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

[PlayerComparisons]

Kapil is very arguably better than Botham since he wasn’t mediocre against the best team of his era

 

[capt_Luffy]

He’s behind in both.

Better bowler than Botham slightly. CATD, debatable either way.

 

[ankitj]

Lance Cairns and Ian Smith should be included

#RandomKiwis
(who also won 3-0 in India)

 

[Fuller Pilch]

#RandomKiwis with very high strike rates
(who also won 3-0 in India)

I know

 

[DrWolverine]

You’re right. Imran and Botham and Miller are all well ahead of him.

Among those four all rounder, Kapil should be the last.

Kapil : Average bowler. Average batsman.

Botham : Strange case. At his peak he could win matches with both the bat and ball.

Imran : Top 10 bowler. Good with the bat.

Hadlee : Top 3 bowler or even the best. Okay with the bat

 

[DrWolverine]

Kapil is very arguably better than Botham since he wasn’t mediocre against the best team of his era

There has been only one all rounder who could win matches with both the bat and ball in cricket history and that’s Botham.

Even if you dissect his statistics, he remains the only cricketer to score 10+ centuries and take 10+ 5-Fer. And he did it in just 51 Tests.

 

[capt_Luffy]

There has been only one all rounder who could win matches with both the bat and ball in cricket history and that’s Botham.

Even if you dissect his statistics, he remains the only cricketer to score 10+ centuries and take 10+ 5-Fer. And he did it in just 51 Tests.

Botham gets way overrated in general. Had a Top 5 Peak of All Time, doesn't means I am going to ignore the rest of 2/3 of his career. But yes, overall Botham is better than Dev, mainly due to batting difference as Dev is slightly the better bowler.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

But there isn't a single bowling allrounder remotely close to Kapil Dev.

I'm not sure if Kapil is India's best ever bowling allrounder, yet alone the world's best.

 

[Coronis]

Better bowler than Botham slightly. CATD, debatable either way.

No idea what CATD means. cat dick?

 

[Coronis]

Kapil is very arguably better than Botham since he wasn’t mediocre against the best team of his era

Doesn’t mean you can ignore the rest of his record.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

I'm not sure if Kapil is India's best ever bowling allrounder, yet alone the world's best.

I was talking about west indies.

Procter, Hadlee and Imran > Kapil.

 

[capt_Luffy]

No idea what CATD means. cat dick?

Can Agree To Disagree. Kapil was, imo, a better bowler than Botham slightly.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

That's just devoid of logic.

Why use the WI.

Australia had plenty better bowling all rounders.

Miller, Lindwall, Davidson. Would pick any of those over Dev and in a heart beat.

Not just WI, take last 30 years... Is there a better pacer than Kapil with 25+ batting avg other than Pollock?

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Doesn’t mean you can ignore the rest of his record.

I’m not saying Kapil is better but their records are close enough to where it’s not ridiculous to pick either one.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Not just WI, take last 30 years... Is there a better pacer than Kapil with 25+ batting avg other than Pollock?

No. But one does average 24 (Philander)

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Not just WI, take last 30 years... Is there a better pacer than Kapil with 25+ batting avg other than Pollock?

Chris Woa...
@Red_Ink_Squid

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

There has been only one all rounder who could win matches with both the bat and ball in cricket history and that’s Botham.

Even if you dissect his statistics, he remains the only cricketer to score 10+ centuries and take 10+ 5-Fer. And he did it in just 51 Tests.

75+ scores

Botham 16
Kapil 15

Kapil was capable of hitting lightning fast 100 against 4 ATG attack.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Re bowling:
Very little between Kapil and Botham.
Chris Cairns slightly behind, with Flintoff not far behind him.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

75+ scores

Botham 16
Kapil 15

Kapil was capable of hitting lightning fast 100 against 4 ATG attack.

Vettori 14 (better bat than Kapil but much worse bowler)

 

[DrWolverine]

Re bowling:
Very little between Kapil and Botham.
Chris Cairns slightly behind, with Flintoff not far behind him.

I would rate Flintoff ahead of Imran, Botham and Hadlee ahead in ODIs. Maybe even Kapil too.