Top 11 Greatest Cricketers of All Times

by Sameer Arshad | Posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2014 | 0

Greatest cricketers of all times

Cricket is a game growing in sature and over the period of century cricket world has seen many great cricketers which made cricket the second most popular sport in the world. Today we are going to take a look at 10 of the greatest cricketers who ever lived. The list has to be controversial because its hard to select 10 players from ultimate legends of the game. But we stick to the usualy list and put together 10 greatest crickets and try to explain why the are up there.

#1. Sir Don Bradman

Cricketer	Years	Mat	Ing	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s	Ducks
DG Bradman	1928-42	52	80	10	6996	334	99.94	29	13	7

Australian batsman Donald Bradman evolved cricket in the 1930′ and 1940’s with his consistant performances throughout his 52 test matches and 14 year career. His career stats in batting are absolutely staggering with average of 99.94 he scored 6996 runs scoring 29 hundreds and 13 fifties. He is considered undisputed greatest cricketer of all times by the cricket media, analysts and the cricket players.

#2. Sachin Tendulkar

Format		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s
Test	Batting	1988-2013	200	329	15921	248*	53.78	51	68
ODI	Batting	1988-2013	463	452	18426	200*	44.83	49	96

Indian Legend who played test cricket from 1989 to 2013 has played more test matches than any other cricket and batting record books are full of his name. Tendulkar youngest player to score a test hundred, most hundred in career, most test runs are just a few records to his name and he won the ICC 50 over cricket world cup with India in 2011. He is considered as the best batsman in history of cricket and thats in all formates.

#3. Jacques Kallis

BATTING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s
Test	Batting	1995-2013	166	280	13289	224	55.37	45	58
ODI	Batting	1996-2013	325	311	11574	139	44.86	17	86

BOWLING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	Wkt	Avg	Econ	SR	BB
Test	Bowling	1995-2013	166	272	9535	292	32.65	2.82	69.2	9/92
ODI	Bowling	1996-2013	325	283	8680	273	31.79	4.84	39.3	5/30

Records speak for itself, Kallis has been an ambassador of the game and he will always be remembered as the best all rounder of all times. He was a premier batsman and was more than just a handy fast bowler. He is only cricketer in the world with over 11,000 runs and 250 wickets to his name in both ODI and Test cricket.

#4. Gary Sobers

BATTING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s
Test	Batting	1954-74	93	160	8032	365*	57.78	26	30

BOWLING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	Wkt	Avg	Econ	SR	BB
Test	Bowling	1954-74	93	159	7999	235	34.03	2.22	91.9	8/80

Before Kallis Gary Sobers was regarded as the greatest all rounder to have played cricket. He only played 1 ODI in his career before he retired. Sobers was a geniun fast bowler and world class batsman who made the record of highest runs in 1 test inning of 365* which was later broke by Brian Lara in 1994.

#5. Wasim Akram

BOWLING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	Wkt	Avg	Econ	SR	BB
Test	Bowling	1984-2002	104	181	9779	414	23.62	2.59	54.6	11/110
ODI	Bowling	1985-2003	356	351	11812	503	23.62	3.89	36.2	5/15

Pakistan faster bowler Wasim Akram is widely regarded as the greatest left arm fast bowler in the history of the cricket, he not only had control over line & length but he was master of reverse swing with sheer pace. Wasim Akram played both formates of the game in test and ODI and he was the first one to take 500 ODI wickets. He almost single handedly guided pakistan to 1992 world cup win finishing as the “best player of the tournament award”

#6. Ricky Ponting

Format		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s	Ducks
Test	Batting	1995-2012	168	287	13378	257	51.85	41	62
ODI	Batting	1995-2012	375	365	13704	164	42.03	30	82

This is going to be a critical inclusion in the greatest cricketers of all times list, but Ricky Ponting had this winning mentality around him which made him the player he was. Played in 5 world cups winning three and making into the 4 finals, he always saved his best performances at the world stage. His career record as batsman and captain is not bad either.

#7. Viv Richards

Format		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s	Ducks
Test	Batting	1974-91	121	182	8540	291	50.23	24	45
ODI	Batting	1974-91	187	167	6721	189*	47.00	11	45

The real master blaster, Vivian Richards tore bowlers apart in all parts of the world. Bowlers like Wasim Akram, Imran Khan regard him as the most talented batsman they have ever played against. Viv richards scored 189 runs in one ODI match and that record was later broke by Saeed Anwar in 1996.

#8. Shane Warne

BOWLING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	Wkt	Avg	Econ	SR	BB
Test	Bowling	1992-2007	145	273	17995	708	25.41	2.65	57.4	12/128
ODI	Bowling	1993-2005	194	191	7541	293	25.73	4.25	36.3	5/33

When Shane Warne bowled that delivery to get the wicket of english batting mike gatting, everybody knew he is distend to be a great player. His was a bit short tempered but that kind of helped him take more wickets with his lofty leg spinners.

#9. Muttiah Muralitharan

BOWLING		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	Wkt	Avg	Econ	SR	BB
Test	Bowling	1992-2010	133	230	18180	800	22.72	2.47	55.0	16/220
ODI	Bowling	1993-2011	350	341	12326	534	23.08	3.93	35.2	7/30

Sri Lanka great was around for ages, he has taken most wickets in international cricket combined test and ODI, while he is also highest wicket taker in both formates. Murlitharan was part of sri lankan side which won the 1996 world cup pakistan and he won countless matches for his national team over the years. His bowling action was a bit controversial but that does not take anything away from what he achieved on the cricket fields around the world.

#10. Brian Lara

Format		Years	Mat	Ing	Runs	HS	Avg	100’s	50’s	Ducks
Test	Batting	1990-2006	131	232	11953	400*	52.88	34	48
ODI	Batting	1995-2007	299	289	10405	169	40.48	19	63

Probably the best stroke player in the history of cricket, broke the highest individual record in test innings twice, first when he scored 375 against England and than 400 against england. He also scored 501 runs in one innings in the county championship game. Brian Lara will always be remember as one of the greatest batsman to have played the game.