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Combining ODI and Test records, who are the 5 greatest cricketers ever?

DrWolverine

U19 Debutant
For me, WC success is essential to be rated among the top ODI players.
Pollock did take 5 wickets in that 1999 WC semifinal but the team lost.

The Aus team back were so strong that they would have won even if they missed few key players.

Warne was the Man of Match in 1999 WC semis and final. He was banned for doping just before 2003 World Cup but Aus still won.

Even if India did not win the 2011 World Cup, I will still rate Sachin as the greatest batsman in World Cup history.

Sachin’s performances in 1996, 2003 and to an extent 2011 World Cup were just extraordinary
 

DrWolverine

U19 Debutant
I am surprised the two best fast bowlers in test cricket from WestIndies “underperformed” in one day cricket - Marshall & Ambrose.

Curtly is a strange case - While his average of 24.13 is very good, it is his economy rate of 3.48 that was far ahead of anyone who played during that period. But for some reason, his name usually does not come up when people talk about ATG bowlers in one day cricket..
 
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capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
I am surprised the two best fast bowlers in test cricket from WestIndies “underperformed” in one day cricket - Marshall & Ambrose.

Curtly is a strange case - While his average of 24.13 is very good, it is his economy rate of 3.48 was far ahead of anyone who played during that period. But for some reason, his name usually does not come up when people talk about ATG bowlers in one day cricket..
Lack of impactful/iconic matches imo. ODIs kinda demands those more than just stats, though 90s was the time when JAMODIS weren't jammed like now.
 

Coronis

International Coach
I am surprised the two best fast bowlers in test cricket from WestIndies “underperformed” in one day cricket - Marshall & Ambrose.

Curtly is a strange case - While his average of 24.13 is very good, it is his economy rate of 3.48 that was far ahead of anyone who played during that period. But for some reason, his name usually does not come up when people talk about ATG bowlers in one day cricket..
I mean SR is the most important in ODIs with each bowler limited to 10 overs correct? Curtly’s wasn’t very low for his era. Of all bowlers who took 50 ODI wickets during his career span, he ranks 38th out of 79
 

DrWolverine

U19 Debutant
I mean SR is the most important in ODIs with each bowler limited to 10 overs correct? Curtly’s wasn’t very low for his era. Of all bowlers who took 50 ODI wickets during his career span, he ranks 38th out of 79
Isn’t economy rate just as important? I mean scoring against him is almost impossible. So that allows the batsmen to attack and make mistakes against the other bowler.

I used to have both Curtly Ambrose and Allan Donald in my 1990s ATG team - Donald had the best strike rate and Ambrose had the best economy rate.
 

Coronis

International Coach
Isn’t economy rate just as important? I mean scoring against him is almost impossible. So that allows the batsmen to attack and make mistakes against the other bowler.

I used to have both Curtly Ambrose and Allan Donald in my 1990s ATG team - Donald had the best strike rate and Ambrose had the best economy rate.
I won’t pretend to be an ODI expert at all, I barely watch it, so I’m not sure. I know all the talk about Starc being one of the best has to do with his SR I believe.
 

DrWolverine

U19 Debutant
In Test cricket, taking 20 wickets is very important. Only then can you win the match.

The objective in ODIs or T20s is to score more runs than your opponent or ensure your opponent scores less runs than you. Taking 10 wickets isn’t that important.
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
I won’t pretend to be an ODI expert at all, I barely watch it, so I’m not sure. I know all the talk about Starc being one of the best has to do with his SR I believe.
Nah, Economy is more important in ODIs. Your only goal is to restrict the opposition for the lowest you can, who cares if they don't lose a wicket but score 150?? Starc is rated that highly mostly off of his World Cup performances.
 

DrWolverine

U19 Debutant
Marshall until his last three years was averaging 23. He really declined badly, similar to Imran.

Ambrose was no longer the same after his shoulder injury. He was still unplayable but lacked the same venom he possessed before.

In his 100th match, he was averaging 20.97

In his 147th match, he was averaging 22.8

At the end of 176 matches, he averaged 24.1
 

BazBall21

International Captain
Given around equal weightage (55-45 for Tests, the lowest I can go):
  1. Sachin Tendulkar
  2. Viv Richards
  3. Glenn McGrath
  4. Mutthiah Muralitharan
  5. Wasim Akram
  6. Richard Hadlee
  7. Shaun Pollock
  8. Joel Garner
  9. Adam Gilchrist
  10. Imran Khan
  11. Brian Lara
  12. Allan Donald
  13. Curtly Ambrose
  14. Ricky Ponting
  15. Kapil Dev
  16. Waqar Younis
  17. Shane Warne
  18. A B de Villiers
  19. Virat Kohli
  20. Jasprit Bumrah
  21. Kumar Sangakkara
  22. Dennis Lillee
  23. Michael Holding
  24. Greg Chappell
  25. Shakib Al Hasan
  26. Javed Miandad
  27. Jacques Kallis
  28. Gordon Greenidge
  29. Steve Smith
  30. Malcolm Marshall
  31. Dale Steyn
  32. M S Dhoni
  33. Andy Roberts
  34. Saqlain Mushtaq
  35. Courtney Walsh
  36. Andrew Flintoff
  37. Zaheer Abbas
  38. Mitchell Starc
  39. Dean Jones
  40. Hashim Amla
  41. Mitchell Johnson
  42. Joe Root
  43. Aravinda de Silva
  44. Mohmmad Shami
  45. Kane Williamson
  46. Trent Boult
  47. Anil Kumble
  48. Kagiso Rabada
  49. Ross Taylor
  50. Matthew Hayden
  51. Virendra Sehwag
Kapil Dev above Shane Warne? Don't think Marshall was a mild enough ODI cricketer to be below a few of those names too. Has a valid case for best test player since Sobers and was a good ODI player. Definitely ahead of Shakib, Kapil, Greenidge, Miandad etc.
 
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sayon basak

International Debutant
Hadlee was great in tests and ODI

Garner was great in tests and ODIs.

Akram was great in tests and ODIs.

When we have so many options, why choose Imran?
Because he was significantly better than them in tests.
I'm gonna give significantly more importance to tests anyway you cut it.
 

sayon basak

International Debutant
Given around equal weightage (55-45 for Tests, the lowest I can go):
  1. Sachin Tendulkar
  2. Viv Richards
  3. Glenn McGrath
  4. Mutthiah Muralitharan
  5. Wasim Akram
  6. Richard Hadlee
  7. Shaun Pollock
  8. Joel Garner
  9. Adam Gilchrist
  10. Imran Khan
  11. Brian Lara
  12. Allan Donald
  13. Curtly Ambrose
  14. Ricky Ponting
  15. Kapil Dev
  16. Waqar Younis
  17. Shane Warne
  18. A B de Villiers
  19. Virat Kohli
  20. Jasprit Bumrah
  21. Kumar Sangakkara
  22. Dennis Lillee
  23. Michael Holding
  24. Greg Chappell
  25. Shakib Al Hasan
  26. Javed Miandad
  27. Jacques Kallis
  28. Gordon Greenidge
  29. Steve Smith
  30. Malcolm Marshall
  31. Dale Steyn
  32. M S Dhoni
  33. Andy Roberts
  34. Saqlain Mushtaq
  35. Courtney Walsh
  36. Andrew Flintoff
  37. Zaheer Abbas
  38. Mitchell Starc
  39. Dean Jones
  40. Hashim Amla
  41. Mitchell Johnson
  42. Joe Root
  43. Aravinda de Silva
  44. Mohmmad Shami
  45. Kane Williamson
  46. Trent Boult
  47. Anil Kumble
  48. Kagiso Rabada
  49. Ross Taylor
  50. Matthew Hayden
  51. Virendra Sehwag
Shakib in the top 25? I'm in.
 

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