Best Test Allrounder

[aussie tragic]

I've taken the top 6 allrounders from ICC Rankings and added 3 wicket keeper / Batsmen (assume Sangakarra is selected as WK).

Vote for who you think is the best Test allrounder?

 

[Bob Bamber]

Flintoff for me.

 

[aussie tragic]

No contest; Gilly for me

Gilchrist: 85 tests, 5124 Runs @ 48.80, SR 81.59, HS 204*, 16 100's, 22 50's
Flintoff: 62 tests, 3127 runs @ 32.91, SR 64.99, HS 167, 5 100's, 22 50's

Gilchrist: 85 tests, 355 dismissals (320 catches, 35 stumpings)
Flintoff: 62 tests, 230 dismissals (186 wkts @ 31.32 and 44 catches)

 

[SpaceMonkey]

A few years ago Gilly would have won hands down, averaging 60 with the bat etc. But not at the moment. Although he's still up there.

I'd go for Flintoff, mainly because his bowling is truely world class nowadays, he still needs to do some work on his batting though

 

[SpaceMonkey]

No contest; Gilly for me

Gilchrist: 85 tests, 5124 Runs @ 48.80, SR 81.59, HS 204*, 16 100's, 22 50's
Flintoff: 62 tests, 3127 runs @ 32.91, SR 64.99, HS 167, 5 100's, 22 50's

Gilchrist: 85 tests, 355 dismissals (320 catches, 35 stumpings)
Flintoff: 62 tests, 230 dismissals (186 wkts @ 31.32 and 44 catches)

While your stats are correct, the question is who is the best Allrounder NOW, which means maybe the stats for the past 2 years would be a better way to show it.

 

[Swervy]

No contest; Gilly for me

Gilchrist: 85 tests, 5124 Runs @ 48.80, SR 81.59, HS 204*, 16 100's, 22 50's
Flintoff: 62 tests, 3127 runs @ 32.91, SR 64.99, HS 167, 5 100's, 22 50's

Gilchrist: 85 tests, 355 dismissals (320 catches, 35 stumpings)
Flintoff: 62 tests, 230 dismissals (186 wkts @ 31.32 and 44 catches)

If only it were that simple!!!

what about in that last say 25 tests...Gilchrist averages 44, Flintoff 37 with the bat, and then you have to factor in the number of games Flintoff has massively influenced with his bowling....

I dont think keeper/batsmen should be roped in with bowler/batsmen allrounders.

 

[aussie tragic]

A few years ago Gilly would have won hands down, averaging 60 with the bat etc. But not at the moment. Although he's still up there.

Okay, figures for last 2-years show that Gilly's batting is still superior, however Freddie's bowling is impressive:

Gilchrist: 21 tests, 1128 Runs @ 40.28, HS 162, 4 100's, 3 50's
Flintoff: 20 tests, 1020 runs @ 32.90, HS 102, 1 100's, 9 50's

Gilchrist: 21 tests, 77 dismissals (69 catches, 8 stumpings)
Flintoff: 20 tests, 105 dismissals (91 wkts @ 25.82 and 14 catches)

EDIT: I noticed Freddie has a high number of 50's vs 100's; imagine his average if he could convert a few more...

 

[TT Boy]

Any reason for MS Dhoni? Considering his wicket keeping skills are comparable to Rahul Dravid.

 

[Anil]

why are 'keepers considered allrounders? by that token every specialist batsman is an allrounder is an allrounder as well because they also take part in two disciplines, batting and fielding....allrounders are/were allrounders because they contribute to batting, bowling and fielding as well as other intangibles on the field in varying degrees....

 

[Perm]

I don't consider Wicket Keeper/Batsman as all-rounders because they do not active participate in the bowling.

Pathan and Pollock are definately more ODI type all-rounders while Vaas has been strong in the test's recently but does not make enough 50's and hasn't got a test 100 yet, so he can't be considered a true all-rounder.

Kallis does not take enough wickets in test's, and neither does Vettori recently so in the end I think it's an easy vote for Flintoff.

 

[James]

The easiest vote in cricket for me.

Flintoff by a country mile.

 

[stumpski]

Yeah, has to be Flintoff.

Although he's done zilch for Kent thus far, I'm surprised Bravo isn't in the top 6 ICC all-rounders ahead of the likes of Pathan and Vettori. He's been the powerhouse of the Windies side for the last two years, even doing well in Australia.

 

[Goughy]

It has to be Flintoff. He is obviously very good and the closest to a 'real' allrounder on the list.

I do still have certain reservations about his batting though.

 

[deeps]

If it's last 2 years, think Afridi deserves at least a spot on that list.

Since 1/1/04 in 12 tests

batting avg: 43
bowling avg: 37.65
3 Centuries
4 half centuries
26 wickets

His bowling is a bit weak, but I think it's still worthy of consideration at least. I'd certainly rate him more of an all rounder than vaas, vetorri etc.

 

[James]

As much as I'd rather see Jeetan Patel in the Black Caps because I personally see him as a better attacking weapon with the ball, I'd have to disagree with you there.

Vettori since 01/01/2005 (12 tests):

Batting: 46.71
Bowling: 34.38

 

[R_D]

Flintoff by a countrymile and why are wicketkeeper batsman even put in this category.

 

[Gajanayake]

Any reason for MS Dhoni? Considering his wicket keeping skills are comparable to Rahul Dravid.

Dhoni has improved his wicketkeeping considerably since he first came in to the Indian team. His keeping was particularly good in the test series in the West Indies, so I don't know what you've been watching

 

[thedarkmullet]

I agree that wicket keeper-batsmen shouldn't be considered all rounders. You can't compare dismissals behind the stumps with bowlers' wickets.

I would only really consider Flintoff, Pollock and Kallis as true allrounders accross their careers and even then only Flintoff based on recent form.

 

[Nate]

Batting well isn`t a pre-requsite for a wicket-keeper. Hence, a wicket-keeper who can bat well is an all-rounder. Just because most of us have grown up in a time where selectors only want `keepers who can bat, doesn`t mean they`re not all-rounders.

 

[deeps]

Let's compare like with like

Normal all rounders in one grp

Wicketkeeper/batsman in the other

IT's impossible to compare Gilchrist with Flintoff except in terms of batting.