the match fixing scandal. Died too early.

Also Read: Netflix ‘Bad Sport’ Fallen Idol Review: Must Watch for All Cricket Fans – How Will History Judge Hansie Cronje?

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20. Morne Morkel (2006-2008)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 86 (Test), 117 (ODI), 44 (T20I)
  • Wickets: 309 (Test), 188 (ODI), 47 (T20I)
  • 5-fers: 8 (Test), 2 (ODI)

For every Michael Jordan, there is a Scottie Pippen. The height and constant line and length made him a threatening bowler. Combined with Steyn, the duo destroyed plenty of batting line ups around the world.

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19. Eddie Barlow (1961-1970)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 30 (Test), 283 (FC)
  • Runs: 2516 (Test), 18212 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 6 (Test), 43 (FC)
  • Wickets: 40 (Test), 571 (FC)
  • 5-fers: 1 (Test), 16 (FC)

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

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18. Gary Kirsten (1993-2004)

  • Role: Left Handed Batter
  • Matches: 101 (Test), 185 (ODI)
  • Runs: 7289 (Test), 6798 (ODI)
  • Hundreds: 21 (Test), 13 (ODI)

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 further cement his name in history.

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17. Makhaya Ntini (1998-2011)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 101 (Test), 173 (ODI), 10 (T20I)
  • Wickets: 390 (Test), 266 (ODI), 6 (T20I)
  • 5-fers: 18 (Test), 8 (ODI)

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.

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16. Aubrey Faulkner (1906-1924)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 25 (Test), 118 (FC)
  • Runs: 1754 (Test), 6366 (FC)
  • Hundreds: 4 (Test), 13 (FC)
  • Wickets: 82 (Test), 449 (FC)
  • 5-fers: 4 (Test), 33 (FC)

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.

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15. Hugh Tayfield (1949-1960)

  • Role: Off Spinner
  • Matches: 37 (Test), 187 (FC)
  • Wickets: 170 (Test), 864 (FC)
  • 5-fers: 14 (Test), 67 (FC)

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.

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14. Mark Boucher (1997-2012)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
  • Matches: 147 (Test), 295 (ODI), 25 (T20I)
  • Runs: 5515 (Test), 4686 (ODI), 268 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 5 (Test), 1 (ODI)
  • Dismissals: 555 (Test), 425 (ODI), 19 (T20I)

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.

Also Read: Top 17 Greatest Wicketkeepers in Cricket History (Men’s): Which Keepers Have the Most Dismissals Across Formats?

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13. Lance Klusener (1996-2004)

  • 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.

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12. Herschelle Gibbs (1996-2010)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 90 (Test), 248 (ODI), 23 (T20I)
  • Runs: 6167 (Test), 8094 (ODI), 400 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 14 (Test), 21 (ODI)

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).

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11. Clive Rice (1969-1994)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 3 (ODI), 482 (FC), 479 (List A)
  • Runs: 26 (ODI), 26331 (FC), 13474 (List A)
  • Hundreds: 48 (FC), 11 (List A)
  • Wickets: 2 (ODI), 930 (FC), 517 (List A)
  • 5-fers: 23 (FC), 6 (List A)

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.

*played 3 ODIs in 1991 at the age of 42

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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.

Also Read: Top 25 South African Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest South African Fast Bowlers of All Time (Updated 2024)

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9. Mike Procter (1967-1970)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 7 (Test), 401 (FC), 271 (List A)
  • Runs: 226 (Test), 21936 (FC), 6624 (List A)
  • Wickets: 41 (Test), 1417 (FC), 344 (List A)
  • 5-fers: 1 (Test), 70 (FC), 7 (List A)

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.

Also Read: Top 55 All-Rounders in Cricket History List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest All-Rounders of All Time (Updated 2023)

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8. Hashim Amla (2004-2019)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 124 (Test), 181 (ODI), 44 (T20I)
  • Runs: 9282 (Test), 8113 (ODI), 1277 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 28 (Test), 27 (ODI)

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.

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7. Graeme Smith (2002-2014)

  • Role: Left Handed Batter
  • Matches: 117 (Test), 197 (ODI), 33 (T20I)
  • Runs: 9265 (Test), 6989 (ODI), 982 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 27 (Test), 10 (ODI)

One of the greatest left-handed openers of all-time, certainly in the Top 3 of the 21st century. Not the prettiest 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 the mighty Australians and the rest of the cricketing fraternity. His captaincy led South Africa to a new era after the match fixing crisis.

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6. Barry Richards (1964-1982)

  • Role: Batter
  • Matches: 4 (Test), 339 (FC), 233 (List A)
  • Runs: 508 (Test), 28358 (FC), 8506 (List A)
  • Hundreds: 2 (Test), 80 (FC), 16 (List A)

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.

*played 4 Tests in 1970

Also Read: 155 Greatest Cricketers of All Time (Men’s): Who Is the King of Cricket? (Updated 2023)

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5. Graeme Pollock (1963-1970)

  • Role: Left Handed Batter
  • Matches: 23 (Test), 262 (FC), 118 (List A)
  • Runs: 2256 (Test), 20940 (FC), 4656 (List A)
  • Hundreds: 7 (Test), 64 (FC), 12 (List A)

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.

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4. Shaun Pollock (1995-2008)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 108 (Test), 303 (ODI), 12 (T20I)
  • Runs: 3781 (Test), 3519 (ODI), 86 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 2 (Test), 1 (ODI)
  • Wickets: 421 (Test), 393 (ODI), 15 (T20I)
  • 5-fers: 16 (Test), 5 (ODI)

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.

Also Read: 17 South Africa World Cup Chokes and Heartbreaks: The Complete List (Men’s & Women’s Combined)

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3. AB De Villiers (2004-2018)

  • Role: Batter/Wicket-Keeper
  • Matches: 114 (Test), 228 (ODI), 78 (T20I)
  • Runs: 8765 (Test), 9577 (ODI), 1672 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 22 (Test), 25 (ODI)

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.

Also Read: Top 11 Cricketers Who Retired Too Early – The Lost Generation

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2. Dale Steyn (2004-2020)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Matches: 93 (Test), 125 (ODI), 47 (T20I)
  • Wickets: 439 (Test), 196 (ODI), 64 (T20I)
  • 5-fers: 26 (Test), 3 (ODI)

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.

Also Read: Dale Steyn, The Embodiment of Simplicity and Intensity, Retires—The Greatest Fast Bowler of Them All

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1. Jacques Kallis (1995-2014)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Matches: 166 (Test), 328 (ODI), 25 (T20I)
  • Runs: 13289 (Test), 11579 (ODI), 666 (T20I)
  • Hundreds: 45 (Test), 17 (ODI)
  • Wickets: 292 (Test), 273 (ODI), 12 (T20I)

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.

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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

Future Stars: Tristan Stubbs, Tabriz Shams, Lungi Ngidi, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram

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.

Who were your favorite players? Comment below.

You May Also Like: Top 50 Greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time: The Complete List (2023)

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. Greatest South African Cricketers of All Time: (From left to right) Allan Donald, Hashim Amla, Barry Richards, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Graeme Pollock, Graeme Smith, Mike Procter

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. Greatest South African Cricketers of All Time: (From left to right) Allan Donald, Hashim Amla, Barry Richards, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Graeme Pollock, Graeme Smith, Mike Procter

Sources: ESPN Cricinfo’s All-Time XIs South Africa Edition

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 02/18/2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 25 South African Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest South African Fast Bowlers of All Time (Updated 2024)

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 the greatest South African fast bowlers of all-time, including the era of 1970-1992, the lost generation due to South Africa’s global isolation.

Let’s dive straight in.

Table of Contents

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

PlayerWickets
Shaun Pollock829
Dale Steyn699
Makhaya Ntini662
Allan Donald602
Jacques Kallis577
Morne Morkel544
Kagiso Rabada495
Lance Klusener272
Vernon Philander269
Andre Nel231
Lungi Ngidi199
Fanie de Villiers180
Wayne Parnell173
Hansie Cronje157
Andile Phehlukwayo146
Brian McMillian145
Anrich Nortje144
Andrew Hall143
Charles Langeveldt133
Craig Matthews131
Trevor Goddard123
Lonwabo Tsotsobe121
Peter Pollock116
Neil Adcock104
Kyle Abbott99
Ryan McLaren97
Chris Morris94
Marco Jansen85
Dwaine Pretorius77
Nantie Hayward75
Albie Morkel74
Jimmy Sinclair63
Richard Snell63
Duanne Olivier62
Jimmy Blanckenberg60
Peter Heine58
Roger Telemachus58
Buster Nupen50

Others: Gerald Coetzee (46), Eddie Barlow (40)

*Note: This includes wickets taken for World XI teams as well.

Also Read:

Top 10 Famous South African Fast Bowlers

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) Impact in Test Matches, (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).

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

25. Jimmy Blanckenberg – 60 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1913-1924
  • Matches: 18 (Test)
  • Wickets: 60
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/76
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/4
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24. Kyle Abbott – 99 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2013-2017
  • Matches: 11 (Test), 28 (ODI), 21 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 39/34/26
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/29 (Test), 4/21 (ODI), 3/20 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 0/3 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)
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23. Brian McMillan – 145 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1991-1998
  • Matches: 38 (Test), 78 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 75/70
  • Best Figures in Innings: 4/65 (Test), 4/32 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (Test), 1/0 (ODI)
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22. Eddie Barlow – 40 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1961-1970
  • Matches: 30 (Test), 283 (FC)
  • Wickets (Test/FC): 40/571
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/85 (Test), 7/24 (FC)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 0/1, 16 – 5 wicket hauls (FC)

21. Charl Langeveldt – 133 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2001-2010
  • Matches: 6 (Test), 72 (ODI), 9 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 16/100/17
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/46 (Test), 5/39 (ODI), 4/19 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 0/1 (Test), 1/2 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)
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20. Lungi Ngidi – 199 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2017-
  • Matches: 17 (Test), 56 (ODI), 40 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 51/88/60
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/39 (Test), 6/58 (ODI), 5/39
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/3 (Test), 4/1 (ODI), 2/1 (T20I)
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19. Peter Heine – 58 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1955-1862
  • Matches: 14 (Test)
  • Wickets: 58
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/58
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/4
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18. Wayne Parnell – 173 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2009-
  • Matches: 6 (Test), 73 (ODI), 56 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 15/99/59
  • Best Figures in Innings: 4/51 (Test), 5/48 (ODI), 5/30
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/0 (Test), 3/2 (ODI), 1/1 (T20I)
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17. Lance Klusener – 272 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1996-2004
  • Matches: 49 (Test), 171 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 80/192
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/64 (Test), 6/49 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls): 2/1 (Test), 1/6 (ODI)
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16. Anrich Nortje – 144 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2019-
  • Matches: 19 (Test), 22 (ODI), 31 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 70/36/38
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/56 (Test), 4/51 (ODI), 4/10 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/4 (Test), 3/0 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)
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15. Garth Le Roux – 838 First Class Wickets

  • Years Played: 1976-1989 (his entire career fell amidst South Africa’s global isolation)
  • Matches: 239 (First Class), 250 (List A)
  • Wickets (FC/List A): 838/378
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/107 (FC), 6/21 (List A)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 35 – 5w hauls (FC), 16/5 (List A)
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14. Fanie de Villiers – 180 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1992-1998
  • Matches: 18 (Test), 83 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 85/95
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/23 (Test), 4/27 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/5 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)
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13. Neil Adcock – 104 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1953-1962
  • Matches: 26 (Test)
  • Wickets: 104
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/43
  • 4w/5w hauls: 5/5
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12. Peter Pollock – 116 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1961-1970
  • Matches: 28 (Test)
  • Wickets: 116
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/38
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/9
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11. Clive Rice – 930 First Class Wickets

  • Years Played: 1969-1994
  • Matches: 3 (ODI), 482 (FC), 479 (List A)
  • Wickets (ODI/FC/List A): 2/930/517
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/46, 7/62, 6/18
  • 4w/5w hauls: 23 – 5 wicket hauls (FC), 19/6 (List A)
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10. Jacques Kallis – 577 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1995-2014
  • Matches: 166 (Test), 328 (ODI), 25 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 292/273/12
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/54 (Test), 5/30 (ODI), 4/15 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 7/5 (Test), 2/2 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)
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9. Mike Procter – 41 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1967-1970
  • Matches: 7 (Test), 401 (First Class)
  • Wickets (Test/FC): 41/1417
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/73 (Test), 9/71 (FC)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/1 (Test), 70 – 5 wicket hauls (FC)
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8. Vince van der Bijl – 767 First Class Wickets

According to ESPNCricinfo, van der Bijl was “one of the best bowlers to not play Test cricket.”

  • Years Played: 1967-1983
  • Matches: 156 (FC), 92 (List A)
  • Wickets (FC/List A): 767/132
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/35 (FC), 5/12 (List A)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 46 – 5 wicket hauls (FC), 2/4 (List A)
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7. Vernon Philander – 269 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2007-2020
  • Matches: 64 (Test), 30 (ODI), 7 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 224/41/4
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/21 (Test), 4/12 (ODI), 2/23 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 8/13 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)
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6. Kagiso Rabada – 495 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2004-
  • Matches: 60 (Test), 101 (ODI), 56 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 280/157/58
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/112 (Test), 6/16 (ODI), 3/20 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 14/13 (Test), 6/2 (ODI)
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5. Morne Morkel – 544 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2006-2018
  • Matches: 86 (Test), 117 (ODI), 44 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 309/188/47
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/23 (Test), 5/21 (ODI), 4/17 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 18/8 (Test), 7/2 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)

Also Read: Top 11 Cricketers Who Retired Too Early – The Lost Generation of Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla, and Michael Clarke

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4. Makhaya Ntini – 662 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1998-2011
  • Matches: 101 (Test), 173 (ODI), 10 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 390/266/6
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/37 (Test), 6/22 (ODI), 2/22 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 19/18 (Test), 8/4 (ODI)
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3. Shaun Pollock – 829 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1995-2008
  • Matches: 108 (Test), 303 (ODI), 12 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 421/393/15
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/87 (Test), 6/35 (ODI), 3/28
  • 4w/5w hauls: 23/16 (Test), 12/5 (ODI)
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2. Allan Donald – 602 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1991-2003
  • Matches: 72 (Test), 164 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 330/272
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/71 (Test), 6/23 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 11/20 (Test), 11/2 (ODI)
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1. Dale Steyn – 699 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2004-2020
  • Matches: 93 (Test), 125 (ODI), 47 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 439/196/64
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/51 (Test), 6/39 (ODI), 4/9
  • 4w/5w hauls: 27/26 (Test), 4/3 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)

Also Read: Dale Steyn, The Embodiment of Simplicity and Intensity, Retires—The Greatest Fast Bowler of Them All

Watch: Dale Steyn vs Australia

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South African Fast Bowlers in Each World Cup

ODI World Cup

  • 1992 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Brian McMillan, Meyrick Pringle, Adrian Kuiper, Hansie Cronje, Richard Snell
  • 1996 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Fanie de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Brian McMillan, Craig Matthews
  • 1999 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Steve Elworthy, Dale Benkenstein, Alan Dawson
  • 2003 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Charl Langeveldt, Makhaya Ntini, Mode Zondeki
  • 2007 ODI WC: Shaun Pollock, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Roger Telemachus
  • 2011 ODI WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis, Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
  • 2015 ODI WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kyle Abbott, Vernon Philander, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Parnell
  • 2019 ODI WC: Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Anrich Nortje* (withdrawn)
  • 2023 ODI WC: Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams, Anrich Nortje*, Sisanda Magala* (withdrawn)

T20 World Cup

  • 2007 T20 WC: Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Justin Kemp, Johan van der Wath, Vernon Philander
  • 2009 T20 WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Yusuf Abdulla, Jacques Kallis, Wayne Parnell
  • 2010 T20 WC: Juan Theron, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Charl Langelveldt, Rory Kleinveldt
  • 2012 T20 WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Albie Morkel, Jacques Kallis, Farhaan Behardien
  • 2014 T20 WC: Dale Styen, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Farhaan Behardien
  • 2016 T20 WC: Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott, David Wiese, Farhaan Behardien
  • 2021 T20 WC: Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, Lizaad Williams*, Andile Phelukwayo* (Reserves)
  • 2022 T20 WC: Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Lizaad Williams*, Andile Phelukwayo* (Reserves), Dwaine Pretorius** (Withdrawn)

Final Thoughts

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 Makhya Ntini’s action, and the tireless nature of Morne Morkel hitting the deck.

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 were your favorite fast bowlers from South Africa?

We Think You Will Also Like

If you liked reading about South African cricket, here are some of our other content on this topic:

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.Top 10 Famous and Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time - The Complete List

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.South African Fast Bowlers List

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 12/17/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 21 West Indian Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest West Indies Fast Bowlers of All Time (Updated 2024)

The list of West Indian fast bowlers continues to grow—Matthew Forde burst onto the scene with his 3-fer on debut against England and the likes of Jayden Seales continue to impress.

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?

Let’s dive straight in.

Table of Contents

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

PlayerWickets
Courtney Walsh746
Curtly Ambrose630
Malcolm Marshall533
Joel Garner405
Kemar Roach400
Michael Holding391
Jason Holder375
Jerome Taylor291
Andy Roberts289
Ian Bishop279
Dwayne Bravo263
Mervyn Dillon261
Fidel Edwards245
Sir Garfield Sobers236
Alzarri Joseph225
Daren Sammy209
Shannon Gabriel202
Ravi Rampaul197
Wes Hall192
Patrick Patterson183
Corey Collymore176
Winston Benjamin161
Daren Powell158
Colin Croft155
Pedro Collins 145
Reon King129
Vanburn Holder128
Kenny Benjamin125
Andre Russell113
Sheldon Cottrell106
Tino Best97
Kieron Pollard97
Charlie Griffith94
Nixon McLean90
Ian Bradshaw87
Phil Simmons87
Anderson Cummins86
Cameron Cuffy84
Winston Davis84
Vasbert Drakes84
Franklyn Rose82
Carlos Brathwaite75
Dwayne Smith75
Keith Boyce73
Frank Worrell69
Bernard Julien68
Jermaine Lawson68
Tony Gray66
Keemo Paul65
Wayne Daniel59
Learie Constantine58
Gerry Gomez58
Romario Shepherd58
Roy Gilchrist57
Sylvester Clarke55
Eldine Baptiste52
Oshane Thomas50
Kesrick Williams50

Others: Kyle Mayers (48), Jomel Warrican (46), Obed McCoy (46), Herman Griffith (44), Jayden Seales (43), Manny Martindale (37), George Francis (23)

Also Read:

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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!

Future Stars: Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas, Obed McCoy, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde, Chemar Holder

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

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21. Fidel Edwards – 245 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-2021
  • Matches: 55 (Test), 50 (ODI), 26 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 165/60/20
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/87 (Test), 6/22 (ODI), 3/23 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/12 (Test), 0/2 (ODI)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Fidel Edwards Most Fiery Spell Vs Rahul Dravid – Amazing Battle

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20. Jerome Taylor – 291 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-2018
  • Matches: 46 (Test), 90 (ODI), 30 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 130/128/33
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/47 (Test), 5/48 (ODI), 3/6 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 5/4 (Test), 3/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Jamaica

Watch: Jerome Taylor Hat Trick vs Australia 2006 Champions Trophy

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19. Tino Best – 97 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-2014
  • Matches: 25 (Test), 26 (ODI), 6 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 57/34/6
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/40 (Test), 4/35 (ODI), 3/18 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/2 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Tino Best giving 125 %

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18. Shannon Gabriel – 202 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2012-
  • Matches: 59 (Test), 25 (ODI), 2 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 166/33/3
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/62 (Test), 3/17 (ODI), 3/44 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 5/6 (Test)

Nationality: Trinidad (Domestic Team – Trinidad & Tobago)

Watch: Gabriel enters WINDIES record books: best figures EVER on Windies Soil | Windies Finest

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17. Ravi Rampaul – 197

  • Years Played: 2003-2021
  • Matches: 18 (Test), 92 (ODI), 27 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 49/117/31
  • Best Figures in Innings: 4/48 (Test), 5/49 (ODI), 3/16 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/0 (Test), 8/2 (ODI)

Nationality: Trinidad (Domestic Team – Trinidad & Tobago)

Watch: Ravi Rampaul spectacular delivery

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16. Vanburn Holder – 128 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1969-1979
  • Matches: 40 (Test), 12 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 109/19
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/28 (Test), 5/50 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/3 (Test), 0/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Vanburn holder bowling

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15. Winston Benjamin – 161 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1986-1995
  • Matches: 21 (Test), 85 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 61/100
  • Best Figures in Innings: 4/46 (Test), 5/22 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (Test), 0/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Antigua (Domestic Team – Leeward Islands)

Watch: WINSTON BENJAMIN | 3/12 @ Lancaster Park | 3rd ODI | WEST INDIES tour of NEW ZEALAND 1995

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14. Patrick Patterson – 183 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1986-1993
  • Matches: 28 (Test), 59 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 93/90
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/24 (Test), 6/29 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 4/5 (Test), 1/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Jamaica

Watch: From the Vault: Patrick Patterson’s MCG playground

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13. Jason Holder – 375 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2013-
  • Matches: 64 (Test), 138 (ODI), 58 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 157/159/60
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/42 (Test), 5/27 (ODI), 5/27
  • 4w/5w hauls: 4/8 (Test), 5/2 (ODI), 2/1 (T20I)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Jason Holder 4/7 Magical Spell

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12. Charlie Griffith – 94 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1960-1969
  • Matches: 28 (Test)
  • Wickets: 94
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/36
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/5

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Charlie Griffith Brutal bowling

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11. Dwayne Bravo – 263 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2004-2021
  • Matches: 40 (Test), 164 (ODI), 91 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 86/199/78
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/55 (Test), 6/43 (ODI), 4/19 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/2 (Test), 6/1 (ODI), 3/0 (T20I)

Nationality: Trinidad (Domestic Team – Trinidad & Tobago)

Watch: Dwayne Bravo’s BEST Wickets | All Time Leading T20 Wicket Taker

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10. Ian Bishop – 279 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1988-1998
  • Matches: 43 (Test), 84 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 161/118
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/40 (Test), 5/25 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/6 (Test), 7/2 (ODI)

Nationality: Trinidad (Domestic Team – Trinidad & Tobago)

Watch: Ian Bishop unleashes hell on Robin Smith – PACE LIKE FIRE

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9. Kemar Roach – 400 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2008-
  • Matches: 79 (Test), 95 (ODI), 11 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 265/125/10
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/48 (Test), 6/27 (ODI), 2/25 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 14/11 (Test), 3/3 (ODI)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Kemar Roach – One of the best fast bowlers in the world | Best Wickets

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8. Colin Croft – 155 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1977-1982
  • Matches: 27 (Test), 19 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 125/30
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/29 (Test), 6/15 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 7/3 (Test), 0/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Guyana

Watch: Colin Croft Jaffer to Kim Hughes 1979 West Indies In Australia

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7. Wes Hall – 192 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1958-1969
  • Matches: 48 (Test)
  • Wickets: 192
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/69
  • 4w/5w hauls: 11/9

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Wes Hall bowling in England 1963

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6. Andy Roberts – 289 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1974-1983
  • Matches: 47 (Test), 56 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 202/87
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/54 (Test), 5/22 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 8/11 (Test), 2/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Antigua (Domestic Team – Leeward Islands)

Watch: Meet the ICC Hall of Famers: Andy Roberts | ‘Not only was he quick, he was skilfull’

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5. Joel Garner – 405 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1977-1987
  • Matches: 58 (Test), 98 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 259/146
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/56 (Test), 5/31 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 18/7 (Test), 2/3 (ODI)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: Mix Tape: The best of Big Bird

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4. Michael Holding – 391 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1975-1987
  • Matches: 60 (Test), 102 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 249/142
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/92 (Test), 5/26 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 11/13 (Test), 5/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Jamaica

Watch: Very fast bowling – Michael Holding at Brisbane 1979

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3. Curtly Ambrose – 630 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1988-2000
  • Matches: 98 (Test), 176 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 405/225
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/45 (Test), 5/17 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 21/22 (Test), 6/4 (ODI)

Nationality: Antigua (Domestic Team – Leeward Islands)

Watch: From the Vault: Insane spell of 7-1 as Ambrose wreaks havoc

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2. Malcolm Marshall – 533 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1978-1992
  • Matches: 81 (Test), 136 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 376/157
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/22 (Test), 4/18 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 19/22 (Test), 6/0 (ODI)

Nationality: Barbados

Watch: The Greatest Quick of All Time? Marshall Blows England Away in Classic! | Eng v WI 1984 | Lord’s

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1. Courtney Walsh – 746 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1984-2001
  • Matches: 132 (Test), 205 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 519/227
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/37 (Test), 5/1 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 32/22 (Test), 6/1 (ODI)

Nationality: Jamaica

Watch: First Ever Bowler to take 500 Wickets: Walsh vs Kallis, Ambrose & Walsh Combine For Incredible 15 Wickets at Lord’s! | England v West Indies 2000, Courtney Walsh 5/1 Vs Sri Lanka

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West Indies Fast Bowlers in Each World Cup

ODI World Cup

  • 1975 ODI WC: Andy Roberts, Vanburn Holder, Keith Boyce, Collis King
  • 1979 ODI WC: Colin Croft, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Faoud Bacchus
  • 1983 ODI WC: Wayne Daniel, Winston Davis, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts
  • 1987 ODI WC: Eldine Baptiste, Winston Benjamin, Patrick Patterson, Phil Simmons, Courtney Walsh
  • 1992 ODI WC: Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Patrick Patterson, Phil Simmons, Winston Benjamin, Anderson Cummins
  • 1996 ODI WC: Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Phil Simmons, Ian Bishop, Ottis Gibson, Cameron Cuffy
  • 1999 ODI WC: Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Phil Simmons, Mervyn Dillon, Reon King
  • 2003 ODI WC: Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Jermaine Lawson, Nixon McLean
  • 2007 ODI WC: Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Corey Collymore, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Dwayne Smith
  • 2011 ODI WC: Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Daren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo* (Withdrawn)
  • 2015 ODI WC: Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor, Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach, Daren Sammy, Dwayne Smith
  • 2019 ODI WC: Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas, Andre Russell

T20 World Cup

  • 2007 T20 WC: Dwayne Bravo, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Daren Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Daren Sammy, Dwayne Smith
  • 2009 T20 WC: Jerome Taylor, Lionel Baker, Dave Bernard Jr., Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Kieron Pollard, Daren Sammy
  • 2010 T20 WC: Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul, Daren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Wavell Hinds, Kieron Pollard
  • 2012 T20 WC: Ravi Rampaul, Daren Sammy, Fidel Edwards, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith
  • 2014 T20 WC: Dwayne Bravo, Daren Sammy, Sheldon Cottrell, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santokie, Dwayne Smith
  • 2016 T20 WC: Jerome Taylor, Jason Holder, Daren Sammy, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell
  • 2021 T20 WC: Jason Holder, Ravi Rampaul, Oshane Thomas, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell* (Reserve), Obed McCoy* (Withdrawn)
  • 2022 T20 WC: Sheldon Cottrell, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Raymon Reifer, Odean Smith, Rovman Powell
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Final Thoughts

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.

Also Read:

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.West Indian Fast Bowlers: List of the greatest West Indies Fast Bowlers of All-Time. Pictured here - Top (from left to right): Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Colin Croft. Bottom (From left to right) Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Wes Hall

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.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 12/16/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 55 All-Rounders in Cricket History List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest All-Rounders of All Time (Updated 2023)

Today, we rank the greatest all-rounders in cricket history across formats and generations.

The importance of all-rounders can never be underestimated. Just look at Australia—Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis helped them win the 2023 ODI World Cup…yet again.

Recently, Ben Stokes joined the illustrious duo of Garfield Sobers & Jacques Kallis with 6000+ Test runs, 100+ wickets, and 100+ catches.

With some of the modern-day all-rounders in the mix, who are the greatest all-rounders in cricket history?

Key Takeaways

  • Jacques Kallis, Sir Garfield Sobers, Shakib Al Hasan, Kapil Dev, Sir Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Keith Miller, Richie Benaud, Mike Procter, Sir Richard Hadlee, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock, Daniel Vettori, Sanath Jayasuriya, Wilfred Rhodes, Frank Woolley, Aubrey Faulkner, Clive Rice, and George Hirst have been judged as the Top 20 greatest all-rounders in cricket history.
  • India (10), England (9), South Africa (9), Pakistan (7), Australia (7), West Indies (4), New Zealand (3), Zimbabwe (2), Sri Lanka (2), Netherlands (1), and Bangladesh (1) make up our list of the Top 55 all-rounders of all-time.

Also Read:

By the Numbers: Greatest All-Rounders in Cricket History Across Formats

Here is a list of cricketers with more than 5000 runs and 200 wickets across formats in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket combined.

The results are sorted by most wickets.

PlayerRunsWickets
Wasim Akram6615916
Shaun Pollock7386829
Chaminda Vaas5147761
Daniel Vettori6989705
Shakib Al Hasan14406690
Kapil Dev9031687
Jacques Kallis25534577
Ravindra Jadeja6017546
Imran Khan7516544
Shahid Afridi11196541
Ian Botham7313528
Sanath Jayasuriya21032440
Chris Cairns8273420
Andrew Flintoff7315400
Abdul Razzaq7419389
Jason Holder5441373
Dwayne Bravo6423363
Moeen Ali6558358
Carl Hooper11523307
Ben Stokes10165297
Shane Watson10950291
Steve Waugh18496287
Ravi Shastri6938280
Lance Klusener5482272
Chris Gayle19593260
Mohammad Nabi5066257
Mohammad Hafeez12780253
Gary Sobers8032236
Chris Harris5156219
Shoaib Malik11867218
Sachin Tendulkar34357201

First-Class Cricket All-Round Records

We also consider first-class cricket records, especially for players who played before the 1960s and South African legends who were barred from playing international cricket for over two decades.

This list contains players who have scored over 20,000 first class runs and taken over 2000 wickets.

  1. Wilfred Rhodes – 39969 runs, 4204 wickets
  2. Fred Titmus – 21588 runs, 2830 wickets
  3. WG Grace – 54211 runs, 2809 wickets
  4. Maurice Tate – 21717 runs, 2784 wickets
  5. George Hirst – 36356 runs, 2742 wickets
  6. Ewart Astill – 22735 runs, 2432 wickets
  7. Trevor Bailey – 28641 runs, 2082 wickets
  8. Ray Illingworth – 24134 runs, 2072 wickets
  9. Frank Woolley – 58959 runs, 2066 wickets

List of the Greatest Cricket All Rounders of All-Time (RANKED)

Over a 100 cricketers were considered for this list.

Impact in Tests, World Cups, quality of opposition & era, impact as a match-winner for a team, first-class statistics, anecdotes (especially for earlier eras), performance in different formats (if applicable), and achievements/awards were all used to determine these rankings. Some of these were very close (and hence, may have a tinge of subjectiveness).

Honorable Mentions: Carl Hooper, Mohammad Hafeez, Bart King, Chaminda Vaas, Trevor Bailey, Wally Hammond, Polly Umrigar, WG Grace, Aravinda de Silva, Sir Vivian Richards, Steve Waugh, Thomas Odoyo, Neil Johnson, Angelo Mathews, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Kieron Pollard, Glenn Maxwell, Hardik Pandya, Mudassar Nazar, Learie Constantine, Jack Gregory, Maurice Tate, Hugh Trumble, Jason Holder, Johnny Briggs, George Giffen, Billy Barnes, Billy Bates, Hansie Cronje, Andy Bichel, Greg Chappell, Chris Old, Mohammad Nabi, Chris Gayle, Frank Worrell, Sean Williams, Mike Watkinson, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy, Sachin Tendulkar, Roelof van der Merwe, Kevin O’Brien, David Hussey, Scott Styris, Elton Chigumbura, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Tim Southee

Let’s begin.

55. Sunil Narine (West Indies, 2011-)

A late bloomer as an all-rounder. Mainly a mystery spinner that reinvented the role of the pinch hitter later in his T20 cricket. One of the pioneers of T20 cricket.

Sunil Narine All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 6 (Tests), 65 (ODIs), 51 (T20Is), 483 (T20s)
  • Runs: 40 (Tests), 363 (ODIs), 155 (T20Is), 3692 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 21 (Tests), 92 (ODIs), 52 (T20Is), 525 (T20s)
Sunil Narine Achievements
  • Completed the double of 3500 T20 runs and 500 wickets
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54. Yuvraj Singh (India, 2000-2017)

Yuvraj Singh, a pivotal figure in Indian cricket during the 2000s, significantly impacted the game as an all-rounder with his aggressive batting, useful slow left-arm orthodox bowling, and exceptional fielding skills. He was instrumental in India’s 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup victories and is celebrated for his ability to change the course of a match single-handedly, leaving a lasting legacy. Provided India the balance they needed.

Yuvraj Singh All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 40 (Tests), 304 (ODIs), 58 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 1900 (Tests), 8701 (ODIs), 1177 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 9 (Tests), 111 (ODIs), 28 (T20Is)
Yuvraj Singh Achievements
  • Arjuna Award: Received in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to cricket.
  • Padma Shri: Awarded in 2014, one of the highest civilian honors in India.
  • Instrumental in India’s 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and 2011 Cricket World Cup victories, winning the Player of the Tournament in both events.
  • Achieved the historic feat of hitting six consecutive sixes in an over during the 2007 World Twenty20.
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53. Dattu Phadkar (India, 1947-1959)

Dattu Phadkar was an all-rounder that takes you back to the golden era of Indian cricket in the 1940s and 1950s.

All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 133 (FC), 31 (Tests)
  • Runs: 5377 (FC), 1229 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 466 (FC), 62 (Tests)
Achievements
  • Scored 8 hundreds in first-class cricket to go along with his 31 5-fers.

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52. Andre Russell (West Indies, 2010-2021)

Russell’s impact as an all-rounder is characterized by his explosive power-hitting, accurate yorkers at the death, and instrumental contributions to T20 franchises globally, establishing him as a dynamic force in limited-overs cricket.

Andre Russell All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 56 (ODIs), 67 (T20Is), 461 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1034 (ODIs), 741 (T20Is), 7694 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 70 (ODIs), 39 (T20Is), 408 (T20s)
Andre Russell Achievements
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51. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe, 2013-)

The heart and soul of Zimbabwe. His purple patch after Zimbabwe’s snub in the 2019 ODI World Cup has been heartening to see. A true matchwinner for Zimbabwe.

Sikandar Raza All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 17 (Tests), 136 (ODIs), 78 (T20Is), 201 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1187 (Tests), 4089 (ODIs), 1774 (T20Is), 4141 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 34 (Tests), 85 (ODIs), 55 (T20Is), 114 (T20s)
Sikandar Raza Achievements
  • Raza has already won 9 player of the match awards in T20Is alone in 2023, the most by any cricketer this year.
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50. Ryan Ten Doeschate (Netherlands, 2006-2021)

Ryan ten Doeschate’s impact as a Dutch all-rounder is distinguished by his rare achievement of 1,000 runs and 50 wickets in ODIs, coupled with his exemplary leadership, making him a key figure in the Netherlands’ cricketing success. Oh yeah, and don’t forget his ODI average of 67.00.

Ryan Ten Doeschate All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 203 (FC), 33 (ODIs), 24 (T20Is), 382 (T20s)
  • Runs: 11298 (FC), 1541 (ODIs), 533 (T20Is), 7597 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 214 (FC), 55 (ODIs), 13 (T20Is), 114 (T20s)
Ryan Ten Doeschate Achievements
  • ICC Associate & Affiliate Player (3 times)
  • Achieved the milestone of 1,000 runs and 50 wickets in One Day Internationals.

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49. Mohinder Amarnath (India, 1969-1989)

Amarnath’s impact as an Indian all-rounder is immortalized by his crucial role in the historic 1983 World Cup triumph and his valuable contributions to Indian cricket.

Mohinder Amarnath All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 248 (FC), 69 (Tests), 85 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 13747 (FC), 4378 (Tests), 1924 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 277 (FC), 32 (Tests), 46 (ODIs)
Mohinder Amarnath Achievements
  • Won the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009
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48. Irfan Pathan (India, 2003-2012)

Even though it was only for a short period of time, India finally had an all-rounder worthy of creating Kapil Dev’s impact. Hat-trick, batting at #3, the yorker to Adam Gilchrist, the banana swing, and the ability to adapt—he had it all. Unfortunately, injuries, drop in pace, and change in action meant he was never the same again.

Irfan Pathan All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 29 (Tests), 120 (ODIs), 24 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 1105 (Tests), 1544 (ODIs), 172 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 100 (Tests), 173 (ODIs), 28 (T20Is)
Irfan Pathan Achievements
  • Achieved the historic feat of a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match against Pakistan in 2006.
  • Played a crucial role in India’s victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007
  • Part of the Indian team that won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2003-04, playing a vital role with both bat and ball.
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47. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka, 1999-2016)

Inventor of the Dilscoop, Dilshan was the spark that energized the golden generation of Sri Lanka between 2007 & 2015. Completely turned his career around when he was promoted as an opener. Handy off-spinner and the heart & soul of Sri Lanka’s fielding efforts.

Tillakaratne Dilshan All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 87 (Tests), 330 (ODIs), 80 (T20Is), 221 (T20s)
  • Runs: 5492 (Tests), 10290 (ODIs), 1889 (T20Is), 5193 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 39 (Tests), 106 (ODIs), 9 (T20Is), 64 (T20s)
Tillakaratne Dilshan Achievements
  • Achieved the milestone of 10,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs
  • Player of the Tournament in the 2009 T20 World Cup

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46. Ravichandran Ashwin (India, 2010-)

Ravichandran Ashwin – what a game changer he has been! Not just any off-spinner, he’s hit a remarkable milestone – quickest Indian bowler to take 450 Test wickets. But there’s more to Ashwin than his lethal spin. He steps up with the bat too, scoring Test centuries when it matters most. And guess what? He’s taking us behind the scenes on his YouTube channel, offering a fresh, personal view of cricket.

Ravichandran Ashwin All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 94 (Tests), 116 (ODIs), 65 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 3185 (Tests), 707 (ODIs), 184 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 489 (Test), 156 (ODIs), 72 (T20Is)
Ravichandran Ashwin Achievements
  • Achieved the milestone of 400 Test wickets
  • ICC Cricketer of the Year (2016)
  • Has scored 5 Test Centuries
  • Ranked #1 ICC Test all-rounders (2013, 2015, 2016)
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45. Andrew Symonds (Australia, 1998-2009)

One of the most destructive all-round ODI players of all-time. The cog in the Australia machine that made them ruthless. Cricket has lost a great soul.

Andrew Symonds All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 26 (Tests), 198 (ODIs), 14 (T20Is), 93 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1462 (Tests), 5088 (ODIs), 337 (T20Is), 2141 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 24 (Tests), 133 (ODIs), 8 (T20Is), 52 (T20s)
Andrew Symonds Achievements
  • Known for his aggressive batting style and off-spin bowling, he achieved the rare milestone of 5,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs.
  • Holder of the fastest T20 century for almost a decade (34-ball hundred in 2004).
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44. Shoaib Malik (Pakistan, 1999-2021)

An all-rounder that aged like fine wine. With the advent of T20 cricket, his value as an all-rounder increased. Could steady an ODI innings, slow down the runs as an off-spinners, and finish it off with a few big sixes.

Shoaib Malik All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 35 (Tests), 287 (ODIs), 124 (T20Is), 524 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1898 (Tests), 7534 (ODIs), 2435 (T20Is), 12929 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 32 (Tests), 158 (ODIs), 28 (T20Is), 177 (T20s)
Shoaib Malik Achievements
  • Played a key role in Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup
  • Completed the double of 7000 ODI runs & 150 wickets
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43. Lala Amarnath (India, 1933-1952)

The senior Amarnath. A pioneer of Indian cricket, Lala Amarnath was the first Indian cricketer to score a Test century, and one of India’s early captains.

Lala Amarnath All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 186 (FC), 24 (Tests)
  • Runs: 10426 (FC), 878 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 463 (FC), 45 (Tests)
Lala Amarnath Achievements
  • Part of the historic Indian team that won its first Test series in 1952, laying the foundation for future successes.
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42. Trevor Goddard (South Africa, 1955-1970)

Goddard’s impact as a South African all-rounder is highlighted by his contributions to the team’s early successes and his legacy as a pioneering figure in South African cricket.

Trevor Goddard All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 179 (FC), 41 (Tests)
  • Runs: 11289 (FC), 2516 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 534 (FC), 123 (Tests)
Trevor Goddard Achievements
  • Achieved the notable all-rounder milestone of 2500 runs and 100 wickets in Test cricket.
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41. Heath Streak (Zimbabwe, 1993-2005)

One of the great icons of Zimbabwe’s golden generations. 455 international wickets and 4000 international runs, he provided fans with some great memories.

Heath Streak All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 175 (FC), 65 (Tests), 190 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 5684 (FC), 2943 (Tests), 1990 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 499 (FC), 216 (Tests), 239 (ODIs)
Heath Streak Achievements
  • Completed the double of 2500 Test runs and 200 wickets.
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40. Bill Eldrich (England, 1939-1955)

36965 first class runs. 479 wickets. 527 catches. If that is not an all-rounder, I just don’t know what is.

Bill Eldrich All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 571 (FC), 39 (Tests)
  • Runs: 36965 (FC), 2440 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 479 (FC), 41 (Tests)
Bill Eldrich Achievements
  • Opened the batting and bowling in the same match
  • Scored 86 hundreds and 197 fifties
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39. Warwick Armstrong (Australia, 1902-1921)

An Australian cricketer and one of the greatest all-rounders of the early 20th century, Warwick Armstrong left an enduring legacy in the sport.

Warwick Armstrong All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 269 (FC), 50 (Tests)
  • Runs: 16158 (FC), 2863 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 832 (FC), 87 (Tests)
Warwick Armstrong Achievements
  • Led Australia to eight victories against England
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38. Ravi Shastri (India, 1981-1992)

A larger-than-life character. Shastri’s impact as an Indian all-rounder is characterized by his contributions to team victories, leadership roles, commentary spells, and his continued influence in Indian cricket as a coach and administrator.

Ravi Shastri All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 245 (FC), 80 (Tests), 150 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 13202 (FC), 3830 (Tests), 3108 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 509 (FC), 151 (Tests), 129 (ODIs)
Ravi Shastri Achievements
  • Completed the double of 6500 runs and 275 wickets
  • Averaged 77.75 against Australia
  • Key contributor in India’s World Championship of Cricket win in 1985
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37. Wasim Raja (Pakistan, 1973-1985)

Raja’s impact as a Pakistani cricketer is remembered for his stylish batting, contributions to team successes, and his influence on the field during an era of competitive cricket.

Wasim Raja All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 250 (FC), 57 (Tests), 54 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 11434 (FC), 2821 (Tests), 782 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 558 (FC), 51 (Tests), 21 (ODIs)
Wasim Raja Achievements
  • Completed the double of 2500 Test runs & 50 wickets
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36. Lance Klusener (South Africa, 1996-2004)

Lance Klusener, that South African cricket dynamo of the late 90s and early 2000s, was an absolute game-changer. His left-handed batting? Ferocious. His right-arm fast-medium bowling? Terrifyingly accurate. And his game sense? Ice cool under pressure. Remember the ’99 World Cup? Klusener owned it, bagging the Player of the Tournament with a jaw-dropping average of 140.50 runs and snagging 17 wickets to boot. Not to mention his one-day magic: over 3500 runs at a solid average of 41.10, and 192 wickets. Now that’s what I call redefining the all-rounder role!

Lance Klusener All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 49 (Tests), 171 (ODIs), 53 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1906 (Tests), 3576 (ODIs), 1014 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 80 (Tests), 171 (ODIs), 29 (T20s)
Lance Klusener Achievements
  • Named Player of the Tournament in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, showcasing his exceptional performances and impact on the global stage.
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35. Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan, 1996-2013)

Despite never quite reaching the heights of the great Imran Khan, Razzaq remains etched in Pakistan fans’ memories as one of the most effective and versatile players. A pioneer in lower-order power hitting, Razzaq & Afridi provided the balance and flexibility to the great Pakistan generation of the 90s.

Abdul Razzaq All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 46 (Tests), 265 (ODIs), 32 (T20Is), 142 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1946 (Tests), 5080 (ODIs), 393 (T20Is), 2578 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 100 (Tests), 269 (ODIs), 20 (T20Is), 135 (T20s)
Abdul Razzaq Achievements
  • Completed the double of 5000 Runs and 250 Wickets in ODI Cricket

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34. Chris Cairns (New Zealand, 1989-2006)

With over 8000 international runs and 400 wickets, Chris Cairns is undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s greatest all-rounders. Among a team of dibbly dobblers, Cairns actually had some pace in him. A big hitter down the order as well.

Chris Cairns All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 217 (FC), 62 (Tests), 215 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 10702 (FC), 3320 (Tests), 4950 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 647 (FC), 218 (Tests), 201 (ODIs)
Chris Cairns Achievements
  • Part of the New Zealand team that reached the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999, showcasing his impact in limited-overs cricket.
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33. Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan, 1959-1979)

In the illustrious line of the Mohammad brothers (think Hanif), Mushtaq boasted the most first-class centuries (72) and most wickets (936).

Mushtaq Mohammad All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 502 (FC), 57 (Tests), 10 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 31091 (FC), 3643 (Tests), 209 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 936 (FC), 79 (Tests), 0 (ODIs)
Mushtaq Mohammad Achievements
  • Achieved the milestone of 3,000 runs and 70 wickets in Test cricket
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32. Ravindra Jadeja (India, 2009-)

Ravindra Jadeja, a versatile all-rounder who rose to prominence during the 2010s, significantly influenced Indian cricket with his exceptional left-arm spin bowling, reliable lower-order batting, and electric fielding; he has consistently delivered match-winning performances. Also has three first-class triple hundreds. A true modern-day all-rounder.

Ravindra Jadeja All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 67 (Tests), 197 (ODIs), 64 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 2804 (Tests), 2756 (ODIs), 457 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 275 (Tests), 220 (ODIs), 51 (T20Is)
Ravindra Jadeja Achievements
  • 2000 Test Runs and 200 Wickets
  • Awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2020
  • #1 ICC Test all-rounder (2022)
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31. Vinoo Mankad (India, 1946-1959)

Before the Ravindra Jadejas & Axar Patels, there was another left arm spin Indian all-rounder. You may have heard of his name for the infamous dismissal, but Vinoo Makad was much more. He would open the batting and bowling in the same innings, would score two double hundreds in the same series, took up captaincy duties, and would take eight wickets in a Test innings twice in his career!

Vinoo Mankad All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 233 (FC), 44 (Tests)
  • Runs: 11591 (FC), 2109 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 782 (FC), 162 (Tests)
Vinoo Mankad Achievements
  • First Indian to complete the double of 100 Test wickets & 1000 Test Runs
  • Set the then world-record opening partnership of 413 runs with Pankaj Roy in 1956.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1947)
  • Inducted in ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
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30. Monty Noble (Australia, 1898-1909)

At the turn of the 20th century, Monty Noble was an Australian legend who commanded the pitch with his right-hand batting and medium pace bowling, earned him recognition as one of the most complete players of his era. His exceptional ability was evident in every aspect of the game – not to mention his distinguished captaincy, which solidified his status as one of the greatest all-round cricketers ever produced by Australia.

Monty Noble All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 248 (FC), 42 (Tests)
  • Runs: 13975 (FC), 1997 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 624 (FC), 121 (Tests)
Monty Noble Achievements
  • Inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the sport.
  • 1000 Runs and 100 Wickets in Test Cricket
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29. Dwayne Bravo (West Indies, 2004-)

Dwayne Bravo, a charismatic all-rounder who dominated the 2010s, revolutionized cricket with his powerful hitting, agile fielding, and captivating leadership. He made significant contributions to T20 cricket with the most wickets of all-time, over 2000 Test runs, 2900 ODI runs – thereby cementing his legacy as one of the game’s early T20 legends and a “trailblazer” of his era.

Dwayne Bravo All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 40 (Tests), 164 (ODIs), 91 (T20Is), 564 (T20s)
  • Runs: 2200 (Tests), 2968 (ODIs), 1255 (T20Is), 6905 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 86 (Tests), 199 (ODIs), 78 (T20Is), 619 (T20s)
Dwayne Bravo Achievements
  • Winning member of two T20 World Cup winning squads
  • Winning member of the 2004 Champions Trophy
  • Highest wicket taker in the 2013 & 2015 IPL, 2015 & 2016 CPL, and 2017-18 BBL.
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28. Wasim Akram (Pakistan, 1984-2003)

In the cricket-packed era of the 90s and early 2000s, Wasim Akram was a game-changer from Pakistan who not only stunned opponents with his incredible left-hand bowling, but also made history by taking 500 wickets in the one-day format. He has four hat-tricks in international cricket to his name and set standards that redefined the role of a left arm fast bowler in the sport. Also scored a 257* in Tests!

Wasim Akram All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 104 (Tests), 356 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 2898 (Tests), 3717 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 414 (Tests), 502 (ODIs)
Wasim Akram Achievements
  • Achieved the rare all-rounder milestone of 3,000 runs and 500 wickets in One Day Internationals.
  • Instrumental in Pakistan’s victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, earning him the Man of the Match award in the final.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 1993
  • Member of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
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27. Brian McMillan (South Africa, 1991-1998)

Among the most prominent allrounders after South Africa’s readmission. According to ESPNCricinfo, McMillan was “rated by many as the best allrounder in the world in the mid-1990s.”

Brian McMillian All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 155 (FC), 38 (Tests), 78 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 7898 (FC), 1968 (Tests), 841 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 310 (FC), 75 (Tests), 70 (ODIs)
Brian McMillan Achievements
  • Achieved the all-rounder milestone of 1000 runs and 75 wickets in Test cricket.
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26. Alan Davidson (Australia, 1953-1963)

First person to score a hundred and take a 10-fer in a Test.

Alan Davidson All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 193 (FC), 44 (Tests)
  • Runs: 6804 (FC), 1328 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 672 (FC), 186 (Tests)
Alan Davidson Achievements
  • Scored four hundreds and took 72 wickets against South Africa in the 1957-58 tour
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25. Eddie Barlow (South Africa, 1961-1970)

Known for his aggressive batting, medium-fast bowling, and exceptional fielding, Barlow played a key role in South Africa’s cricketing endeavors.

Eddie Barlow All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 283 (FC), 30 (Tests)
  • Runs: 18212 (FC), 2516 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 571 (FC), 40 (Tests)
Eddie Barlow Achievements
  • Scored 43 hundreds, 86 fifties, and took 335 catches
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24. Tony Greig (England, 1965-1978)

Apart from being known as one of the voices of cricket, Tony Greig also had an illustrious career as an all-rounder for England. 3599 Test & 16,660 FC runs, 141 Test & 856 FC wickets, and captaincy to top it off.

Tony Greig All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 350 (FC), 58 (Tests), 22 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 16,660 (FC), 3599 (Tests), 269 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 856 (FC), 141 (Tests), 19 (ODIs)
Tony Greig Achievements
  • Awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1975 for his outstanding performances on the field.
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23. Ben Stokes (England, 2011-)

Ben Stokes, the explosive all-rounder from England, is more than just stats and records. With his audacious batting style, airborne catches, dynamite bowling arm, and a mind of steel, he has redefined cricket – his mental strength shone when he led England to triumph in the Ashes Headingly heist, the 2019 World Cup final, and again in the 2022 T20 World Cup, proving that when the pressure is on, Stokes is the man you want at the crease. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be after he un-retired from ODI cricket for the final hurrah in what turned to be a disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Ben Stokes All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 97 (Tests), 114 (ODIs), 43 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 6117 (Tests), 3463 (ODIs), 585 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 197 (Tests), 74 (ODIs), 26 (T20Is)
Ben Stokes Achievements
  • Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2019
  • BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2019
  • 2019 World Cup player of the final
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22. Shane Watson (Australia, 2002-2016)

In the dynamic era of 2000s and early 2010s cricket, Shane Watson was a tour de force for Australia, combining his explosive right-handed batting. Add to that, his reliable medium pace bowling that helped him take over 150 wickets, earning him the distinction of being one of the most successful all-rounders in international cricket, particularly in limited overs. His key achievements include winning the ‘Most Valuable Player’ in several crucial tournaments like the 2007 & 2015 ODI World Cup, 2009 Champions Trophy, the IPL, and 2012 World T20. A template for an ideal modern-day T20 all-rounder.

Shane Watson All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 59 (Tests), 190 (ODIs), 58 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 3731 (Tests), 5757 (ODIs), 1462 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 75 (Tests), 168 (ODIs), 48 (T20Is)
Shane Watson Achievements
  • Allan Border Medal: Won in 2010 and 2011 for outstanding performances in Australian cricket.
  • ICC Player of the Year Recipient (2010)
  • Achieved the rare feat of scoring over 10,000 runs and over 250 wickets in international cricket.
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21. Ray Illingworth (England, 1958-1973)

24134 first class runs. 2072 wickets. Now those are some numbers.

Ray Illingworth All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 787 (FC), 61 (Tests)
  • Runs: 24134 (FC), 1836 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 2072 (FC), 122 (Tests)
Ray Illingworth Achievements
  • Led England to an Ashes win in 1970-71
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20. George Hirst (England, 1897-1909)

An English all-rounder, George Hirst was one of the leading cricketers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

George Hirst All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 826 (FC), 24 (Tests)
  • Runs: 36356 (FC), 790 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 2742 (FC), 59 (Tests)
George Hirst Achievements
  • 36000 first class runs, 2700 wickets, 60 hundreds, 201 fifties, 605 catches, 184 5-fers, and 40 10-fers
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19. Aubrey Faulkner (South Africa, 1906-1924)

Generally regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all-time and certainly the greatest international all-rounder during his era. Also fought in a couple of wars, started a school, and wrote a book.

Aubrey Faulkner All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 118 (FC), 25 (Tests)
  • Runs: 6366 (FC), 1754 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 449 (FC), 82 (Tests)
Aubrey Faulkner Achievements
  • Took 6/17 in just eleven overs against England in 1907
  • Scored 1288 runs & 73 wickets in the 107 season in 1907 and 1075 runs & 163 wickets in 1912.
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18. Clive Rice (South Africa, 1969-1993)

Yet another great South African cricketer that missed out on international cricket stardom. His first-class numbers speak volumes with over 26,000 first class runs & 930 wickets.

Clive Rice All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 482 (FC), 479 (List A)
  • Runs: 26331 (FC), 13474 (List A)
  • Wickets: 930 (FC), 517 (List A)
Clive Rice Achievements
  • Completed the triple of 48 hundreds, 137 wickets, 401 catches
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17. Frank Woolley (England, 1909-1934)

In the golden age of cricket, from the early 1900s to the late 1930s, Frank Woolley was a titan on the pitch for England, dazzling spectators with his graceful left-handed batting that amassed a staggering 58,959 runs in his career, while his formidable left-arm spin bowling claimed 2,503 first-class wickets and a 100 in Test matches; achieving the rare double feat of 2000 runs and 100 wickets in multiple seasons, his immense contributions helped shape the very essence of the all-rounder role in cricket.

Frank Woolley All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 978 (FC), 64 (Tests)
  • Runs: 58959 (FC), 3283 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 2066 (FC), 83 (Tests)
Frank Woolley Achievements
  • Awarded Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1911
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16. Wilfred Rhodes (England, 1899-1930)

Longest FC career of all-time (30 years), 39,969 FC runs, 58 hundreds, 4204 wickets, 287 5-wicket hauls, and 765 catches. The numbers say it all. One of the early pioneers of the game, dominating from 1899 to 1930.

Wilfred Rhodes All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 1110 (FC), 58 (Tests)
  • Runs: 39969 (FC), 2325 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 4204 (FC), 127 (Tests)
Wilfred Rhodes Achievements
  • Over 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in Test cricket
  • Over 30,000 FC runs and 4000 FC wickets
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15. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka, 1989-2011)

Sanath Jayasuriya, a cricketing powerhouse of the 1990s, revolutionized the concept of an all-rounder. His cunning bowling skills and explosive batting style made him only cricketer in history to achieve an all-rounder double of scoring 10,000 runs and taking 300 wickets in a single format, thus leaving an unforgettable legacy on the sport.

Sanath Jayasuriya All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 110 (Tests), 445 (ODIs), 31 (T20Is), 111 (T20s)
  • Runs: 6973 (Tests), 13430 (ODIs), 629 (T20Is), 2317 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 98 (Tests), 323 (ODIs), 19 (T20Is), 77 (T20s)
Sanath Jayasuriya Achievements
  • First cricketer to score over 10,000 runs and claim more than 300 wickets in One Day Internationals.
  • Instrumental in Sri Lanka’s 1996 Cricket World Cup victory, showcasing his dynamic all-round skills.
  • Jayasuriya has won the second most player of the match awards after Sachin Tendulkar.
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14. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand, 1997-2015)

Vettori was a mainstay in the New Zealand cricket team for nearly two decades. Although he was the premier left arm spinner in the world for more than a decade, one of his lasting memories was squeezing Dale Steyn for four to take New Zealand to their first World Cup final. Could be trusted with both bat and ball.

Daniel Vettori All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 113 (Tests), 295 (ODIs), 34 (T20Is), 143 (T20s)
  • Runs: 4531 (Tests), 2253 (ODIs), 205 (T20s), 1041 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 362 (Tests), 305 (ODIs), 38 (T20s), 131 (T20s)
Daniel Vettori Achievements
  • Achieved the rare milestone of 4,000 runs and 350 wickets in Test cricket
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13. Shaun Pollock (South Africa, 1995-2008)

Shaun Pollock, a South African cricket legend who made his debut in 1995, redefined the role of an all-rounder with his potent bowling and handy batting, playing a crucial part in 423 international matches, leading as a captain, and leaving an indelible mark on the sport with his strategic thinking and consistent performances, before transitioning to a respected commentator and coach post-retirement. An all-rounder in every aspect of his life.

Shaun Pollock All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 108 (Tests), 303 (ODIs), 12 (T20Is), 46 (T20s)
  • Runs: 3781 (Tests), 3519 (ODIs), 86 (T20Is), 569 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 421 (Tests), 393 (ODIs), 15 (T20Is), 45 (T20s)
Shaun Pollock Achievements
  • Became the first cricketer to achieve the rare milestone of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets in One Day Internationals.
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12. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan, 1996-2018)

Shahid Afridi, a cricketing dynamo during the 2000s, redefined the role of an all-rounder with his aggressive right-handed batting, versatile leg-spin bowling, and charismatic leadership. He not only led Pakistan to several memorable victories, but also left a lasting impression on the sport with his record-breaking 37-ball ODI century and a unique distinction as the best power-hitter across three decades, thereby solidifying his status as one of cricket’s most influential figures.

Shahid Afridi All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 27 (Tests), 398 (ODIs), 99 (T20Is), 329 (T20s)
  • Runs: 1716 (Tests), 8064 (ODIs), 1416 (T20Is), 4399 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 48 (Tests), 395 (ODIs), 98 (T20Is), 347 (T20s)
Shahid Afridi Achievements
  • Led Pakistan to victory in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
  • Named the Player of the Tournament
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11. Andrew Flintoff (England, 1998-2009)

The overs to Ricky Ponting & Jacques Kallis probably summed his career up. Energy and intensity like no other. In the 2000s, a time of fierce competition and fast-paced cricket, Andrew Flintoff was a force to be reckoned with. His powerful batting and aggressive bowling made him one of England’s most formidable all-rounders, taking 169 wickets in ODIs and 226 in Test cricket, ranking him among the greatest English bowlers, while his unforgettable ‘Player of the Series’ performance in the 2005 Ashes cemented his legacy as a game-changer for English cricket.

Andrew Flintoff All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 79 (Tests), 141(ODIs), 7 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 3845 (Tests), 3394 (ODIs), 76 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 226 (Tests), 169 (ODIs), 5 (T20Is)
Andrew Flintoff Achievements
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10. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand, 1973-1990)

Sir Richard Hadlee, a true game-changer and Kiwi legend, wasn’t just an all-rounder but a record-breaker too, retiring with the most Test wickets in 1990. Knighted for his unmatched contributions, Hadlee’s 431 Test wickets have made an indelible mark on the cricketing world. Arguably the best bowler of the lot among Botham, Imran, and Kapil.

Richard Hadlee All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 342 (FC), 86 (Tests), 115 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 12052 (FC), 3124 (Tests), 1751 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 1490 (FC), 431 (Tests), 158 (ODIs)
Richard Hadlee Achievements
  • Pioneer of New Zealand cricket, holding the record for the most Test wickets by a New Zealand bowler at the time of his retirement.
  • Achieved the remarkable all-rounder milestone of 3,000 runs and 400 wickets in Test cricket.
  • Knighted for his services to cricket, becoming Sir Richard Hadlee in 1990.
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9. Mike Procter (South Africa, 1965-1989)

Another talent lost to international cricket due to the Apartheid ban. Only played seven Tests, but 21,936 first-class runs as well as 1,417 Test wickets are a testament to his abilities.

Mike Procter All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 401 (FC), 7 (Tests)
  • Runs: 21936 (FC), 226 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 1417 (FC), 41 (Tests)
Mike Procter Achievements
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1970)
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8. Richie Benaud (Australia, 1952-1964)

Apart from being one of the greatest commentators of all-time, Richie Benaud had an illustrious career as a leg-spinner, all-rounder, and Australian captain as well.

Richie Benaud All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 259 (FC), 63 (Tests)
  • Runs: 11719 (FC), 2201 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 945 (FC), 248 (Tests)
Richie Benaud Achievements
  • First player to complete the double of 200 wickets and 2000 runs in Test cricket
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1962)
  • Inducted into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame as well as Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
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7. Keith Miller (Australia, 1946-1956)

Keith Miller, a dominant force in Australian cricket during the post-war era, is celebrated as Australia’s greatest all-rounder. His irreverent manner, good looks, and swashbuckling style made him a crowd favorite, and his extraordinary all-round skills etched his name in Australian cricket folklore forever.

Keith Miller All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 226 (FC), 55 (Tests)
  • Runs: 14183 (FC), 2958 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 497 (FC), 170 (Tests)
Keith Miller Achievements
  • Named as one of Wisden Cricketers of the Century in 2000, recognizing his impact on the game.
  • Inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame for his contributions to Australian cricket.
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6. Imran Khan (Pakistan, 1971-1992)

Imran Khan, a cricketing maestro and one of the finest all-rounders the game has ever seen, etched his name in global cricket history by leading Pakistan to its first and only World Cup victory in 1992. His leadership, unwavering belief in his team, and personal performance—which included over 3,800 runs and 362 wickets in Test cricket—propelled Pakistan cricket to new heights, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire.

Imran Khan All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 382 (FC), 88 (Tests), 175 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 17771 (FC), 3807 (Tests), 3709 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 1287 (FC), 362 (Tests), 182 (T20Is)
Imran Khan Achievements
  • Led Pakistan to its first Cricket World Cup triumph in 1992.
  • Secured the remarkable all-rounder achievement of over 3,000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket.
  • Awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983.
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5. Kapil Dev (India, 1978-1994)

Kapil Dev, the trailblazer of Indian cricket, was a formidable all-rounder who notched up over 5,000 runs and took more than 400 wickets in Test cricket, a feat unmatched by any other cricketer. His leadership guided India to its first ever World Cup victory in 1983, reshaping the landscape of cricket in the country while his fast-bowling prowess earned him respect from batsmen globally, leaving an indelible mark on world cricket.

Kapil Dev All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 275 (FC), 131 (Tests), 225 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 11356 (FC), 5248 (Tests), 3783 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 835 (FC), 434 (Tests), 253 (ODIs)
Kapil Dev Achievements
  • Captained India to its first-ever Cricket World Cup victory in 1983.
  • Achieved the rare feat of scoring over 5,000 runs and taking more than 400 wickets in Test cricket.
  • Also awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1983).
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4. Sir Ian Botham (England, 1976-1992)

Ian Botham, a charismatic force in the 1980s, revolutionized cricket with his aggressive stroke play, natural flair, and dynamic batting style, becoming one of the greatest all-rounders in history and significantly influencing English cricket. His unique ability to dominate bowlers and score centuries while capturing 5 wickets in a test match on 5 occasions, along with his fastest double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, makes him an unforgettable phenomenon in the cricket world.

Ian Botham All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 402 (FC), 102 (Tests), 116 (ODIs)
  • Runs: 19399 (FC), 5200 (Tests), 2113 (ODIs)
  • Wickets: 1172 (FC), 383 (Tests), 145 (ODIs)
Ian Botham Achievements
  • Instrumental in England’s Ashes victories, playing a key role as a dynamic all-rounder.
  • Achieved the historic double of 5,000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket.
  • Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1981, reflecting his immense impact on cricket during that period.
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3. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh, 2006-)

Shakib Al Hasan, the dynamic all-rounder from Bangladesh, has been a game-changer in cricket since his debut in 2006. With his consistent and canny bowling, aggressive batting style, and leadership skills (kind of), he has become a cornerstone of the Bangladesh national team. His impressive career stats include over 10,000 runs and 500 wickets across all formats, making him a true cricketing icon for the modern era.

Shakib Al Hasan All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 66 (Tests), 247 (ODIs), 117 (T20Is), 415 (T20s)
  • Runs: 4454 (Tests), 7570 (ODIs), 2382 (T20Is), 6954 (T20s)
  • Wickets: 233 (Tests), 317 (ODIs), 140 (T20Is), 465 (T20s)
Shakib Al Hasan Achievements
  • Ranked #1 ICC ODI all-rounder (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022)
  • #1 ICC T20I all-rounder (2014, 2015, 2017, 2022)
  • #1 ICC Test all-rounder (2014, 2017, 2018)
  • Played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s success in ICC Cricket World Cups. Scored over 600+ runs and 10+ wickets in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
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2. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies, 1954-1974)

Sir Garfield Sobers, the West Indian all-rounder, was a game-changer in every sense, amassing 8,032 Test runs and securing 235 wickets with his versatile bowling. His impact goes beyond statistics, as his passion and resilience continue to inspire generations, making him an enduring icon in cricket.

Garfield Sobers All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 383 (FC), 93 (Tests)
  • Runs: 28314 (FC), 8032 (Tests)
  • Wickets: 1043 (FC), 235 (Tests)
Garfield Sobers Achievements
  • First cricketer to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket (1968).
  • Captained the West Indies cricket team.
  • Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his services to cricket.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Century in 2000.
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1. Jacques Kallis (South Africa, 1995-2014)

Jacques Kallis, the unstoppable South African all-rounder who not only scored a whopping 13,289 Test runs and took 292 Test wickets but also changed the game as we know it. His monumental contributions go beyond stats; they challenge how we view cricket, reminding us that passion, versatility, and sheer skill can indeed redefine a sport.

Also Read: Top 51 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time (Updated 2024)

Jacques Kallis All-Round Stats
  • Matches: 166 (Tests), 328 (ODIs), 25 (T20Is)
  • Runs: 10,289 (Tests), 11,579 (ODIs), 666 (T20Is)
  • Wickets: 292 (Tests), 273 (ODIs), 12 (T20Is)
Jacques Kallis Achievements
  • One of only four players with 10,000+ runs and 290+ wickets in Tests.
  • Achieved the ‘double’ of 10,000 runs and 200 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003.
  • ICC Men’s Player of the Year (2005)
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Final Thoughts

All-rounders are some of the most sought-after cricketers in each team, regardless of the formats.

India still has not replaced Kapil Dev, every Hardik Pandya injury shakes the entire line up, and two players were needed to replace the great Jacques Kallis.

In ICC tournaments, players like Yuvraj Singh & Lance Klusener become extremely valuable to World Cup victories. The memories of the original Fab 4—Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, and Sir Richard Hadlee—is still deeply ingrained in every 80s cricket fan’s heart.

From Shahid Afridi to Sir Garfield Sobers, all of these cricketers have made an impact like no other.

Who was your favorite?

****

Hope you enjoyed reading this article. Did you learn something new? Were you provided with a different perspective? Did you become a better person? Ooh, philosophical life questions…

Thanks for reading. Continue reading BCD Cricket Blog articles and follow us on twitter as well.

Frequently Asked Questions – Greatest All-Rounders in Cricket History

Who are the best all-rounders in cricket history?

Jacques Kallis, Sir Garfield Sobers, Shakib Al Hasan, Kapil Dev, Sir Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Keith Miller, Richie Benaud, Sir Richard Hadlee, Shaun Pollock, Shahid Afridi, Andrew Flintoff, Mike Procter, and Sanath Jayasuriya were some of the greatest all-rounders of all time.
Greatest All-Rounders in Cricket History Collage: (From Left to Right) Sir Garfield Sobers, Imran Khan, Jacques Kallis, Ian Botham, Shakib Al Hasan, Kapil Dev, and Sir Richard Hadlee

Why is Jacques Kallis considered one of the greatest all-rounders?

Jacques Kallis – now there’s a name that gets every cricket fan buzzing. With over 22,000 runs and 500 wickets across all formats, Kallis has proven time and again that he’s not only an exceptional batsman but a formidable bowler too. His consistency and versatility are what truly set him apart.

Greatest All-Rounders in Cricket History Collage: (From Left to Right) Sir Garfield Sobers, Imran Khan, Jacques Kallis, Ian Botham, Shakib Al Hasan, Kapil Dev, and Sir Richard Hadlee

What makes a great all-rounder in cricket?

A great all-rounder, like the indomitable Imran Khan or the fiery Kapil Dev, is a player who excels in both batting and bowling. Their ability to adapt to different game situations and contribute significantly to both areas is what makes them so valuable to their team.

Sources: Inspired by Cricinfo’s Greatest All-Rounder Series

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2023. Originally published on 12/02/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 43 Pakistan Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest Pakistani Fast Bowlers of All Time (Updated 2023)

The list of Pakistan fast bowlers continues to grow—Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf have been ripping apart batting line ups all year.

Join us as we explore the mesmerizing realm of Pakistani fast bowlers – where passion meets skill and legends are born. Who are the greatest? The unluckiest? Who took the most wickets?

Let’s dive straight in.

Table of Contents

By the Numbers: Which Pakistani Fast Bowlers Have Taken the Most Wickets Across Formats?

The land of Pakistan is a factory that unearths gem of fast bowlers year in and year out.

Wasim Akram (916), Waqar Younis (789), Imran Khan (544), Shoaib Akhtar (438), and Umar Gul (427) are the Top 5 wicket-takers in Pakistan cricket history across formats.

Here is the complete list of the most wickets by Pakistani fast bowlers or medium pacers – all formats combined (Test/ODI/T20I).

Most Wickets by Pakistan Fast Bowlers

PlayerWickets
Wasim Akram916
Waqar Younis789
Imran Khan544
Shoaib Akhtar438
Umar Gul427
Abdul Razzaq388
Mohammad Amir259
Shaheen Shah Afridi253
Sarfraz Nawaz240
Wahab Riaz237
Aaqib Javed236
Hasan Ali229
Mohammad Sami227
Junaid Khan189
Mudassar Nazar177
Azhar Mahmood162
Mohammad Asif160
Fazal Mahmood139
Haris Rauf137
Naved-ul-Hasan133
Sohail Tanvir130
Mohammad Irfan109
Sikander Bakht100
Naseem Shah98
Mohammad Abbas91
Faheem Ashraf86
Shabbir Ahmed84
Azeem Hafeez78
Rao Iftikhar Anjum78
Rahat Ali76
Saleem Jaffar76
Asif Iqbal69
Mahmood Hussain68
Tahir Naqqash68
Mohamad Wasim Jr.61
Ata-ur-Rehman58
Shahid Nazir55
Khan Mohammad54
Aizaz Cheema51
Saleem Altaf51
Sohail Khan51
Usman Shinwari48

Others: Asif Masood (43), Manzoor Elahi (36), Mohammad Akram (36), Anwar Ali (28), Yasir Arafat (29), Imran Khan (29), Rashid Khan (28), Jalal-ud-Din (25), Mohammad Zahid (25), Rumman Raees (22), Kabir Khan (21), Mohammad Farooq (21), Bilawal Bhatti (17), Khurram Shahzad, Aamer Jamel

Also Read:

Top 35 List of Greatest Pakistan Fast Bowlers (Ranked)

Some aspects we considered while ranking these bowlers were (1) longevity, (2) Test match impact, (3) World Cup heroics, (4) other international match-winning performances, and (5) pace/talent/swing.

The New Generation: Up and Coming Pakistani Fast Bowlers

First up, we begin with the youth of Pakistan. These youngsters will inevitably rise up the list in the future, but for now, we are putting them here.

*Note: Youngsters like Shaheen Shah Afridi & Naseem Shah are further down below since they have already taken more than 100 international wickets in their short careers.

43. Mir Hamza – 2 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2018-
  • Matches: 3 (Tests)
  • Wickets (Test): 2
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/38 (Test)
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42. Zaman Khan – 4 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-
  • Matches: 6 (T20Is)
  • Wickets (T20I): 4
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/7
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41. Ihsanullah – 6 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2023-
  • Marches: 1 (ODI), 4 (T20I)
  • Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 0/6
  • Best Figures in Innings: 3/29 (T20I)
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40. Shahnawaz Dahani – 9 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2021-
  • Matches: 2 (ODI), 11 (T20I)
  • Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 1/8
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/36 (ODI), 2/37 (T20I)
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39. Muhammad Hasnain – 37 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2019-
  • Matches: 9 (ODI), 27 (T20I)
  • Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 12/25
  • Best Figures in Innings: 12 (ODI), 25 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 0/1 (ODI)
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38. Mohammad Wasim Jr. – 61 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2021-
  • Matches: 2 (Test), 15 (ODI), 35 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 2/24/35
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/71 (Test), 4/36 (ODI), 4/24 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/0 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)
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Pakistan Fast Bowlers with Short International Careers: The Ones That Impressed but Could Not Capitalize

37. Ehsan Adil – 9 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2013-15
  • Matches: 3 (Test), 6 (ODI)
  • Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 5/4
  • Best Figures in Innings: 2/54 (Test), 1/31 (ODI)
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36. Rumman Raees – 22 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2016-2018
  • Matches: 9 (ODI), 8 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 14/8
  • Best Figures in Innings: 3/49 (ODI), 2/24 (T20I)
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35. Yasir Arafat – 29 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2000-2012
  • Matches: 3 (Test), 11 (ODI), 13 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 9/4/16
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/161 (Test), 1/28 (ODI), 3/18 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 0/1 (Test)
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34. Mohammad Zahid

  • Years Played: 1996-2003
  • Matches: 5 (Test), 11 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 15/10
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/66 (Test), 2/20 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/1 (Test)
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33. Anwar Ali – 28 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2008-2016
  • Matches: 22 (ODI), 16 (T20I)
  • Wickets (ODI/T20I): 18/10
  • Best Figures in Innings: 3/66, 2/27
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32. Usman Khan Shinwari – 48 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2013-
  • Matches: 1 (Test), 17 (ODI), 16 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 1/34/13
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/54 (Test), 5/34 (ODI), 3/31 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (ODI)
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31. Rao Iftikhar Anjum – 78 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2004-2010
  • Matches: 1 (Test), 62 (ODI), 2 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 1/62/2
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/30 (ODI), 1/34 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls:2/1 (ODI)
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30. Rahat Ali – 76 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2012-18
  • Matches: 21 (Test), 14 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 58/18
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/127 (Test), 3/40 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (Test)
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29. Shabbir Ahmed – 84 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1999-2007
  • Matches: 10 (Test), 32 (ODI), 1 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 51/33/0
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/48 (Test), 3/32 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 5/2 (Test)
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28. Sohail Khan – 51 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2008-2017
  • Matches: 9 (Test), 13 (ODI), 5 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 27/19/5
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/68 (Test), 5/55 (ODI), 2/13 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/2 (Test), 0/1 (ODI)
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27. Mohammad Irfan – 109 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2010-2019
  • Matches: 4 (Test), 60 (ODI), 22 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 10/83/16
  • Best Figures in Innings: 3/44 (Test), 4/30 (ODI), 2/18 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (ODI)
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26. Naved Ul-Hasan Rana – 133 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-2010
  • Matches: 9 (Test), 74 (ODI), 4 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 18/110/5
  • Best Figures in Innings: 3/30 (Test), 6/27 (ODI), 3/19 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/1 (ODI)
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Top 25 Greatest Pakistani Fast Bowlers of All Time

25. Sikander Bakht – 100 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1976-1989
  • Matches: 26 (Test), 27 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 67/33
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/69 (Test), 4/34(ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/3 (Test), 1/0 (ODI)
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24. Naseem Shah – 98 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2019-
  • Matches: 17 (Test), 14 (ODI), 19 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 51/32/15
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/31 (Test), 5/33 (ODI), 2/7 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls:2/1 (Test), 0/2 (ODI)
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23. Sohail Tanvir – 130 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2007-2017
  • Matches: 2 (Test), 62 (ODI), 57 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 5/71/54
  • Best Figures in Innings: 3/83 (Test), 5/48 (ODI), 3/12 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/1 (ODI)
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22. Junaid Khan – 189 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2011-2019
  • Matches: 33 (Test), 76 (ODI), 9 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 71/110/8
  • Best Figures in Innings: (Test), (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/5 (Test), 4/0 (ODI)

Watch: Junaid Khan vs Virat Kohli

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21. Khan Mohammad – 54 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1952-1958
  • Matches: 13 (Test)
  • Wickets (Test): 54
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/21
  • 4w/5w hauls: 4/4

20. Azhar Mahmood – 162 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1996-2007
  • Matches: 21 (Test), 143 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 39/123
  • Best Figures in Innings: 4/50 (Test), 6/18 (odi0
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (Test), 2/3 (ODI)
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19. Mudassar Nazar – 177 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1976-1989
  • Matches: 76 (Test), 122 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 66/111
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/32 (Test), 5/28 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 1/1 (Test), 1/1 (ODI)
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18. Haris Rauf – 137 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2020-
  • Matches: 1 (Test), 26 (ODI), 62 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 1/53/83
  • Best Figures in Innings: 1/78 (Test), 5/18 (ODI), 4/18
  • 4w/5w hauls: 4/1 (ODI), 3/0 (T20I)
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17. Mohammad Sami – 227 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2001-2016
  • Matches: 36 (Test), 87 (ODI), 13 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 85/121/21
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/36 (Test), 5/10 (ODI), 3/16 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (Test),3/1 (ODI)
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16. Hasan Ali – 249 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2016-
  • Matches: 22 (Test), 60 (ODI), 50 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 78/91/60
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/27(Test), 5/34 (ODI), 4/18 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 2/6 (Test), 1/4 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)
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15. Wahab Riaz – 237 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2008-2020
  • Matches: 27 (Test), 92 (ODI), 36 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 83/120/34
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/63 (Test), 5/46 (ODI), 3/18 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (Test), 5/1 (ODI)

Watch: Wahab Riaz vs Shane Watson

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14. Mahmood Hussain – 68 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1952-1962
  • Matches: 27 (Test)
  • Wickets (Test): 68
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/67
  • 4w/5w hauls: 4/2
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13. Mohammad Abbas – 91 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2017-
  • Matches: 25 (Test), 3 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI):90/1
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/33 (Test), 1/44 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/4 (Test)
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12. Abdul Razzaq – 389 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1996-2013
  • Matches: 46 (Test), 265 (ODI), 32 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 100/269/20
  • Best Figures in Innings:5/35 (Test), 6/35 (ODI), 3/13 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 4/1 (Test), 8/3 (ODI)
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11. Mohammad Amir – 259 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2009-2020
  • Matches: 36 (Test), 61 (ODI), 50 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 119/81/59
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/44 (Test), 5/30 (ODI) 4/13 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/4 (Test), 1/1 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)
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The Undisputed Greats: Top 10 Best Pakistani Fast Bowlers of All-Time

10. Shaheen Shah Afridi – 255 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2018-
  • Matches: 27 (Test), 43 (ODI), 52 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 105/84/64
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/51 (Test), 6/35 (ODI), 4/22 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 11/4 (Test), 6/2 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)

Watch: The King Of Swing At His Best | Top 30 Wickets of Shaheen Shah Afridi

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9. Aaqib Javed – 236 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1988-1998
  • Matches: 22 (Test), 163 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 54/182
  • Best Figures in Innings: 5/84 (Test), 7/37 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls:2 /1 (Test), 2/4 (ODI)

Watch: Aaqib Javed’s Spell Against India

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8. Umar Gul – 427 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-2016
  • Matches: 47 (Test), 130 (ODI), 60 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 163/179/85
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/135 (Test), 6/42 (ODI), 5/6 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 12/4 (Test), 4/2 (ODI), 4/2 (T20I)

Also Read: The Magician With the Yorker – Umar Gul

Watch: UMAR GUL TOP 15 BOWLED COMPILATION

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7. Sarfraz Nawaz – 240 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1969-1984
  • Matches: 55 (Test), 45 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI):177/63
  • Best Figures in Innings: 9/86 (Test), 4/27 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 14/4 (Test), 4/0 (ODI)

Watch: Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 vs Australia 1st test 1978/79 MCG PART ONE

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6. Mohammad Asif – 165 Wickets

  • Years Played: 2005-2010
  • Matches: 23 (Test), 38 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 106/46/13
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/41 (Test), 3/28 (ODI), 4/18 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/7 (Test), 1/0 (T20I)

Watch: From the Vault: Asif rocks Australia with six at the SCG – YouTube

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5. Fazal Mahmood – 139 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1952-1962
  • Matches: 34 (Test)
  • Wickets (Test): 139
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/42 (Test)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 6/13 (Test)

Watch: Fazal Mahmood Bowling Clip

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4. Shoaib Akhtar – 445 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1997-2011
  • Matches: 46 (Test), 163 (ODI), 16 (T20I)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 179/247/19
  • Best Figures in Innings: 6/11 (Test), 6/16 (ODI), 3/38 (T20I)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 10/12 (Test), 6/4 (ODI)

Watch: Shoaib Akhtar Bowling Killer Yorker to Famous players | Best Yorkers in Cricket History

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3. Imran Khan – 544 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1971-1992
  • Matches: 88 (Test), 175 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 362/182
  • Best Figures in Innings: 8/58 (Test), 6/14 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 17/23 (Test), 3/1 (ODI)

Watch: (30) Mix Tape: All-round Imran at his brilliant best – YouTube

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2. Waqar Younis – 789 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1989-2003
  • Matches: 87 (Test), 262 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 373/416
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/76 (Test), 7/36 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 28/22 (Test), 14/13 (ODI)

Watch: Mix Tape: Waqar Younis sending stumps flying

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1. Wasim Akram – 916 Wickets

  • Years Played: 1984-2003
  • Matches: 104 (Test), 356 (ODI)
  • Wickets (Test/ODI): 414/502
  • Best Figures in Innings: 7/119 (Test), 5/15 (ODI)
  • 4w/5w hauls: 20/25 (Test), 17/6 (ODI)

Watch: Wasim Akram Top 10 Swing Balls – YouTube

Also Read: Top 55 All-Rounders in Cricket History List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest All-Rounders of All Time

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Pakistan Fast Bowlers in Each World Cup

ODI World Cup

  • 1975 ODI WC: Asif Iqbal,Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Naseer Malik, Asif Masood, Pervez Mir
  • 1979 ODI WC: Asif Iqbal, Sikander Bakht, Imran Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Hasan Jamil
  • 1983 ODI WC: Imran Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Rashid Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Shahid Mahboob, Tahir Naqqash
  • 1987 ODI WC: Imran Khan, Manzoor Elahi, Saleem Jaffar, Wasim Akram
  • 1992 ODI WC: Imran Khan, Aaqib Javed, Wasim Akram, Wasim Haider
  • 1996 ODI WC: Wasim Akram, Aaqib Javed, Ata-ur-Rehman, Waqar Younis
  • 1999 ODI WC: Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar
  • 2003 ODI WC: Waqar Younis, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram
  • 2007 ODI WC: Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Naved-ul-Hasan Rana, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat
  • 2011 ODI WC: Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan (replaced Sohail Tanvir)
  • 2015 ODI WC: Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali (Junaid Khan Withdrawn), Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil
  • 2019 ODI WC: Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz

T20 World Cup

  • 2007 T20 WC: Iftikhar Anjum Rao, Mohammad Asif, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat
  • 2009 T20 WC: Rao Iftikhar Anjum (replaces Shoaib Akhtar), Mohammad Amir, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat (replaces Abdul Razzaq)
  • 2010 T20 WC: Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Hammad Azam
  • 2012 T20 WC: Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir
  • 2014 T20 WC: Bilawal Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul
  • 2016 T20 WC: Anwar Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami
  • 2021 T20 WC: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shahnawaz Dahani (Reserve)
  • 2022 T20 WC: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shahnawaz Dahani (Reserve)

Final Thoughts

We have all heard the phrase, “Pace is pace.”

Pure pace can wreak havoc for the opposition teams while providing moments of beauty for the audience.

Pakistan cricket has been a blessing to the cricketing world due to the fast bowlers talent they produce. It was Sarfraz Nawaz & Imran Khan early on, Fazal Mohammad & Khan Mohammad even earlier. The trio of Wasim Akram-Waqar Younis-Shoaib Akhtar took the legend of Pakistani fast bowling to new heights.

Each generation since, Pakistan continues to find raw talent like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah today, and I hope they continue to produce such gems for years to come.

Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest Pakistan Fast Bowlers

Why does Pakistan produce so many fast bowlers?

Pakistan produces so many fast bowlers due to their cricketing culture. In the early days of Pakistan Test cricket, the likes of Fazal Mahmood, Mahmood Hussain, and Khan Mohammad set the tone. This was taken to another level by the duo of Imran Khan & Sarfraz Nawaz and then solidified in their cricketing DNA by Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

Who are some of the most famous fast bowlers from Pakistan?

Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, and Wahab Riaz are some of the most famous fast bowlers from Pakistan.Pakistan Fast Bowlers - List of the Greatest Pakistan Fast Bowlers of All Time. Collage shown in two rows. Top Row (From Left to Right): Sarfraz Nawaz, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul. Bottom Row: (From Left to Right) Mohammad Asif, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Which bowlers have taken the most wickets in Pakistan cricket history?

Wasim Akram (916), Waqar Younis (789), Imran Khan (544), Shoaib Akhtar (438), and Umar Gul (427) have taken the most wickets in Pakistan cricket history across formats.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 09/13/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 50 Greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time: The Complete List (2023)

Time for the greatest West Indies cricketers of all-time!

West Indies has been a beacon of sunshine in international cricket for several decades. From the golden generation of Test cricketers to the ODI & T20 World Cup winning eras, the Caribbean has been a factory of talent.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in, the greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time across formats and eras.

Key Takeaways

  • Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Vivian Richards, Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh, Malcolm Marshall, George Headley, Curtly Ambrose, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, and Sir Clive Lloyd are judged as the Top 10 Greatest West Indian players in cricket history.
  • The country of origin for these players is divided as follows: Barbados (13), Jamaica (10), Guyana/British Guiana (9), Trinidad & Tobago (9), Leeward Islands (4), and Windward Islands (1).
  • In this list of the 50 greatest West Indies cricketers of all time, we have 16 batters, 11 fast bowlers,10 allrounders, 4 spinners, and 4 wicketkeepers,

Table of Contents

List of Top 50 Greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time

Cricket is a highly popular sport in the West Indies, and the region has produced some of the greatest cricketers in the history of the game. These players have made a huge impact on cricket with their incredible performances, and their names have gone down in history as some of the most memorable figures in the sport.

In this list of the greatest 50 greatest West Indian cricketers of all time, we took in account impact on West Indian & world cricket, World Cup wins, individual statistics & performances, captaincy, and legacy. All roles are considered. In this list, you will find the greatest West Indian batters, bowlers, allrounders, and wicketkeepers. Here we go!

Honorable Mentions: Larry Gomes, Carlos Brathwaite, Ravi Rampaul, Bernard Julien, Mervyn Dillon, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, George Francis, Herman Griffith, Manny Martindale, Leslie Hylton, Hines Johnson, Roy Gilchrist, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Seymour Nurse, Gus Logie,

Current Players Who Might Make the List in the future: Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Shannon Gabriel, Joshua da Silva

Also Read:

50. Lendl Simmons (Trinidad & Tobago, 2006-2021)

  • Role: Right Hand Bat/Wicketkeeper
  • Claim to Fame: One of the heroes of the 2016 T20 World Cup campaigns, knocking India out of the semifinals. Devastating opening batter and dependable behind the stumps
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49. Deryck Murray (Trinidad & Tobago, 1963-1980)

  • Role: Right Hand Bat/Wicketkeeper
  • Claim to Fame: Constant presence behind the stumps for 17 years for the West Indies
  • Record: 4th Highest Test dismissals for WI
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48. Vanburn Holder (Barbados, 1969-1979)

  • Role: Right Arm Medium Pace
  • Claim to Fame: Complemented Wes Hall & Charlie Griffith as an accurate medium pace bowler
  • Record: 109 Test & 950 FC Wickets
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47. Learie ‘Baron’ Constantine (Trinidad & Tobago, 1928-1939)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: One of the early father figures of West Indian cricket. All-rounder, both on the field and off of it. After cricket, he was Trinidad & Tobago’s High Commissioner to the UK and fought against discrimination.
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46. Denesh Ramdin (Trinidad & Tobago, 2005-2019)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper/batter
  • Claim to Fame: Up & down with the bat in his career, but a constant behind the stumps for a better part of the 2010s.
  • Records: Most dismissals in T20I Cricket, 3rd in ODI & Test Cricket
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45. Jason Holder (Barbados, 2013-2023)

  • Role: All-Rounder (Right Arm Medium Pace)
  • Claim to Fame: Effective T20 bowler, handy with the bat, but most importantly, known for his calm demeanor and captaincy.
  • Records: 2nd Most Wickets for WI in T20Is, 6th most in ODI
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44. Ridley Jacobs (Leeward Islands, 1996-2004)

  • Role: Wicket-keeper/batter
  • Claim to Fame: Formed the core of West Indian team in the 1990s
  • Records: 2nd Most dismissals in ODI & Test Cricket
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43. Sir Conrad Hunte (Barbados, 1958-1967)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Celebrated for his performances during the 1960s. Played a crucial part in series against England and scored a ton against all Test nations at that time. Went into public life figure after cricket.
  • Records: 3245 Test & 8916 FC runs
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42. Jackie Hendricks (Jamaica, 1962-1969)

  • Role: Wicketkeeper
  • Claim to Fame: Although his batting stats may not be the most impressive, he was considered one of the best keepers of his time.
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41. Charlie Griffith (Barbados, 1960-1969)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Noted for his impressive fast bowling during the 1960s and forming one of the most feared bowling duos with Wes Hall.
  • Record: 94 Test & 332 First Class (FC) Wickets
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40. Samuel Badree (Trinidad & Tobago, 2012-2018)

  • Role: Right Arm Leg Spin
  • Claim to Fame: Vital cog in West Indies’ 2012 & 2016 victory. Changed the role of the spinner as a Powerplay weapon. Economical and a wicket-taker.
  • Record: 3rd Highest Wicket-Taker in T20Is for WI
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39. Daren Sammy (Windward Islands, 2004-2017)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: Recognized for his exceptional leadership skills and match-winning performances in T20 cricket.
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38. Marlon Samuels (Jamaica, 2000-2018)

  • Role: All-Rounder (Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Off spin)
  • Claim to Fame: Top scored for West Indies in both the 2012 & 2016 T20 World Cups, including the match winning knocks in the Finals in both tournaments. Controversial off the field.
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37. Lawrence Rowe (Jamaica, 1972-1980)

  • Role: Top-Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Famed for his outstanding batting performances in the 1970s. His noteworthy performances in test matches, particularly his remarkable double century on debut (214 & 100* on debut) is a standout among his contemporaries. One of the most stylish cricketers of all-time.
  • Record: 2047 Test & 8755 FC runs, best of 302, 7 tons (in 30 Tests only)
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36. Roy Fredericks (Guyana, 1968-1977)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Renowned for his aggressive batting style and crucial contributions during the 1975 World Cup. Fearless opener.
  • Record: 4334 Test & 16,384 FC runs, 8 Test hundreds.
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35. Andre Russell (Jamaica, 2010-2021)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: Possibly the most hard-hitting batting in cricket history. Revolutionized muscular power hitting. The Knight Riders franchise have Andre Russell to thank for their brand (and some of their trophies).
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34. Colin Croft (Guyana, 1977-1982)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Renowned for his intimidating fast bowling in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
  • Record: 125 Test & 428 FC wickets. Stunning Test bowling averaging of 23.30
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33. Jeffrey Dujon (Jamaica)

  • Role: Wicket-Keeper Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Distinguished for his impeccable wicket-keeping skills and significant lower-order contributions during the 1980s. Holds pretty much all Test & ODI wicketkeeping records for the West Indies.
  • Record: Most Dismissals in ODI & Test Cricket for WI
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32. Ian Bishop (Trinidad & Tobago, 1988-1998)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Famed for his accuracy and control with the ball, particularly in one day cricket.
  • Record: 161 Test wickets, 118 ODI, and 549 FC wickets
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31. Sunil Narine (Trinidad & Tobago, 2011-2019)

  • Role: All-Rounder (Mystery Spin Bowler)
  • Claim to Fame: Noted for his ability to bowl spin with exceptional control in T20 cricket. With his batting reinvention, he revolutionized the role of pinch hitters in T20 cricket.
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30. Kemar Roach (Barbados, 2008-)

  • Role: Right Arm Fast
  • Claim to Fame: One of the consistent Test bowlers in the modern era. Sacrificed his limited overs career for the longest format.
  • Record: 5th highest wicket taker in Tests for the West Indies
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29. Ramnaresh Sarwan (Guyana, 2000-2013)

  • Role: Top-Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Known for his consistent performances and matches winning knocks in the 2004 Champions Trophy. With Chanderpaul & Lara, Sarwan provided West Indies some of the best batsmen around.
  • Record: 5842 Test & 5804 ODI runs including the memorable 291. 20 international centuries
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28. Alf Valentine (Jamaica, 1950-1962)

  • Role: Left Arm Spin
  • Claim to Fame: Spin twins with Ramadhin. Played a major part in the series victory against England as well as the Tied Test vs Australia in 1961.
  • Record: 139 Test & 475 FC wickets
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27. Sonny Ramadhin (Trinidad & Tobago, 1950-1961)

  • Role: Right arm off spin
  • Claim to Fame: One of the great off spinners of the 1950s, formed a partnership with Alf Valentine. Regarded for his role in the overseas Test victory against England. Ramadhin was the first player from Indian origin to represent the Windies.
  • Record: 158 Test & 758 FC wickets
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26. Kieron Pollard (Trinidad & Tobago, 2007-2022)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: Found in the Champions League 2009, Pollard has become popular for his hard-hitting batting, ruthless finishing, and winning franchise trophies. Not many people have influenced the evolution of a format as Pollard has.
  • Records: 2012 T20 World Cup Winner, Mumbai Indians legend, 4th Most T20I runs for WI, and 2nd most T20I wins as captain.
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25. Richie Richardson (Leeward Islands, 1983-1996)

  • Role: Right Hand Bat
  • Claim To Fame: 9 Tons against Australia, 619 runs in 4-Test series vs India
  • Record: 5949 Test Runs, 6248 ODI, and 14618 FC Runs. 21 International Centuries
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24. Rohan Kanhai (British Guiana/Guyana, 1957-1975)

  • Role: Top-Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Widely celebrated for his inventive batting style and significant role in the 1975 World Cup squad. His ability to handle pressure and adapt his game to different conditions and situations elevated him to the status of one of the greatest West Indian cricketers of all time. There is a reason Sunil Gavaskar named his son Rohan.
  • Record: 6227 Test runs, 29250 FC runs, 86 FC centuries

*also played one year for Trinidad & Tobago

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23. Carl Hooper (Guyana, 1987-2003)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: Popular for his all-round performances in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
  • Records: 2nd Most Catches in ODI Cricket, 4th Highest wicket-taker for WI in ODI, 10000+ runs in international cricket, 23,034 FC runs with 69 centuries
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22. Alvin Kallicharran (Guyana, 1972-1981)

  • Role: Middle-Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Renowned for his elegant batting style and crucial contributions during the 1975 and 1979 World Cups.
  • Record: 4399 Test & 32560 FC runs. 87 FC centuries, double century (206) in List A cricket.
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21. Sir Clyde Walcott (Barbados/British Guiana, 1948-1960)

  • Role: Top-Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Widely recognized for his record-breaking batting performances in the 1950s. One of the 3 Ws in the 1950s.
  • Record: 3798 Test & 11820 FC runs, 40 FC centuries. Averaged over 56 in both Test & FC cricket.
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20. Sir Everton Weekes (Barbados, 1948-1958)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Celebrated for his outstanding batting skills and record-breaking feats during the 1940s.
  • Record: 4455 Test & 12010 FC runs, 36 FC centuries. Averaged 58.61 in Tests & 55.34 in FC cricket.
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19. Wes Hall (Barbados, 1958-1969)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Recognized for his destructive fast bowling and forming one of the most feared bowling duos with Charlie Griffith.
  • Record: 192 Test & 546 FC wickets

*Also played for Trinidad 1966-1970

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18. Andy Roberts (Leeward Islands, 1974-1983)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Celebrated for his blistering pace and pinpoint accuracy in the 1970s.
  • Record: 202 Test & 889 FC wickets
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17. Michael Holding (Jamaica, 1975-1987)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Nicknamed the ‘whispering death,’ Holding was admired for his smooth action and exceptional control with the ball. Now known for his strong takes in the commentary box.
  • Record: 249 Test wickets, 142 ODI, and 778 FC wickets
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16. Joel Garner (Barbados, 1977-1987)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Famed for his intimidating fast bowling and remarkable accuracy. One of the recognizable pillars of the famed bowling attack.
  • Records: Best career ODI economy rate (3.09), 259 Test wickets at an average of 20.97. Also took 146 ODI & 881 FC wickets
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15. Lance Gibbs (British Guiana, 1958-1976)

  • Role: Off Spin Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Admired for his spin bowling and shrewd field settings in the 1960s and 1970s.
  • Records: First spinner to 300 Test wickets, bowled 78,430 FC balls & 27,115 Test balls. Best of 8/38 in an innings.
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14. Dwayne Bravo (Trinidad & Tobago, 2004-2021)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: Celebrated for his aggressive batting and his ability to bowl at any stage of the game.
  • Records: Most Wickets for WI in T20Is, Most Wickets in T20s of all-time (615), 3rd most in ODI cricket, Most franchise tournament wins in history (constant competition with Pollard)

Also Read: Top 55 All-Rounders in Cricket History List (The Complete Guide)

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13. Sir Gordon Greenidge (Barbados, 1974-1991)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Recognized for his powerful batting and ability to score freely in both Test and One Day cricket.
  • Records: 37,354 FC runs, 30 international centuries, and 92 FC tons.
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12. Desmond Haynes (Barbados, 1978-1994)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Admired for his consistent batting performances in the 1980s and 1990s. A giant in first class cricket as well.
  • Records: Pioneer in ODI batting, had most tons (17) till Sachin Tendulkar overtook him. More than 16,000 international runs, 26,000 FC runs, and 15,000 List A runs.
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11. Sir Curtly Ambrose (Leeward Islands, 1988-2000)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Distinguished for his fast, accurate bowling and significant contributions in the 1980s and 1990s.
  • Records: 941 FC wickets, 405 Test wickets, and bowled some of the best spells.

*Also played for Antigua and Barbuda

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10. Sir Clive Lloyd (British Guiana, 1966-1985)

  • Role: Left Hand Batter/Captain
  • Claim to Fame: Known for his leadership of the West Indies team during the 1970s and 1980s, leading them to two World Cup titles.
  • Records: 31232 FC, 10915 List A, 7515 Test runs. Two-time WC winning captain.
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9. Chris Gayle (Jamaica, 1999-2021)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Celebrated for his aggressive batting and record-breaking performances in T20 cricket. Had a couple of double hundreds in Test matches as well. Pioneer in T20 batting. Was West Indies’ Top 2 scorers in their winning campaigns of 2004 Champions Trophy as well as their 2012 & 2016 T20 World Cup campaigns
  • Records: Most Catches for WI in ODI Cricket, Most ODI & T20I Runs for West Indies, Most T20 Runs (14562), Most T20 Hundreds (22), Most T20 Sixes (1056)
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8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Guyana, 1994-2015)

  • Role: Top-Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Amusing batting stances, marks below the eyes, but most importantly, remarkable batting performances in Test cricket. The Wall of West Indian cricket.
  • Records: Most Tests for West Indies (164), 2nd Highest Test Runs (11867), 3rd Highest ODI Runs (8778)
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7. George Headley (Jamaica, 1930-1954)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Admired for his batting prowess and stylish strokeplay during the 1930s and 1940s.
  • Records: 103 FC/22 Tests, 9921 Runs/2190 Runs, 69.86/60.83 Average, best of 344*, 33/44 – 100s/50s
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6. Malcolm Marshall (Barbados, 1978-1992)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Famed for his express pace and lethal bounce, making him one of the most feared bowlers in the 1980s.
  • Records: 376 Test wickets, 157 ODI wickets, 1651 FC wickets, 46.7 Test Strike Rate
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5. Courtney Walsh (Jamaica, 1984-2001)

  • Role: Fast Bowler
  • Claim to Fame: Noted for his remarkable accuracy and ability to extract the most out of even the most lifeless pitches.
  • Records: Most Test & ODI Wickets for WI, 1807 FC Wickets, 2nd most Test matches for West Indies (132), 519 Test wickets, 5/1 (best ODI analysis)
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4. Brian Lara (Trinidad & Tobago, 1990-2016)

  • Role: Middle Order Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Renowned for his record-breaking batting feats and stylish stroke play. It is no joke that he scored the highest and third highest score in Tests. One of the remaining cogs of a declining Test side.
  • Records: 11953 Test Runs, 10405 in ODI, 22156 FC, and 14602 in Lisa A cricket. Highest Test Score (400), Most Catches in Test Cricket/3rd Most Catches in ODI Cricket
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3. Sir Frank Worrell (Barbados/Jamaica, 1948-1963)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Noted for his leadership of the West Indies team in the 1960s and setting up a legacy of success. Sir Frank Worrell was the first black captain to represent the West Indies and also captained the national team in that famed 1961 Test series, which featured the first Tied test.
  • Record: 3860 Test runs, 15025 FC runs, 39 FC centuries.
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2. Sir Vivian Richards (Leeward Islands, 1974-1991)

  • Role: Opening Batsman
  • Claim to Fame: Celebrated for his powerful batting and remarkable consistency in the 1970s and 1980s. Possibly the greatest batsman the world has ever seen, and definitely, the most charismatic.
  • Record: 36212 FC runs, 8540 Tests runs, & 6721 ODI runs. 114 First Class hundreds to go with his 35 international centuries and 26 List A tons. Averages 50.23 in Tests & 47.00 in ODIs
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1. Sir Garfield Sobers (Barbados, 1954-1974)

  • Role: All-Rounder
  • Claim to Fame: Admired for his incredible all-round performances and ability to turn a game on its head. One of the two greatest all-rounders in cricket history.
  • Record: 28,314 FC runs & 1,043 FC wickets. 86 FC tons, 26 Test centuries, best of 365* and 6/73 (Test) & 9/49 (FC). Also hit six sixes.
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World Cup Winning West Indies Team & Players

One of West Indies cricket’s greatest strengths has been performances in the ICC Cricket World Cup and Champions Trophy tournaments. Here are the complete squads and stats.

West Indies 1975 World Cup Squad

  • Clive Lloyd (C), Keith Boyce, Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs, Gordon Greenidge, Vanburn Holder, Bernard Julien, Alvin Kallicharran, Rohan Kanhai, Deryck Murray (WK), Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Maurice Foster, Lawrence Rowe
  • Most Wickets: Bernard Julien, Keith Boyce
  • Most Runs: Alvin Kallicharan, Clive Lloyd

1979 World Cup Squad

  • Clive Lloyd (C), Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Alvin Kallicharran, Collis King, Deryck Murray (WK), Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Larry Gomes, Faoud Bacchus, Malcolm Marshall
  • Most Wickets: Mihcael Holding, Andy Roberts
  • Most Runs: Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge

1983 World Cup Squad (Runner Up)

  • Clive Lloyd (C), Faoud Bacchus, Wayne Daniel, Winston Davis, Jeff Dujon (WK), Joel Garner, Larry Gomes, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Gus Logie, Malcolm Marshall, Viv Richards, Andy Roberts
  • Most Wickets:
  • Most Runs: Viv Richards, Larry Gomes, Gordon Greenidge

2004 Champions Trophy

  • Brian Lara (C), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne (WK), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Sylvester Joseph, Ricardo Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Sammy
  • Most Wickets: Chris Gayle, Ian Bradshaw, Mervyn Dillon
  • Most Runs: Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul

2012 T20 World Cup Squad

  • Daren Sammy (C), Dwayne Bravo (VC), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (WK), Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith
  • Most Wickets: Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul
  • Most Runs: Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle

2016 T20 World Cup Squad

  • Daren Sammy (C), Jason Holder (VC), Chris Gayle, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles (WK), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin (WK), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons (WK), Jerome Taylor (Dwayne Bravo, Fletcher, Narine, Pollard – withdrawn)
  • Most Wickets: Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo
  • Most Runs: Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle

Greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time – The Stats

Most of the players who have dominated the statistics below feature in our list of the greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time.

Which West Indian cricketers played 100 Tests?

  • Chanderpaul (164), Walsh (132), Lara (130), Richads (121), Haynes (116), Lloyd (110), Greenidge (108), Gayle (103), Hooper (102)

Top 10 Most Runs for West Indies

Most Test Runs for WIMost ODI Runs for WIMost T20I Runs for WI
Brian Lara – 11912Chris Gayle – 10425Chris Gayle – 1899
Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 11867Brian Lara – 10348Nicholas Pooran – 1662
Viv Richards – 8540Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 8778 Marlon Samuels – 1611
Garfield Sobers – 8032Desmond Haynes – 8648Kieron Pollard – 1569
Gordon Greenidge – 7558Viv Richards – 6721 Lendl Simmons – 1527
Clive Lloyd – 7515Richie Richardson – 6248Evin Lewis – 1465
Desmond Haynes – 7487Ramnaresh Sarwan – 5804 Dwayne Bravo – 1255
Chris Gayle – 7214Carl Hooper – 5761Rovman Powell – 1082
Rohan Kanhai – 6227 Marlon Samuels – 5606 Johnson Charles – 988
Richie Richardson – 5949Gordon Greenidge – 5134Brandon King – 977

Top 10 Most Wickets for West Indies

Most Test Wickets for WIMost ODI Wickets for WIMost T20I Wickets for WI
Courtney Walsh – 519Courtney Walsh – 227Dwayne Bravo – 78
Curtly Ambrose – 405Curtly Ambrose – 225Jason Holder – 57
Malcolm Marshall – 376 Dwayne Bravo – 199Samuel Badree – 54
Lance Gibbs – 309Carl Hooper – 193Sunil Narine – 52
Kemar Roach – 265Chris Gayle – 167Sheldon Cottrell – 52
Joel Garner – 259Jason Holder – 159Darren Sammy – 44
Michael Holding – 249Malcolm Marshall – 157Kieron Pollard – 42
Garfield Sobers – 235Joel Garner – 146Kesrick Williams – 41
Andy Roberts – 202 Michael Holding – 142Obed McCoy – 41
Wes Hall – 192Mervyn Dillon – 130Andre Russell – 39

Top 5 Most Matches as Captain for West Indies

Most Test matches as WI captainMost ODI matches as WI captainMost T20I matches as WI captain
Clive Lloyd (36 wins/74)Brian Lara (59/125)Darren Sammy (27/47)
Viv Richards (27/50)Viv Richards (67/105)Kieron Pollard (13/39)
Brian Lara (10/47)Richie Richardson (46/87)Carlos Brathwaite (11/30)
Garfield Sobers (9/39)Jason Holder (24/86)Nicholas Pooran (8/23)
Jason Holder (11/37)Clie Lloyd (64/84)Chris Gayle (6/17)

Top 5 Most Dismissals for West Indies

Most Test dismissals for WI Most ODI dismissals for WIMost T20I dismissals for WI
Jeffrey Dujon – 270Jefrey Dujon – 204Denesh Ramdin – 63
Ridley Jacobs – 219Ridley Jacobs – 189Nicholas Pooran – 39
Denesh Ramdin – 217Denesh Ramdin – 188Devon Thomas – 14
Deryck Murray – 189Shai Hope – 134Chadwick Walton – 12
Junior Murray – 102Courntney Browne – 68Andre Fletcher – 11

*Note: Richie Richardson won 11/24 Test as 45.83%.

Top 5 Most Catches for West Indies

Most Test catches for WIMost ODI catches for WIMost T20I catches for WI
Brian Lara – 164Chris Gayle – 123Dwayne Bravo– 44
Viv Richards – 122Carl Hooper – 120Kieron Pollard – 42
Carl Hooper – 115Brian Lara – 117Lendl Simmons – 34
Garfield Sobers – 109Viv Richards – 100Daren Sammy – 30
Chris Gayle – 96Richie Richardson – 75Rovman Powell – 26

Final Thoughts

The West Indies cricket team has been graced by numerous players who have left an indelible mark on the sport.

These players, hailing from various regions of the Caribbean, have showcased skillsets and abilities that have often been unparalleled. From powerful batsmen who could change the course of a game with their prowess to bowlers whose deliveries instilled fear in the hearts of their opponents, these individuals have truly shaped cricket in the West Indies.

Their contributions to the sport are not only celebrated in their home countries, but also recognized and revered globally. They serve as a testament to the rich and vibrant cricketing history of the West Indies, and their legacies continue to inspire the next generation of cricketers.

Which West Indies cricketer is your favorite? Do you agree with this list of the greatest West Indies Cricketers of all time?

Comment below!

You May Also Like: Top 21 West Indian Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide), Top 51 Greatest South African Cricketers of All-Time

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time

Q1: Who is considered the best all-rounder in West Indies cricket history?

A: Sir Garfield Sobers is widely regarded as the best all-rounder in the history of West Indies cricket. His exceptional performances with both the bat and ball have earned him this distinction.

Q2: Who held the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket from the West Indies?

A: Brian Lara holds the record for the highest individual score in Tests from the West Indies, with his unbeaten 400 runs against England in 2004.

Q3: Are there notable cricket players from each region of the Caribbean?

A: Yes, each region of the Caribbean has produced notable cricket players. For instance, Brian Lara hails from Trinidad, Sir Garfield Sobers from Barbados, and Chris Gayle from Jamaica.

Q4: Which West Indies captain led the team to two World Cup victories?

A: Sir Clive Lloyd was the captain of the West Indies team that won the Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979.

Sources: West Indies all-time XI: The XI | ESPNcricinfo

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