With millions of admirers around the world, cricket is one of the most well-liked sports. Many players have left their mark on the game of cricket over the years, and some have earned a place in history as some of the sport’s all-time greats. These are the 10 cricketers who have distinguished themselves as the best of the best, from batsman to bowlers, captains to coaches.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – Arguably the greatest cricketer to ever live, Sachin Tendulkar is often referred to by his hordes of followers as the “God of Cricket.” The Indian batsman who is 5 feet 5 inches tall is head and shoulders above the competition with 34,357 runs scored in international play, a batting average of 53.78, and more than 100 centuries. His accomplishments earned him the titles of Sports Illustrated Indian Sportsman of the Year in 1996, one of the two Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997, Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2002, and Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 2014.
2. Brian Lara – With more than 22,000 runs and more than 40 hundreds to his credit, Brian Lara is regarded as the best batsman of the modern era. With a remarkable 501* against Durham in 1994, he holds the record for the highest individual score. His career batting average of 53.17 is also among the highest ever. He was honored with the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World title in 1994 and 1995, and he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2012 for his great career.
3. Viv Richards – Sir Vivian Richards is unquestionably one of the most feared batsmen in history and is largely recognised as the greatest ODI batsman of all time. The slick, powerful hitter from Antigua and Barbuda revolutionized cricket by scoring 8,540 runs in 121 Test matches at an astounding batting average of 50.23. He was one of the Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Century in 2000 and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.
4. Sir Garfield Sobers – Considered by many to be the greatest all-rounder of all time, Sir Garfield Sobers is the only person to have scored a triple century, taken ten wickets in an innings, and had a batting average over 50 in Test matches. He received a knighthood in 1975 and the Wisden Cricketer of the Century award in 2000 for his on-field achievements.
5. Malcolm Marshall – With 376 wickets in just 81 Test matches, the late, great Malcolm Marshall is largely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in cricket history. He was regarded as an energetic, upbeat, attacking bowler who helped build the West Indies team that dominated the international scene in the 1980s. He received the Man of the Match award for his great performance in the World Cup final of 1983, and the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame honored him in 2009.
6. Kapil Dev – Another outstanding all-rounder from India, Kapil Dev was a pillar of the Indian side for more than ten years and concluded his international career with 434 wickets and 5,248 runs. In 1983, after leading India to its first-ever World Cup victory, he was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year and given the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian decoration.
7. Shane Warne – With over 700 international wickets and an average of 25.41, Shane Warne is undoubtedly the best leg-spinner to ever play the game. Although he retired in 2007, he is still regarded as one of the finest bowlers in history. He held the record for taking 500 Test wickets the fastest for more than 25 years. He received four Wisden Leading Cricketers in the World honors, the most of any player, and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013.
8. Adam Gilchrist – One of the best-known cricketers of all time, Adam Gilchrist is also widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest wicketkeeper-batsman. He amassed more than 17,000 runs and 416 dismissals over the course of a 14-year career, becoming the only batsman to surpass 100 sixes in a Test match. In addition to being named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century in 2000, his outstanding batting abilities earned him the Man of the Match title in the finals of the 1999 and 2003 Cricket World Cups.
9. Imran Khan – A legend in Pakistani cricket, Imran Khan was renowned for his tenacity and strength on the pitch. He led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, and he was given the moniker “King of Swing” for his ability to perform under pressure. He concluded his career with 3,807 runs and 362 wickets, and in 2010 he became the first player from outside of the country to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
10. Muttiah Muralitharan – With 800 Test wickets and 534 ODI wickets, Muttiah Muralitharan was and is one of the greatest spinners of all time. He had a distinctive bowling motion and broke many important records, including the record for the most Test wickets ever. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and chosen one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2020 for his accomplishments.
The accomplishments of these ten legendary cricketers are just astounding. They are among the best cricketers to ever grace the game. They have all deservedly earned their places in cricket history, and they will all be regarded as some of the greatest players to ever take up a bat or ball.
