The Greatest Cricketer of All Time
by Ruksana
Updated Mar 26, 2024
The Greatest Cricketer of All Time
The best cricketer ever is someone who played cricket better than anyone else. They were really good at batting, bowling, and fielding. People all over the world know them because of how amazing they were at cricket.
1
Sir Don Bradman
Australia
2
Sachin Tendulkar
India
3
Sir Garfield Sobers
West Indies
4
Imran Khan
Pakistan
5
Sir Ian Botham
England
6
Shane Warne
Australia
7
Sir Viv Richards
West Indies
8
Brian Lara
West Indies
9
Jaques Kallis
South Africa
10
MS Dhoni
India
11
Wasim Akram
Pakistan
12
Virat Kohli
India
13
James Anderson
England
14
Sir Alastair Cook
England
15
Muttiah Muralitharan
Sri Lanka
16
Kumar Sangakkara
Sri Lanka
17
Kapil Dev
India
18
Sir Richard Hadlee
New Zealand
19
Adam Gilchrist
Australia
20
Chris Gayle
West Indies
21
Glenn McGrath
Australia
22
Ricky Ponting
Australia
23
Steve Waugh
Australia
24
Rahul Dravid
India
25
Sunil Gavaskar
India
26
Shoaib Akhtar
Pakistan
27
Sir Curtly Ambrose
West Indies
28
Mahela Jayawardene
Sri Lanka
29
Dale Steyn
South Africa
30
Allan Donald
South Africa
S.No
Name
Country
About the Cricketers
Here are details about the top 10 cricketers.
Sir Don Bradman
Sir Don Bradman was an amazing cricket player from Australia. He was born on August 27, 1908, in Cootamundra, New South Wales. Bradman played for the Australian team from 1928 to 1948. He was really good at batting, and his average score in Test matches was an incredible 99.94 runs per game.
He scored a lot of runs – over 6,000 in Test matches and more than 28,000 in all his games. Bradman played for teams like New South Wales and South Australia. He was not just good at batting; he could bowl too, though not as well as he batted.
He was known for his amazing technique and focus. Even when England used tricky tactics against him, he kept scoring runs. After he retired, he stayed involved in cricket and helped make decisions about the sport. People loved him so much that even after he died in 2001, they still talk about him as the greatest cricketer ever.
Full Name
Donald George Bradman
Nickname
The Don, The Boy from Bowral, Braddles, the White Headley
Born
August 27, 1908
Place of Birth
Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia
Died
February 25, 2001
Nationality
Australian
Batting Style
Right-handed
Bowling Style
Right-arm leg break
Test Debut
November 30, 1928
Last Test
August 18, 1948
Teams
New South Wales, South Australia
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, also called the Little Master or Master Blaster, is a former Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He was born on April 24, 1973, in Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra, India.
Tendulkar began playing cricket at a very young age, and he made his debut for the Indian national team when he was just sixteen years old, playing against Pakistan in 1989. He played for Mumbai domestically and represented India in international cricket for more than twenty-four years.
Throughout his career, Tendulkar achieved so many records. He holds the record for the highest run-scorer in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test cricket, with over 18,000 and 15,000 runs respectively.
He has received several awards from the Indian government, including the Arjuna Award, the Khel Ratna Award, the Padma Shri, and the Padma Vibhushan. Tendulkar played a crucial role in India's victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup and was named the "Player of the Tournament" in the 2003 World Cup.
He retired from all forms of cricket in 2013 after playing his 200th Test match. Tendulkar's influence extended beyond the cricket field, and he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, becoming the first sportsperson to receive this honor.
Full Name
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Nickname
Little Master, Master Blaster
Born
April 24, 1973
Place of Birth
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Batting Style
Right-handed
Bowling Style
Right-arm leg break, Right-arm off break
Role
Batter
Test Debut
November 15, 1989
Last Test
November 14, 2013
ODI Debut
December 18, 1989
Last ODI
March 18, 2012
Test Matches
200
Sir Garfield Sobers
Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, AO, OCC, commonly known as Sir Gary or Sir Garry Sobers, is a legendary cricketer from Barbados who played for the West Indies from 1954 to 1974. Born on July 28, 1936, in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sobers is hailed as cricket's greatest ever all-rounder and one of the sport's finest players of all time.
Sobers made his first-class debut for Barbados at the age of 16 and quickly rose to prominence. He made his Test debut for the West Indies in 1954 against England, showcasing his skills as both a bowler and a batsman. In 1958, Sobers set a new record for the highest individual score in a Test innings, scoring an unbeaten 365 runs against Pakistan, a record that stood until 1994.
Throughout his illustrious career, Sobers played 93 Test matches for the West Indies, scoring over 8,000 runs at an impressive average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets. He also played 383 first-class matches, amassing over 28,000 runs and taking more than 1,000 wickets. Sobers' versatility as a left-handed batsman and bowler, coupled with his exceptional fielding skills, earned him widespread acclaim.
Full Name
Garfield St Aubrun Sobers
Born
July 28, 1936
Place of Birth
Bridgetown, Barbados
Batting Style
Left-handed
Bowling Style
Left-arm fast medium, Slow left-arm orthodox, Left-arm unorthodox spin
Role
All-rounder
Imran Khan
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, commonly known as Imran Khan, is a prominent Pakistani politician and former cricketer who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to April 2022. Born on October 5, 1952, in Lahore, Pakistan, Khan rose to fame as a cricketer before entering politics.
Khan's cricket career began in 1971 when he made his Test debut against England. He captained the Pakistan national cricket team intermittently from 1982 to 1992 and led them to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, the country's only win in the tournament. Renowned for his all-round skills, Khan was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame for his exceptional contributions to the sport.
In 1996, Khan founded the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and became its chairman, advocating for political and social reform in Pakistan. He won a seat in the National Assembly in the 2002 general election and served as an opposition member until 2007. PTI gained significant popularity and emerged as the second-largest party by popular vote in the 2013 general election.
Full Name
Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi
Born
October 5, 1952
Place of Birth
Lahore, Pakistan
Political Party
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Spouses
Jemima Goldsmith (m. 1995; div. 2004), Reham Khan (m. 2015; div. 2015), Bushra Bibi (m. 2018)
Children
2
Batting Style
Right-handed
Bowling Style
Right-arm fast
Role
All-rounder
Prime Minister Tenure
August 2018 - April 2022
Test Debut
June 3, 1971
Sir Ian Botham
Ian Botham is a famous cricketer from England. He was born on November 24, 1955, in Heswall, England. Botham is known for being really good at both batting and bowling in cricket. He played for the England national team for a long time, from 1976 to 1992.
In his cricket career, Botham scored lots of runs and took many wickets. He played most of his cricket for Somerset, but also played for other teams like Worcestershire and Durham. Botham was really successful in Test cricket, where he scored 14 centuries and took 383 wickets. He also played in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), where he made over 2,000 runs and took 145 wickets.
Botham was not only good at cricket but also at football. He played for teams like Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United. Outside of sports, he enjoys playing golf, fishing, and shooting.
Full Name
Ian Terence Botham
Nickname
Both, Beefy, Guy
Date of Birth
November 24, 1955
Place of Birth
Heswall, England
Height
6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Shane Warne
Shane Warne was a famous Australian cricketer born on September 13, 1969, in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria. He was known for his exceptional skills as a right-arm leg-spin bowler and is considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Warne played for various teams during his career, including Victoria, Hampshire, and the Melbourne Stars.
In his international career, Warne represented Australia from 1992 to 2007, playing in 145 Test matches and taking a total of 708 wickets. He also scored over 3,000 runs in Test matches, showcasing his ability as a versatile player. Warne was a key member of the Australian team that won the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
Warne passed away suddenly from a heart attack on March 4, 2022, while on holiday in Thailand.
Full Name
Shane Keith Warne
Born
September 13, 1969
Place of Birth
Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia
Died
March 4, 2022 Ko Samui, Thailand
Nickname
Warnie, The King, King of Spin
Height
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Batting
Right-handed
Bowling
Right-arm leg break
Role
Bowler
Sir Viv Richards
Sir Vivian Richards is a legendary cricketer from Antigua who played for the West Indies cricket team from 1974 to 1991. Born on March 7, 1952, in St. John's, British Leeward Islands, he is known for his explosive batting style and exceptional leadership skills. Richards, often referred to as the "Master Blaster" and "King Viv," was a dominant force in world cricket during his era.
Making his debut in 1974 against India, Richards quickly rose to prominence with his outstanding performances. He played a pivotal role in the West Indies' victory at the 1979 Cricket World Cup and was known for his aggressive batting and fielding skills.
Throughout his career, Richards scored over 8,500 runs in Test matches at an impressive average of 50.24, including 24 centuries. He also contributed significantly in One Day Internationals, scoring nearly 7,000 runs.
Richards had a successful period in county cricket in England, primarily playing for Somerset. He captained the West Indies in 50 Test matches from 1984 to 1991, never losing a Test series during his captaincy tenure. Despite facing controversies, including a suspension early in his career, Richards remained one of the most respected and feared cricketers of his time.
Full Name
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards
Born
March 7, 1952
Place of Birth
St. John's, British Leeward Islands
Nickname
Master Blaster, Smokin Joe, King Viv
Height
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Batting
Right-handed
Bowling
Right-arm slow seam, Right-arm off-break
Role
Batsman
Brian Lara
Brian Lara is a former international cricketer from Trinidad and Tobago, born on May 2, 1969. Lara's career was marked by numerous records and remarkable achievements. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches, Lara played as a left-handed batsman and occasionally bowled right-arm leg break.
Lara's international career from 1990 to 2007, representing the West Indies cricket team. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1990 and his ODI debut against the same opponent a month earlier. Throughout his career, Lara showcased extraordinary talent and skill, earning him the fame of being one of the most formidable batsmen in the history of cricket.
Some of Lara's most notable records include the highest individual score in both Test and first-class cricket. He scored an unbeaten 501 runs for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994, a feat unmatched in first-class cricket history. In Test cricket, Lara's monumental 400 not out against England in 2004 remains the highest individual score, making him the only batsman to surpass the 400-run mark in Test innings.
Full Name
Brian Charles Lara
Born
May 2, 1969
Place of Birth
Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago
Height
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Batting
Left-handed
Bowling
Right-arm leg break
Role
Batsman
Jaques Kallis
Jacques Kallis is a former South African cricket coach and professional cricketer, born on October 16, 1975, in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and the greatest all-rounder to have played the game, Kallis had a stellar career marked by numerous records and achievements.
As a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium swing bowler, Kallis displayed exceptional talent in both batting and bowling departments. He is the only cricketer in history to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket. Kallis holds the record for the most number of catches in ODIs for South Africa, with 131 catches to his name.
Kallis made his Test debut against England in 1995 and went on to play 166 Test matches, boasting an impressive batting average of over 55 runs. He scored 45 Test centuries, making him the third-highest test run-scorer in history.
Full Name
Jacques Henry Kallis
Born
October 16, 1975
Place of Birth
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Height
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Batting
Right-handed
Bowling
Right arm fast-medium
Role
All-rounder
MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, commonly known as MS Dhoni, is a former Indian cricketer born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, India. He is celebrated for his remarkable career as a right-handed batter and wicket-keeper. Dhoni captained the Indian cricket team in various formats from 2007 to 2017, leading them to numerous victories, including the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. His leadership made him one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history.
Dhoni began his cricket journey in Bihar before making his debut for the Indian national team in 2004. He quickly rose to prominence with his explosive batting and exceptional wicket-keeping skills. Known for his calm handling of team under pressure, Dhoni earned the nickname "Captain Cool."
Full Name
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Born
July 7, 1981
Place of Birth
Ranchi, Bihar, India
Height
5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Spouse
Sakshi Dhoni
Nickname(s)
Mahi, Thala, Captain Cool
Batting
Right-handed