Ranking the top 5 all-rounders of all time in Tests

Test cricket has had few all-rounders. Sustaining batting and bowling at the top level is uncommon, and sustaining top-level performance in both skills over hundreds of games is even less common. Truly all‑rounders are the players who can really turn a match with bat and ball and are very rare. 

To narrow down the actual greats, we have used a simple benchmark: at least 3,000 Test runs and 200 Test wickets, and ranked by the difference between the batting average (better is higher) and bowling average (better is lower). Here, we list the top five Test all-rounders of all time, on the basis of their career aggregates, averages, and contributions to the game.

1. Sir Garfield Sobers

The standard bearer of all-round excellence. In more than 93 Tests, Sobers amassed 8,032 runs at a staggering average of 57.78, and took 235 wickets at 34.03 as well. His graceful left-hand batting and capacity for fast, swing, or spin bowling made him nearly unbeatable in any weather.

That +23.75 deficit isn't merely a figure—it is an indication of a player who might overwhelm sessions with the elegance of the bat or the cunning of the ball. Beyond figures, Sobers' sheer flexibility with his best six-hitting abilities and versatility with varying modes of bowling seal him as the greatest all-rounder in history.

2. Jacques Kallis

South Africa's Jacques Kallis comes a close second. Across 166 Tests, Kallis accumulated 13,289 runs, fourth on the all-time list, and snapped up 292 wickets, pairing a rock-solid technique with persistent swing bowling.

His Test batting average was more than 50, and his bowling average was in the low 30s, making him one of the few statistical profiles in which his batting average was more than 20 runs more than his bowling average. Kallis also has the record for 23 Man‑of‑Match awards in Tests. He is the only man to have made over 10,000 Test runs and taken over 250 wickets.

3. Imran Khan

Pakistan's inspirational captain, Imran Khan, is another model of balance. His best in the 1980s put Pakistan on the international map. He ended with 3,807 runs at 37.69 and 362 wickets at 22.81 from 88 Tests. His capacity to reverse‑swing the ball and make crucial runs towards the end of the batting order, while also taking Pakistan to their inaugural Test series victories in England and India, is strong evidence. He was among the quickest to the 3,000‑run/300‑wicket "double," reaching it in 75 Tests.

4. Ravindra Jadeja

In the modern age, India's Ravindra Jadeja has joined these legends. Since making his Test debut in 2012, he's played 80 Tests, scored 3,370 runs at 34.74, and captured 323 wickets at 24.14. That +10.60 differential places him comfortably among the top five, a distinction shared with only a few players. 

Jadeja's worth materialises everywhere, be it sweeping spinners on turning pitches, contributing crucial lower-order runs, or executing breathtaking run-outs in the field. His brilliance in the field always contributes to the tally, and being consistent with all three departments is the hallmark of the 21st-century all-rounder.

5. Kapil Dev

Indian trailblazer. Kapil appeared in 131 Tests, making 5,248 runs at 31.05 and taking 434 wickets at 29.64—the sole player to have reached 5,000 runs and 400 wickets in Tests. His captaincy in the 1983 World Cup sparked India's emergence, and his attacking batting and athletic fast-medium bowling changed Indian cricket. His figures record a unique combination of longevity and match‑winning talent. He took the team by the scruff of the neck with his performance and won their first ICC Title.

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