Wally Hammond Stands Equalled To G Soberse as the All-rounder !
The Best All-rounder Of The Test Cricket Arena ….A query & quest ! Who….?
Yes it not Garfield Soberse, not Jaques Kallis, not Jack Gregory, W Armstrong , Richie Banaud,Keith Miller, M Noble , L Contestine ,Tony Greag, Mustaq Mohamed ,Ian Bothom, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev , C Cairns,H Cronzie, A Flintoff , G Giffen or Jeson Holder. Yes who are considered as the good allrounder. Then who is the greatest all-rounder of the World ? Or who should be called the genuine all-rounder ? So far all-rounders have been counted by the experts and critics but they are either batting all-rounders or bowling all-rounders. And in this sense the World Test Cricket hasn’t a real all-rounder who is genuine in both the fields -particularly the Batting and Bowling . In this regard Gary Soberse and Jacques Kallis are considered as the greatest all-rounder of the Test arena by the cricket fraternity but both are dominantly the batting all-rounder because their batting average or performance is much much higher than their bowling show . Imran Khan , Ian Bothom, Kapil Dev and R Hadlee are another great allrounders of 80s and buzzed a lot that who is better and best in them. Yes on whom so much discussion is shot by the sports critics, experts ,
commentators , contemporary cricketers, veterans,media sports persons and fans . But these famous four are indeed the genuine bowling all-rounder . Why…. because the Bowling was their main job while the Batting is the entertainment for them. And as the genuine bowler they have to take onus to bowl i seriously stay in the team . As the batter how many runs they get was the bonus for the team but some selectors get annoyance while the all-rounder doesn’t play seriously and gift out his wicket carelessly or due to attacking style. Yes India’s big all-rounder Kapil Dev is its great example who was sacked or fired by the selection committee for a Test ,yes that was infamous history happened for the Kolkata Test in 1984.For transparent and prior justification I have observed all the figures of the Test cricketers and no cricketer found at all as the genuine batting-bowling high balanced all-rounder . Yes who have maintained at least 50 plus batting average and under 25 bowling average. And if we talk about the Super Genuine All-rounder then it should be have 60 plus batting average and under 20 bowling average. And alas no Best All-rounder and no Supreme All-rounder has found or produced so far. But in close look I found some cricketers who were not have plus 50 batting average and under 25 bowling average but yes they are some how nearer to the figure. Though those cricketers’ career is remained longer or shorter and as a batsman maintained almost 50 average and as a bowler did well but didn’t bowl greater numbers of balls or overs. But yes there a Cricketer who has played 70 plus Test and as the batsman amassed good runs by keeping 49 batting average but as the bowler he bowled only 1500 balls in his whole Test career and his wicket tally is only 47 but his record is balanced in both the fields- bowling and batting. Who is he…? Yes he is Douglas Walters of Australia whose batting average is almost 49 and bowling average is under 28. Charlie Macarteny is also the cricketer whose batting average is plus 40 and bowling average is almost under 28.
Yeah there are the all-rounders with their statistics who are attained as the all-rounders but not as the great all-rounder. Let see who are they –
Tony Greag*
*Test 58, Run 3589,Batting Average 40.43;7 hundreds ,20 Fifties,Top Score 148,
*Balls bowled 9802
Wickets- 141
Bow Av-32.20
Fifers 6,Tenter- 2,
Best Bow Analysis: -8/86
Catches -87
Duglas Walters
*Test 74,Run 5357,
Bat Av 48.26,
H-15, HH-33,
TS 250
*Balls bowled 3295,
Wicket 49, Av 29.08
Fifers 1, Best Bowling Analysis- 5/66, Catches 43
C Mecarteny
*35 Test,Run2131,
Bat Av 41.78,
H-7, HH-9,
170 HS
- Ball Bowled 3561, Wickets-45
Best Bow 27.55 ,
Fefers2,Tenter1,
best bowling 7/58,
Catches 17
Stan Macbey
*39 Test,Run 2748,
Bat Av 48.21, H-HH 6/13, 232 top score
*Balls bowled 3746,
Wickets 36, Bow Ac 42.86, best Bow
4/13, Catches 41
★G Soberse★
Test 93,Run 8032,
Batting Average-
57.78 ,H-HH: 26/30
*Balls bowled-
21599,Wickets 235 Bow Ave 34.03, Fifer6, Tenter 0,
Best Bow-6/73
Catches 109
★J Kallis ★
Test166,Run 13389
Bat Av 55.37 ,
C,HC- 45/58
*Balls bowled – 20232, Wicket 292, Bow Av 32.65,
Fifer 5
Simon Ketich
Test 56
Run 4188
Bat Av 45.03
100-50: 10/25
HS 157
*Ball bowled 1039
Wkts 21,Bow Av
30.31,Fifers 1
*Eddie Barlow*
Test 30, Run2516,
Bat Av 45.74,C-HC:
6/15, TS 201
*Ball Bowled 3021
Wkts 40 Ball Av-
34.05, Fifer 1
*M Mohammad*
Test 57, Run 3643
Bat Av 39.17,C-hc:
10/19, TS 201
*Ball bowled 5260
Wkt 79 ball Ave-
29.22 ,Fifer 3
Yes these are good allrounders but they never been attended by any statistics and expert as the big all-rounder excluding G Soberse and J Kallis though buzzed a bit by media and sportspersons. Why…because in bowling they bowled minimum overs or balls and their wickets’ tally is not big like G Soberse’s 265 and Kallis’ 294 or Imran, Bothom, R Richard , Kapil’s 300 or 400 plus. Yes longevity is the first condition to measure any cricketer’s height . Because the giants of the game sometimes have shown abundant form and sometimes they have seen a flop phase. Some cricketers’ performance has remained phenomenal against some teams and against some teams remained averaged or failure. Some great series put the cricketer high and some bad series put him in trouble and the career figures get affected and due to it sometimes sacked from the playing Eleven or squad . So consistency is the main thing and you as a cricketer needs to maintain the performance in your major commanded field Batting or Bowling . Yes if you are the batsman you need to bat well to have consistency . And if you are the bowler then needs to bowl well. And if you are the batting all-rounder you need to bat with high class average and needs to bowl at least above the average class. And same as, as the bowling all-rounder you need to bowl to have upper class and bat above average class .
And if you are a genuine all-rounder (Particularly big batting -big bowling and also good fielding ) then need to keep average above 50 plus in batting and under 25 bowling average.
There are almost 2800 cricketers have played so far till the date since 1877 but alas a genuine all-rounder of Supreme Class is still awaited. In this matter I do say the game cricket is bankrupt.
Who is the genuine all-rounder ? Yes one who maintains 50 plus batting average at least throughout his/her career and as the bowler keep under 25 bowling average . And if add the fielding then 2 catches at least in each match. G Soberse is arguably considered as the greatest all-rounder of the Test arena but he isn’t rested perfect on the scale of genuine all-rounder . In batting his performance is paramount while in bowling not as impressive as his great batting. As the fielder he has 109 catches on his worthy name but he played 93 Tests and if scale then one catch each Test while there are two innings and 20 wickets. In this equation 1860 wickets of the opposition. And in cricket clean bowled chances come in minimum number or 10 percent and rest 89 percent wickets come through catching and 1% Run out and Stumping. So in this count the caches tally of G Soberse 109 looks so dwarf. Though there are 11 players in the field and catches distributed in them and wicketkeeper is the lone customer who gets maximum catches. And stumping chances are credited only to the wicketkeeper.
So we talk about only individual game-Bowling and Batting for the all-rounder criteria .And this frame in the first look G Soberse reveals as an ample figure as the all-rounder. Though he is a batting all-rounder but his bowling is not dissatisfied though not awesome like his batting stature. If we talk about batting-bowling balance then Keith Miller and Imran Khan’s figures are balanced . Yes in bowling they are giant yes their bowling average is under 23 and in batting their average is almost 37. In batting arena the ICC has decided some norms for counting or measure batsmen’s height or greatness and under it minimum 20 innings is all required to play and under this criteria India’s Vinod Kambli who played only 17 Test but played at least 20 innings and his batting average is higher than greatest Sachin Tendulkar . Such as Adam Vogues rests second after the greatest of greats Sir Don Bradman in the batting average concerned. A Vogues’s career remained shorter but in his short career he stunned the cricket world. But Adam Vogue isn’t considered as the greatest batsman due to his short career.
So longevity is a point of major count to measure the greatness. So Charlie Mecarteny, Stan MaCbey ,M Bevan, D Walters, E Barlow, M Mohammad, Simon Ketich, Tony Greag,
D Lehmann
C Methews played in long term but they bowled minimum overs as the bowler and their wickets’ tally is not huge. So what norms i put for them in bowling measure and in batting what criteria i would affix . Yes minimum 1000 balls deliverance and average must be under 30 and 45 plus batting average by played at least 20 innings. And in this criteria only S Ketich rests higher because his batting average is 45 plus and bowling average is 30.31 . But Douglas Walters’ batting average is 48.26 and bowling average is 29.08 so rests highest. Yes if affix 40 plus batting average then Charlir Macarteny is so uppish in Bowling to have very handsome bowling average –
27.44 and in batting
41.78 average.
So observing overall figures and the criteria Douglas Walters of Australia rests the genuine all-rounder of the Test Arena who has the equalled command over both the bowling and batting. Though he played 74 Test Matches but used as the partly bowler while he was a very effective bowling potential . But his team was equipped with some great bowlimg attack as D Lillee, J Thompsom,L Pasco Max Walker , Wardle , R Banaud and he was used only as the change bowler but during it he impressed by taking wicket by keeping handsome bowling average. So wicket tally and ball deliveries are not the big matter or not been minded then the statistics of D Walters are magnificent and I stamp him the genuine all-rounder . And C Macarteny is rested the second in this rank . And there are some good names in this regard as M Beven 3rd, E Barlow 4th, M Mohd , Darren Lahmann ,S Waugh ,M Clarke and can be said ranker as the all-rounder.
So makibg clear the mirror of this field I have categorized to have different fitted titles or headings . Yes have I concluded as–
*Genuine Bat-Ball Balanced All-rounder*
(Almost 50 batting average and 30 bowling average)
1.D Walters
- C Macartany
3.S Ketich
4.Bob Cowper
5.D Lahmann
Genuine Bat-ball all-rounder
(Plus 55 batting Average and under 35 bowling Average)
1.G Soberse
2.J Kallis
3.S Waugh
Genuine Ball-Bat arounder
(Batting average under 38 and bowling average under 23) - Imran Khan
- Keith Miller
Average batting but high bowling all-rounder
(Bowling average under 22 and batting ave 30)
1.R Hadlee
2.M Procter
Average batting average bowling
(Bowling Average under 30 and batting average under 32)
1.Ian Bothom
- Kapil Dev
*But after this crystal water shake I am attending so vital topic – Is G Soberse the greatest All-rounder ever indeed of the Test arena ! Except J Kallis does anybody challenge him? Is else cricketer who is nearer to G Soberse and challange his crown or throne? Yes I have found a big name in this regard and that is Wally Hammond of England. Let see the statistics of Wally Hammond in both the format – Test Match and First Class Cricket :
*Wolly Hammand*
Show in Test
Test -85
Run -7249
Av -58.45
100-50 : 22/24
TS 336*
Ball bowled -7969
Wickets- 83
Bow Av – 37.80
Best BA- 5/36
Fifers : 2
Catches 110
FC Performance
Match : 634
Runs :50551
Bat Av : 56.10
H-Hh-167/185
HS -336*
Ball bowled-51573
Ball Av- 30.58
Wickets-732
Best BA-
Fifers: 22
Tenter 3
Best BA- 9/23
Catch-Stump 820/3
Garfield Sobers
Show in Test
Test -93
Run -8032
Av : 57.78
H-hh: 26/30
TS : 365*
*Ball bowled- 21599
Bow Ave: 34.03
Wkts-235 , Best Bow : 6/73
5fer – 6, Tenter 0,
Catch-109
*First Class Performance*
Match 383
Run 28314
Bat Av 54.87
H-F : 86/121
Top Score 365*
*Ball bowled 70789
Wicket 1043
Bow Av 27.24
5fer 36 ; 10ter 1,
Best bow 9/49
Catch 407
*Comparison
[ Wally Hammond vs Garfield Sobers ]
Test Arena
WH——————-GS
Batting T-85. 93 I-140. 160 R-7249 8032 A-58.46 57.78 H-22 26 F -24 30 TS 336 365*
*Bowling Mirror
B 7969. 21599
W 83. . .235
A. 37.80. 34.03
BA 5/36. 6/73
5fers 2. 6
Catch 110. 109
*First Class*
M 634. 383
R 59551. 28314
A 56.10. 54.87
H 167 86
F 185. 121
T 336. 365
*Bowling
B 51573. 70789
A 30.58. 27.24
W 732 1043
BB 9/23 9/49
5fer 22 36
10ter 3 1
C 820 407 Stumps 3 0
*Wally Hammand slammed 6 double centuries and 1 triple century in the Test matches while
Gary Soberse hit only 1 double century and 1 triple century in the Test arena.
◆Conclusion :
Though I am a big fan of Sir Garfield Sobese’s big game and unanimously agree that he is the biggest all-rounder as the world cricket fraternity has evaluated so far of the Test cricket arena but as a critics I always choose to go adverse to the current of the wind, yes to have prior objectionable and reasoning facts.
I have observed available statistics of both the peers and stalwart. And I found Wally Hammond the bigger all-rounder of the Test cricket arena than G Soberse. And can say yes though not highest but not the least to G Soberse though in scrutiny Wally Hammond rests bit higher than G Soberse .Yes as the batsman Wally Hammand leads in average by decimal 00. 68 and in the centuries and half hundreds concerned rests neck to neck. Wally Hammand has played 140 Test innings while G Soberse played 160 Test innings . It means 20 innings thinner margin and 783 runs’ difference between them and if W Hammond would play 20 more innings then almost 1200 run might be scored by him because his batting average is almost 59. In this case W Hammond is ahead to Gary Soberse . Yes the tally of the Test centuries of Hammond is 22 by Soberse’s 26. If W Hammond would play 20 more innings then it would be sure his hundreds’ tally would 26. In half hundreds ‘ regard W Hammond ‘s total is 24 while Soberse’s 30.
Thus in batting both the greats rest almost equalled and can say W Hammond is ahead with a slight margin.
But the bowling genre puts G Soberse bit higher than W Hammond. Yes,W Hammond’s wickets’ tally is
just 83 while Soberse’s 265 and the bowling average of G Soberse is well ahead by 3.77 to Wally Hammond but G Soberse delivered 21599 balls as a leading bowler because he made debut as the medium pacer but captain F Warrell promoted him to reckon his batting ability and with the time he made it his major strength . W Hammond
delivered 7969 balls so here is a huge margin in ball deliverance that G Soberse bowled 21599 balls and W Hammond bowled 7969. Thus the difference rests 13630 balls and cleared that G Soberse delivered 13630 more balls than W Hammond.
Yes Gary Soberse bowled 13630 more balls and took 152 more wickets than W Hammond because W Hammond took only 83 wicket . But we count to have the “Suppose To Be” formula of great mathematics.
Then think if W Hammond would bowl 21599 balls just equal to G Soberse then his wickets’ tally would be as handsome as G Soberse.
Yes See the equation–
Wally Hammond bowled 7869 balls
And took away 83 wickets thus–
7869 deliveries bowled by W Hammond and took 83 wickets so have this count
7869+7869+7869 means 23607 balls.
And in each 7869 balls 83 wickets means total rests 249 wickets in 23607 balls.
This equation clears if W Hammond would bowl 23607 balls then he would get 249 Wickets . It means 14 wickets more than S Soberse.
Yes bowling analysis of an innings W Hammond’s bowling analysis is awesome –
5/36 it means
7.01 run cost on per wicket . Gary
Soberse’s best an inningd bowling analysis is – 6/76.
It means
12.60 run almost spent out
for per wicket by Gary Soberse.
So here Wally Hammond’s
efficiency reveals that he could bowl with stinginess as the medium pacer and his bowling analysis seems splendid like a big bowler.
And W Hammond has 2 Fifers haul in his Test career while G Soberse has 5 fifers haul but the number of bowling figures of Soberse are just triple to Wally Hammond . So both the all-rounders rest almost equalled .
But as the fielder mr W Hammand seems ahead to G Soberse because in 140 Test innings W Hammond claimed 110 catches while in 160 innings G Soberse took 109 catches.
So both the pivotals are well matched each other in the Test arena so the picture is cleared out about both the greats so I went to their 1st class FC career .
And in it once again both the maestros are evaluated equalled to each other, let see the statistics —
WH GS
634 383
59541 28314
If Sobers would play equal number of matches then the equation would rest as following —
- Mr Soberse played 383 FCM and on ”the suppose to be formula ” if G Soberse would play
659 FCM then his runs’ tally rests 49551. So in
659 Matches G Soberse would score 49551 runs and W Hammond’s score is 59541. Here G Soberse plays 25 more matches than to Hammond and Soberse scores 49551 runs thus Soberse makes almost 10 thousand runs less than W Hammond. So in batting W Hammond leads highly than G Soberse in the FC count.
In this count or equation G S shortened 10000 runs to W Hammond –
A huge margin….!!!
Yes now hundreds count–
383 FC and 86 hundreds and 121 fifties by G Soberse. So by playing
669 matches Soberse’s hundreds’ tally would be rested 151 and half hundreds’ tally is 211. And see
167 hundreds by W Hammond in 634 matches and Soberse’s 151 in 669. Thus mr Soberse retreats by 16 hundreds because the estimation of G Soberse hundreds rests 151. And 16 hundreds margin is very big despite played 35 more matches.
185 half hundreds of W Hammond in 634 matches in which his Fifties tally is 185 while in the estimated count Soberse half hundreds’ tally rests 211 so here Soberse rests higher, yes 26 half hundreds more than W Hammond . Thus
Margin of 26 fifties rests Soberse higher than Hammond.
But century and double century is much count and much important than half hundred so W Hammond rests higher than G Soberse .
Now the bowling evaluation–
- 70789
30.58 27.24 - 1043
9/23. 9/49
Fifer 22. 36.
Tenter. 3. 1
Catch 820. 407
Stump 3 0
*6 double and 1triple by W Hammond in the Test while Soberse has only one double hundred and single triple . So in double hundreds W Hammond is well ahead and looks giant. But yes both have one triple equally in the Test.
*19200 more ball by G Soberse in round figure in the FC and 310 more wickets by Soberse. Let see if W Hammond would bowl equally to Soberse then what tally Hammond reaches–
Balls. Wkts - 732
And W Hammond does deliver 76400 balls then his wicket total would be 1086. Soberse wickets total is 1043 by bowled 70789 balls thus 43 wickets are taken more by W Hammond . And it’s cleared W Hammond here in bowling count leads to Soberse.
Yes to this count if Hammond would bowl 76400 balls then his wickets would be totaled 1086
And Soberse delivered 70789 balls and claimed 1043 prey so comparatively 43 wickets ahead to Soberse tally.
Yes W Hammand’s
bowling average is
30.58 to G Soberse’s 27.24.
Thus Sobers is ahead clearly by 3.62 margin and it is big in the bowling concern because Bowlers like S Warne ,Bob Willis ,Andy Roberts are not inducted in the Elite List of best bowlers whose average is under 25. Yes due to slight decimal margin these greats missing the worthy list. Speedster Bob Willis has 25.20, Andy Roberts 25.60 and Shane Warne’s
25.41while they needed to keep bowling average under 25.
Now attains innings best bowling analysis:
W Hammond’s B/A is very handsome that is 9/23 it means 2.50 run for per wicket and G Soberse’s B/A is
9/49 it means cost 5.50 run per wicket.
Now W Hammond’s Fifers dismissal is 22 times and Tenters 3 times while Soberse’s Fifers is 36 and Tenter is 1.
Now about the fielding arena particularly the catching because grounded fielding is the live matter and there is no record of grounded fielding that how many runs have the fielder saved during fielding. So only the catching is the criteria to measure the greatness as the fielder . So W Hammond’s catches tally is 820 and G Soberse’s is 407. And in the catching equation in the Test Matches W Hammond rests higher but let see who rests greater in the FC as the fielder.
*W Hammond -634 matches and 820 catches .
G Soberse -383 matches 407 Catches . Yes G Soberse would play 624 FC then his catches tally would be 663 and here W Hammond leads with huge margin.
Yeah 10 matches less but catches 663 to Hammond’s 830 catches so margin is greater yes 167 catches . Thus Mr W Hammond rests as the bigger fielder than to Soberse. And more feather in his crown that W Hammond has 3 stumping on his name it means he has kept wickets occasionally and this act makes W Hammond a perfect or complete All-rounder- Batsnan,bowler,
fielder , wicketkeeper.
*Thus I evaluate both the All-rounder very equalled despite some variant and variation and urge that together with Garfield Sobers who is evaluated and considered as the greatest All-rounder ever of the Test Arena Wally Hammond of England must be honoured, considered quite equalled to great G Soberse as the bestest All-rounder of the Test and cricket arena ..
Garfield Soberse played at four level-
Test Match, ODI, FC, LA. Gary Soberse played enough Tests, FC and LA but he played only one ODI in which he couldn’t get chance to bat and bowled few overs and took one wicket on cost of 63 run. In 95 LA Soberde scored 2721 runs with poor 38.32 batting average. He hit only 1 hundred and 18 half hundreds in LA. His highest individual score remained 116 not out. Thus as a batsman G Soberse’s performance isn’t impressive but as a bowler his performance is awesome because he took 109 wickets by bowled 4387 balls by keeping very handsom 21.95 bowling average.
Though the World Eleven Test series that is led two times as the captain by Gary Soberse in which his individual remained awesome but the performances of the cricketers didn’t count by the ICC . G Soberse urged to comprise in the international record but not included . Though the Soberse claim was right because that matches played in the authentic ICC supervision. In that Super Series G Sobers’ performance was very rich
and his 254 run’s innings is considered as the greatest by nothing else but game’s the greatest Don Bradman.
Though G Sobers ‘ performance in LA is weakened as a batsman as I cleared through the statistics. But as the bowler not and awesome as the bowler . Viv Richard’s Test average isn’t handsome as to see his giant stature . According to his high cadre his average should be over 65 but scarecely 50 plus. But Viv is considered the 2nd greatest batsman after Don Bradman because of his dazzling performance in the Kerry Packer Super World Series that was so vying series and equipped with the big dignified bowlers but alas the ICC didn’t give its worthy recognition to that combat because it was a rebellious organization because Supreme Body of Cricket the ICC didn’t give its consent.
Might be cricket fraternity would be agreed or not about my review and stand or the mirror but it’s my shake that is churned by me to have all spices . And to get nod or not is each person’s fundamental right. So I welcome your stand .
Here in batting W Hammond stays higher than G Sobers because in W Hammond’s 22 hundreds in which 6 double tons and G Sobers has only one. And this fact expresses a big difference though both have accredited one triple on their name. In the hundreds W Hammond rests higher than Sobers. Yes in the half hundreds stands equalled.
In catches W Hammond rests higher . Yes only the bowling arena in which G Sobers seems bigger but to have close look W Hammond seems better. The question of longevity under which G Sobers delivered 21599 balls while W Hammond delivered 7969 balls. And 7969 figure isn’t lesser in which W Hammond got 83 wickets . And if W Hammond would bowl in the same number to G Sobers then his wickets’ tally would rest the same or very nearer. Yes W Hammond ‘s bowling average is less than G Sobers but here both the gods of the game come equalled because in the batting W Hammond leads with bit margin and in the bowling G Sobers leads with the slight margin. In the fielding of course W Hammond rests higher than G Sobers . And to get the mirror more clear if we peep out in their First Class Performance then both are neck to neck each other. So the synopsis is that both the Gentlemen are equally greatest All-rounders of the Test Cricket World.
I salute both the performers of the progressive cricket era.
*NK Sevak “Sanatan”