When it comes to providing balance to a cricket team, no category of player is as vital as that of all-rounders. With their ability to deliver with both bat and ball, all-rounders throw up a wealth of possibilities for any captain, to tinker with the team’s combination. Quality all-rounders, in particular, are a rare breed in the sport and not every team has the luxury of fielding one in their playing XI. They are players of immense value in every format of the game, more so in ODIs and T20Is. Here, we look at who the top-eight ODI all-rounders in the world are, by separating them into four different tiers. TIER 4 Ravindra Jadeja – India It looked like Ravindra Jadeja’s limited-overs career was over after a disappointing 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, but the southpaw has bounced back strongly to become a mainstay for the Men in Blue. One of the finest Test all-rounders in the business, Jadeja brings plenty to India’s limited overs outfits as well. While he might not be the most prolific of wicket-takers with his left-armed orthodox spin, he is someone who always bowls his overs quickly and economically. Since 2018, his economy-rate in ODIs has been well below five runs an over, while he has also chipped in with 32 wickets. His contributions with the bat have also increased of late, and he nearly rescued India from the jaws of defeat in the 2019 World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand. In the outfield, Jadeja is arguably the best fielder in the world, and the number of runs he saves on the boundary ropes bring its own added value to the team. Colin de Grandhomme – New Zealand Somewhat surprisingly, Colin de Grandhomme’s best in a New Zealand shirt have come in the Test format. That is not to say that his ODI performances have not been vital, with the all-rounder proving his worth on several occasions. He is always a dependable option with the ball with his gentle medium pace, and has been able to maintain economy-rates of less than five runs an over in his last 30 ODI appearances. Like Jadeja, he is a brilliant fielder to have in the outfield as well and is capable of pulling off some stunning catches. With the bat, Grandhomme can change the complexion of the game in minutes if he gets going. While he has definitely struggled for consistency with the bat in hand, the right-hander has the disadvantage of mostly coming in during the death overs. Still, he can pull off the ridiculous from time to time, as shown by his 28-ball 58 against India at the Bay Oval earlier this year. His powerful frame can churn out the big sixes with ease, and a career strike-rate of over 110 supports that argument. TIER 3 Kieron Pollard – West Indies After being excluded for nearly three years, Kieron Pollard is now back in the Windies ODI squad and has been even entrusted with the responsibilities of captaincy. The 32-year-old’s all-round prowess has been on show for the best part of a decade, primarily in franchise T20 leagues around the world. Capable of muscling the big sixes, Pollard adds plenty of firepower to the West Indies outfit with his batting ability in the death overs. While he might not bowl too many overs for the national team, his medium pace can be more than handy when called upon. He is also a terrific fielder in the outfield and has claimed some sensational catches over the years. It is still only 12 matches since his comeback to the Windies squad, but Pollard’s wealth of experience is sure to stand them in good stead in the coming years. Andre Russell – West Indies With a career ODI batting average of just 27.21, it is safe to say that Andre Russell hasn’t really set the record straight in a West Indies shirt. The tall Jamaican has been a hit for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, though his match-winning batting abilities haven’t really translated into performances in international cricket. Batting inconsistencies hasn’t been the issue to plague Russell’s ODI career, with his chronic knee injuries further hampering his progress. It is for this reason that he has played just five ODIs since 2018, with most of them coming in last year’s World Cup. Despite his batting woes, Russell has still shown his worth with ball in hand. A genuine pace by trade, he looked extremely good in the World Cup before inevitably breaking down. There is no doubt, however, that he will prove crucial to the West Indies once he gets over his injury woes. A match-winner with both bat and all, he is an all-rounder worth persisting for the Windies despite his average track record so far. TIER 2 Hardik Pandya – India Another all-rounder who has struggled with injuries of late is Hardik Pandya, but the India star is now looking back to his best after recovering from a stress fracture in the back. Pandya’s emergence as a powerful hitter for Mumbai Indians in the IPL has propelled his elevation as an all-rounder for India in all three formats. It is in the limited-overs formats that he is at his destructive best though, with the right-hander possessing the ability to up the ante for India in the death overs. A clean hitter with powerful strokes, Pandya is also a useful bowler who can throw down 10 overs. His fast-medium pace has fetched him 54 ODI wickets in as many appearances, although his economy-rate has been slightly on the higher side at 5.56. An average of 30 with the bat with a strike-rate of nearly 116 is not bad for a man whose primary task is to get quick runs for India. Chris Woakes – England For a man who quite often has to live in the shadows of Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes’ value to England over the years has been remarkable. He claimed 16 wickets with the ball for England in their 2019 World Cup winning campaign, including three decisive ones in the final against New Zealand. Overall, Woakes has claimed 143 wickets for England in 101 ODI appearances, at a healthy bowling average of 30.66. With the bat, the right-hander has averaged more than 40 in each year bar one (2019) since the turn of 2016. An under-rated cricketer by all means, Woakes is one of the main reasons for England’s ODI squad being so superbly balanced. With him and Stokes in the fray, Eoin Morgan’s men can bat deep and pursue an aggressive batting approach. There’s still plenty of cricket left in the 31-year-old and he should be a crucial part of the England ODI squad for years to come. TIER 1 Ben Stokes – England When it comes to elite all-rounders in cricket, no name is spoken as often as that of Ben Stokes. The proper definition of a clutch player, Stokes has made it a habit of standing up to deliver when it matters most for England. In what was a golden summer, Stokes was the chief protagonist of England’s maiden World Cup victory in 2019 before pulling off an all-time great Test innings in Headingley in the subsequent Ashes series. He slammed five half-centuries in the World Cup, including an unbeaten 84 in the final at Lord’s. A career ODI batting average of more than 40, while also picking up 70 wickets along the way, makes Stokes an all-rounder any international team would love to have. He is a man who simply revels in the toughest moments, and England are lucky to have his services for the foreseeable future. Shakib Al Hasan – Bangladesh While he might currently be serving a one-year ban, Shakib Al Hasan is elite as they come in terms of all-rounders. The only player in history to be ranked as the No1 all-rounder in all three formats, Shakib has been a consistent force for Bangladesh ever since he made his debut in 2006. The southpaw is a genuine left-armed orthodox spinner, with 260 ODI scalps to his name at an average of 30.22. Nine ODI tons with the bat and an average of nearly 38 means he is one of the most important batsmen for Bangladesh as well. It is a shame for the Tigers that his suspension from the game has come at a time when he was starting to really touch unprecedented heights. He was in sublime form in the 2019 World Cup, finishing with a run-rally of 606 with the help of two centuries. He is one of only four all-rounders in history who have done the double of 6,000 ODI runs and 250 wickets, and the quickest in terms of innings to achieve the special feat. All-rounders don’t really come better than Shakib, and Bangladesh will be itching to have his services available once again.
from Sport360 - Latest Sports News https://sport360.com/article/cricket/international-cricket/343067/the-best-odi-all-rounders-ben-stokes-and-shakib-al-hasan-are-the-cream-of-the-crop
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