Do allrounders possess the same talent as specialists?

[tahaqureshi]

I always wondered, since the main allrounder I have ever followed is Razzak, do any allrounders possess the same skill and ability as specialists?

I mean I generally have this preception that allrounders cannot be as good as specialists in either bowling or batting. Im probably wrong.

But if they are as good as specialists, should they be considered the most talented in world cricket? I mean more talented that specialists?

This is a question thats got me thinking since the aussie tour and I just wanted your opinions.

[karachiite]

Talent needs to be honed by practice. An allrounders attention is divided into batting and bowling. E.g. Tendulkar could have been a very useful leggie had he concentrated on his bowling a bit more but he decided to concentrate his talents towards batting.

[Mercenary]

Imran Khan and Wasim Akram were two of the best bowlers of all time and Imran was a very handy batsman as well whilst Wassim was a good pinch hitter. Sobers was an awesome batsman and a handy bowler, whilst today kallis is a rock with the bat and useful with the ball.

[AT1]

and same with flintoff

[pakistani pride]

Well if Razzaq didnt got into his comfort zone so early in his career he would have been the best alrounder playing right now. Very sad cause he really has the ability to become a top allrounder.....

[Daoud]

Shoaib Malik is another example. Hes a very good ODI batsman and hed make a number of teams on his batting along, but hes also a very useful bowler too

[Khalil]

I would rate an allrounder as a genuine allrounder the day I see an one who is rated amongst the top 5 as a bowler and as a batsman.

What we have today amongst allrounders is a batsman who can bowl a bit or a bowler who can bat a bit

[nadeem]

Imran was an awesome batsman and an awesome bowler. YOu dont get 54 batting avg as captain in 50 tests just like that. He must have been an immensely skilled bat adept at handling pressure considering he averaged 54 batting at no. 6 n no. 7. THats the Gilchrist bracket. Actually its better than gilchrist considering that he comes in at 400/5 as opposed to imran whos likeliest scenario would have been 230/5.

[Farhad]

Imran happens to have the highest average in history of all Test batsmen playing at Number 6. He averaged 62 there.

[shan]

i think imran was the best allrounder of the game not sober

i mean sober was a great batsman but could he be in the westindies team as a bowler?

NO

but imran was great fast bowler but also played as a batsman and had a average of over 50

[AT1]

Originally Posted by shan i think imran was the best allrounder of the game not sober i mean sober was a great batsman but could he be in the westindies team as a bowler? NO but imran was great fast bowler but also played as a batsman and had a average of over 50

actually 37 average

[Farhad]

Originally Posted by pants and trousers Originally Posted by shan i think imran was the best allrounder of the game not sober i mean sober was a great batsman but could he be in the westindies team as a bowler? NO but imran was great fast bowler but also played as a batsman and had a average of over 50 actually 37 average

Yah, but bowling average of 20 and batting of 54 for the decade he captained Pakistan. His batting came of age after he took over the mantle of captaincy although there were signs of real maturity right from '81.

Sobers bowling average of 34 and S/R of more than 15 overs / wicket does not make him a Test standard bowler. Batting-wise he was an all-time great, but his bowling exploits are too hyped and exaggerated. I think he never took a ten-fer either. Bowled many varieties but then he was not a success in any. A decent bowler sticks to one variety and succeeds there, not bowl with four or five different types like Tendulkar does now and be worthless largely in all.

[Amjid Javed]

am all rounder to me is someone who is good enuf with bat/ball/ or gloves (or both!) and can displace a specalist bowler or batsmen.

in TESTS

i.e flintoff - good enuf with ball to displace a front line bowler...!

razzaq - not gud enuf to displace a specalist batsmen or bowler..! (not a test all rounde in my eyes)

[Hussain]

some times yes

Like Gary Sobers cud played instead of any batsman or bowler in the WI team then
same goes for the Imran , Botham

and @ present Pollock and Malik can play both as a batsman or bowler

[Faisal Akhtar]

Originally Posted by Hussain some times yes Like Gary Sobers cud played instead of any batsman or bowler in the WI team then same goes for the Imran , Botham and @ present Pollock and Malik can play both as a batsman or bowler

I don't think Pollock could play as a batsman. He's a decent batter coming in at No.8 (or wherever he comes), but isnt good enough to replace a specialist batsman. His bowling is on the decline too.

Malik couldnt make it into the Pakistan team with just his bowling. He used to be a decent bowler before the 'chucking' saga, but still wasnt a test level bowler.

[Amjid Javed]

maliks bowling in odis is ok, as far as tests go... hes just a pie floater!

[shan]

i know he's average is 37 but when he played as a batsman the average was well above 50 wich is great

[Faisal Akhtar]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed maliks bowling in odis is ok, as far as tests go... hes just a pie floater!

We havent seen much of Malik's bowling since he changed his action. I dont think he'll be as effective without his 'doosra'.

It would be great if Malik would concentrate on his bowling and become a good test bowler. He should just try and get spin on the ball enstead of relying on 'doosra's' and 'teesra's', like they used to in the old days.

[Hussain]

Originally Posted by Faisal Akhtar Originally Posted by Hussain some times yes Like Gary Sobers cud played instead of any batsman or bowler in the WI team then same goes for the Imran , Botham and @ present Pollock and Malik can play both as a batsman or bowler I don't think Pollock could play as a batsman. He's a decent batter coming in at No.8 (or wherever he comes), but isnt good enough to replace a specialist batsman. His bowling is on the decline too. Malik couldnt make it into the Pakistan team with just his bowling. He used to be a decent bowler before the 'chucking' saga, but still wasnt a test level bowler.

Ok can agree wid u on Malik's case

but for Pollock come on man he is only the 5th all rounder (after the 4 great allrounders of 1980s) to achieve a triple doble in tests