10 greatest men's cricketers of all time ft. Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis
Simply put, the sheer quality of cricketers is what makes the sport so enjoyable. Regardless of the time, skillset, or format, it is the ability of athletes to wield their craft at the highest stage that has attracted fans consistently.
Given that cricket has been going around for a long time, it has understandably produced a plethora of players, and some have been a class apart from the rest. Although the game has changed considerably over the years, to the point where it is almost not recognizable, the basic principles and the class remains the same and is admired unanimously.
The prospect of multiple eras and formats, coupled with the controversial and debated subject of the value of contributions made by batters compared with bowlers, makes ranking players a tricky task. There are arguably no right answers when it comes to this question, some are bound to miss out, and the opinion varies from person to person.
On that note, let us take a look at the 10 greatest men's cricketers of all time.
#10 James Anderson
Possibly the greatest swing bowler of this generation, James Anderson's longevity is what makes him unique. A pacer playing for two decades in the modern era is almost unheard of, and while there are claims against his white-ball and overseas credentials, his greatness cannot be undermined.
Anderson's name has often been disrespected with claims that he was overly reliant on home conditions. Firstly, that is a fact for every English seamer, and secondly, his overseas numbers are not as bad as they are made out to be. In 82 matches away from home, he has taken 266 wickets at an average of 29.83.
One does not become the leading wicket-taker in Tests by accident, and Anderson's two decades worth of hard work and skill warrants his place as one of the game's greatest.
#9 Kumar Sangakkara
The Sri Lankan left-handed batter was arguably one of the most pleasing cricketers to watch. His flair and effortless strokeplay helped him succeed in Tests and ODIs, as he ended up with more than 10,000 runs in each of those formats.
A Test average of 57.40 coupled with a staggering 404 ODI appearances only elevates his case. An underrated aspect of the legendary batter is his consistency and the way he evolved with the time. While most of his peers struggled to keep up with the changing times, they faded away. Sangakkara, however, flourished almost till the end to maintain his legacy.
#8 Sir Gary Sobers
The West Indies all-rounder was potentially the first great all-rounder that the game witnessed. Although he could not play ODI cricket, with only a lone appearance to his name , he made an indelible mark with his exploits in red-ball cricket.
He played a staggering 383 first-class matches, including 93 International Tests to make an impact with both bat and ball. His maiden Test hundred, which he managed to convert into an unbeaten 365 remains one of the most iconic knocks that the game has witnessed.
An imperious batting average of 57.08 along with 235 wickets at the highest level (1043 when it comes to first-class) makes it difficult for the legend to be not considered as one of the greatest of all time.
#7 Glenn McGrath
A traditionalist's favorite and an ideal role model for emerging pacers when it comes to technique, Australia pacer Glenn McGrath was simplicity at its best. An accuracy that resembles that of a bowling machine, even potentially rivalling it, McGrath made even the best look unsettled at the crease against him.
The right-arm pacer had the ability to extract movement off all types of pitches, making him an asset across all conditions. His ability to consistently hit the top of the off stump and forcing batters to make a mistake have been well-documented.
He ended his career as the leading wicket-taker among pacers, and also has an ODI career laden with trophies and individual success, helping his case to be considered an all-time great.
#6 Muttiah Muralitharan
The Sri Lankan spinner had to survive all of the chucking allegations, going through four rounds of testing spanning from 1995 to 2006 which co-relates to almost the entirety of his career.
Making a legendary player go through all of that was cruel, but luckily it has hardly affected or tarnished his legacy. He remains rooted at the top as the leading wicket-taker in the sport's history. His '800' remains iconic as ever and is highly likely to be untouched, while the same is the case with his ODI wickets tally.
#5 Wasim Akram
A revolutionary and a generational bowler, making a serious case for the greatest left-arm pacer of all time is Pakistan's Wasim Akram. Making an equal impact across both formats, Akram's international wicket tally reads close to 1000 scalps overall.
He was part of several of Pakistan's iconic triumphs, which include a match-winning display in the 1992 ODI World Cup. His swing and ability to bowl yorkers made him a force to be reckoned with, and was one of the early ones to master the art of bowling with both the new and the old ball proficiently.
#4 Jacques Kallis
Making a case for arguably the greatest all-rounder to ever play the game. South Africa's Jacques Kallis was a menace for the opposition. His ability to make an impact with both bat and ball across all formats makes him a rare gem and a worthy consideration to be among the best cricketers ever produced.
His longevity as a bonafide all-rounder is often understated, while his numbers speak for itself. He has scored over 10,000 runs in Tests and ODIs, and has taken close to 300 wickets in both formats. His technique and temperament also stand apart, helping his case to be an undisputed great.
#3 Sir Don Bradman
The legendary batter's exploits have been talked of highly for generations, and to be a whole different level compared to his peers makes him a certified great. Although he was not even close to playing limited-overs or white ball cricket, his insurmountable first-class average close to 100 has been mind-boggling, still is, and will continue to be.
The way the game has changed over the years sure makes it difficult to compare Bradman's exploits with the relatively newer generational players. However, his legacy as one of the greatest players in the sport will stand the test of time no matter how many formats and players crop up in the future.
#2 Shane Warne
Warne operated in a world of art and not numbers. While his numbers alone are enough to classify him as one of the greats, it is the manner with which he made the world fall in love with leg spin, that makes him something greater than legendary.
His famous variations, match-winning ability, and mostly his aura are comparable only to a select few. The Australian ended his illustrious career with 708 wickets along with an underrated ODI career, which could have been much greater than it ended up being.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
The leading run-scorer in the history of the game, the man who is revered as a god in India, and potentially even the most-admired cricketer in the world. Tendulkar's sheer talent which he honed and then used to attain consistency and greatness is not something that is easy to replicate.
Having been thrown in the deep end at a very young age, Tendulkar had to deal with testing conditions and some of the greatest bowlers across generations. However, he stood tall, progressing from a prodigy to a prospect to a star and then finally being alone at the summit.