5 Test cricketers who have achieved rare feat of 3000 runs & 400 wickets
The red-ball cricket has always been considered as 'the purest form of cricket'. Played for 5 gruelling days, it tests each player's temperament and skills at the highest level. In Test cricket, each run scored and every wicket scalped are hard-earned through grit and determination.
In the history of Test cricket, we have seen so many records that have eventually been created and surpassed by various legendary cricketers. From Muralitharan's 800 wickets to Sachin Tendulkar's 51 centuries, the cricket fraternity has witnessed so many historical moments in Test cricket.
But, what we are about to look now is a list of elite players who achieved a rare feat of scoring 3000+ runs as well as picking up 400+ wickets in Test cricket.
#5 Stuart Broad (England)
Son of former England cricketer Chris Broad, Stuart Broad made his Test debut for England against Sri Lanka at Colombo, 2007. Since then, the right-handed fast bowler has been James Anderson's long-term partner in dismantling many oppositions with world-class swing and seam bowling.
In 121 Test matches, Broad has picked up 427 wickets at a healthy average of 28.91 with 16 fifers in his kitty. His best innings figures of 15/8 came against the Aussies in Ashes, 2015. Leading the attack in the absence his partner (Jimmy Anderson), Broad rattled the Australian batsmen with a mind-boggling spell of 9.3-5-15-8.
Broad has also been a decent lower-order batsman, providing vital contribution at crucial moments. At an average of 19.53, he has scored 3008 runs with 12 fifties and a hundred.
With his highest score of 169 against Pakistan (2010) and 7-72 against West Indies (2012) at Lord's, Broad became the 8th player to join the elite club of all-rounders to be on both honours boards.
#4 Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
The Kiwi legend is considered as one of the greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders in the world. An ICC Hall of Famer (2009), Hadlee squared up many batsmen with his conventional swing bowling and was regarded as the 'Sultan of Swing' (Before Wasim Akram).
In 86 Test matches, Hadlee picked up 431 wickets at a staggering average of 22.29 and became the first bowler to surpass the 400-wicket mark in Test cricket. Predominantly being a bowling all-rounder, Hadlee had the best bowling average and most fifers (36) when compared with his nemeses- Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham.
Though Hadlee wasn't a batsman gifted with talent, he scored 3124 runs with 2 hundreds and 15 fifties with a high score of 151* against Sri Lanka in Colombo.