TOP TEN GREATEST INDIAN CRICKETERS OF ALL TIME

In the country called India, the sports of cricket is the most played and most loved sports ever. This game was brought by British who ruled this country for more than 200 years. Indian national cricket team got membership of ICC in the year 1932 and became the sixth nation to play cricket internationally. CK Naidu was the first ever captain of Indian cricket team. Since then, Indian cricket has seen numerous ups and downs, have secured some great achievements, won three cricket world cups and have played most number of ODI matches. Cricket in India is like a religion and many cricket players get unprecedented stardom and fame within short span of time. All in all, there is a lot much to talk about the Indian cricket, but now let me start writing about ten greatest ever Indian cricketers, which goes as follows. I hope you guys will like it a lot.

10. Bishan Singh Bedi

Bishan Bedi is a veteran cricketer who served Indian cricket from to as a left arm bowler and a great captain. Bishan Singh was a great left arm bowler and a great captain. He captained team India in 22 test matches and went on to take 266 test wickets at an all time best bowling average in Indian cricket history. He was a magnificent left arm bowler and outspoken and brave critic. Bishan Bedi’s contribution in Indian cricket is unforgettable.

Awards and Honors: 

ESPN’s legends of cricket

9. Vijay Merchant

Vijay Merchant was a cricketer at the time of dawn of Indian cricket. H e was an opener batsman and amazing batsman who went on to create many records in the history of Indian first class cricket. He still holds the record of owning second highest batting average in first class cricket just behind Sir Don Bradman. He was a simple and energetic cricketer, who played a very important role in the development of cricket of that era. The men just played 10 tests for India and scored a total of 859 runs at an impressive average of 47 and an all time second best first class batting average of 71. He on record books and classical history of cricket stands far ahead most of Indian cricketers.

Awards and Honors:

 "Cricket with Vijay Merchant" a radio programme hosted in his honor, Wisden cricketer of the year 1937

8. Virender Sehwag

 Virender Sehwag is an Indian cricketer who has been serving the Indian cricket since past 14 years. He is a right handed attacking opening batsman and opens the batting innings in all the formats of cricket for his national side. He is a furious batsman who never values the opposition batsman, playing his natural game always, attacking and killing the bowlers, ha never cares for the future. This very style of his makes him one of the darlings of all time. He is a lovely and humble guy on and off ground.  A brilliant opening batsman, a hard hitter batsman, he scores most of his runs by way of hitting boundaries and over boundaries and thus becomes the super batting maestro and complete entertainer. This guy, undoubtedly, has the capability to lie among top ten greatest ever cricket from the soil of India.

Awards and Honors: 

Arjuna award, ICC test player of the year 2010, Wisden leading cricketer 2008, 2009; Padma Shree.

7. Vijay Hazare

  Vijay Hazare, the father of Indian cricket, was a brilliant cricketer. He was right handed batsman, bowler and a successful captain under whose captaincy, India managed to record their first ever test win. Vijay Hazare was a wonderful cricketer with great versatility in his skillful batting. He was a tough sportsman, who always wanted to last long and went on to score a pair of hundreds in historical Adelaide test in 1947-48 and made India won the first ever test win. A brilliant batsman, impressive leader and amazing artist of cricketer, Vijay Hazare will always be remembered as “the father of Indian cricket”.

Awards and Honors: 

Padma Shree, Vijay Hazare Trophy has been commemorated in his honor, The Father of Indian Cricket.

6. Saurav Ganguly

  Saurav Ganguly is one of the most talked about name of Indian cricket history. A lefty attacking batsman, a courageous player, a worshiped leader, an aggressive captain and a great sportsman, Ganguly transformed the Indian cricket team under his captaincy. He made India learn how to fight, how to win and how to snatch victory from others. As a batsman, he was furious and promising, perhaps the most attacking batsman of Indian history. Well a classy batsman, a shorter over format specialist batsman, the most complete captain and the DABANG cricketer will always be the pride of the nation and last in millions of Indian hearts forever.

Awards and Honors: 

Padma Shree, Banga Bibhushan, Arjuna Award

Greatest Indian cricketers: (10) Bishan Singh Bedi, (9) Vijay Merchant, (8) Virender Sehwag, (7) Vijay Hazare, (6) Saurav Ganguly

5. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunny Gavaskar is a veteran Indian cricketer who played cricket for national side for 17 longer years. He was the very first cricket to complete 10000 test runs and was a run machine of his time. A Shorty, who had a wonderful batting technique, had broken all the batting records at that time. He retired with highest number of test centuries and many other achievements. Sunil was a wonderful master of art of batting, a brave captain, an unbeatable batsman with amazing skills, perhaps the best ever batsman against fast bowling and a great human being. He is still the proud of masses and will always be remembered for what he has given to Indian fans. He is just a veteran replica of Sachin Tendulkar and incomparable batsman of his era.

Awards and Honors:

 ESPN’s legends of cricket, Padma Bhushan, Border-Gavaskar trophy commemorated in his honor.

 

4. Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble is a former Indian cricketer who went on to play cricket for his nation for over 17 years’ span. As a brilliant right hand leg spin bowler and occasional batsman, the great Kumble was full of sport spirit. He holds the national record for taking most number of test and ODI wickets. He was extremely brave cricketer and made India win on many occasions. His bowling spell of 10 for 76 was not less than a miracle in the cricket history. His googly deliveries proved to be the lethal weapon for the opposition forever. Anil was a very talented, brave, patient, hard working, humble and unbeatable cricketer. Anil is not only the darling of Indian fans but also the pride of Indian sports history. He is a name unforgettable at any cost.

Awards and Honors: 

Padma Shree, Wisden cricketer of the year 1996, Arjuna Award.

3. Rahul Dravid

 Rahul Dravid is an Indian cricketer who has recently retired from all forms of International cricket. Rahul Dravid played test and ODI cricket from 1996 through 2012. Rahul Dravid was an outstanding right handed batsman, occasional wicketkeeper and captain of team India. Dravid was an excellent batsman with amazing batting technique, courageous wicketkeeper, a gentleman sportsman, a billion t athlete who maintained perfect fitness, best at defensive stance and a huge performer. Rahul played over 160 test and 300 ODI matches. He was extremely serious and dedicated cricketer and played many great innings on many occasions. Some critics assume him to be the best ever test batsman.

Awards and Honors: 

ICC player of the year 2000,2004; ICC test player of the year 2004, Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan, Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2000.

2. Kapil Dev

 Kapil Dev is a veteran Indian cricketer who represented Indian national side from 1978 to 1994. Kapil Dev was a right hand medium pacer with the amazing ability to outswing the ball and an attacking lower order batsman. He went on to be the captain of 1983 world cup winning Indian team. As a cricketer, they say that he was the most complete cricketer, bearing a “never say die” attitude, full of energy and commitment, too lively, courageous and hard working cricketer. He retired from the cricket with many records to his name including 131 test matches played and 431 wickets taken, highest at that time by a test bowler. He has been the pride of the nation and will always be. He was also elected “Indian cricketer of the century”.

Awards and Honors:

 ESPN’s legends of cricket, Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden, Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan, Inducted into ICC hall of fame, Arjuna award, Wisden cricketer of the year 1983.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

“Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my god”.

The above written quote tells complete story about the greatness and craze for Sachin by Indian masses. This name is the most worshiped name not only of Indian cricket but also the world cricket of all time. Sachin started playing cricket in 1989 at an age of just 16 and is still playing. This guy has broken almost all the batting records in international cricket so far. He has played highest number of test and ODI matches and scored more than 18000 ODI and 16000 test runs with highest number of centuries and fifties. There is a lot to say about his stats but his humane characteristics like humility, calmness, dedication and skills as a cricketer make him the greatest ever cricketer of India.

Awards and Honors: 

ESPN’s legends of cricket, part of Bradman's Eleven, Padma Vibhushan, Arjuna award, Rajiv Gandhi khel ratna award, Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 1997, Padma Shree, ICC Sir Garry Sobers Award.

Greatest Indian cricketers: (1) Sachin Tendulkar,(2) Kapil Dev, (3) Rahul Dravid, (4) Anil Kumble, (5) Sunil Gavaskar

TEN GREATEST BOWLERS OF ALL TIME

10. Anil Kumbley:

Anil Kumabley, nicknamed "jumbo" is a former Indian leg-spinner who is a legend in himself. He deserves as much higher place in the indian history of cricket as possessed by the greats like Gavaskar, Kapil and Sachin. Kumbley, a tall and attractive guy, initially wanted to serve as a fast-bowler but later on emerged as a brilliant leg spin bowler with the great skill of bowling googly  perhaps at the best all over. He holds a record of 619 test and 337 ODI wickets, highest for any Indian bowler in any format. His spell of 10/74 against Pakistan at Delhi is considered to be the greatest of all time.

9. Waqar Younis:

 Waqar Younis is a former Pakistani cricketer who was a genuine fast bowler and fastest of his time. An aggressive fast bowler with the great ability of swinging the ball three ways, in, out and reverse. He was also good at bowling accurate and deadly bouncers and yorkers. He holds many records of test and ODI cricket, including third highest ODI wickets of all time, 416 ODI wickets at 23.84 and 373 wickets at 23.56. He also holds the world record of taking most no. of ODI five-wicket hauls. He played a key tole in the famous 1992 CWC win by Pakistan. He deserves to be in any list of all time greatest bowlers.

8. Clarrie Grimmett:

Late C. Grimmett was a former Oz cricketer who was a genuine leg-break googly bowler of his time. He went on to play between 1925 and 1936. He was the best bowler of his era and was a aprt of the Oz side captained by Sir Don Bradman. He played a total of 37 tests and took 216 wickets as a whole at an average of around 24. He was a master of the leg-spin of his time with the ability to bowl googly at high accuracy.

7. Glenn Mcgrath:

Glenn Mcgrath is the former Australian bowler who was a brilliant seam and wing bowler  According to me, personally, he is the deadliest pace bowler of the era 1993-2007,he played within. He was a bowler with utmost accuracy, brilliance and consistency. He, rather not a speed express, was highly accurate and targeted the best batsman of the opposition including Sachin, Lara and many more of that time. He went on to take 563 and 381 Test and ODI wickets respectively at an average of around 21. He holds may records in the cricket history and known to be one of the invincible bowlers of all time who always dominated even the top class batsmen. He deserves to be in surely any of such lists,

6.Sydney Barnes:

S. Barnes was an English cricketer who served the international cricket from 1901 to 1914. He was a bowler who had a great variation in his bowling. He was mainly a fast-medium bowler, but highly accurate in terms of length and bounce of the delivery. He also used to vary the pace of the bowl highly and was able to finger-spin and accurate yorkers, forcing batsmen o play the ball. He grabbed a total of 189 wickets in 27 tests at a mere average of 16, including 27, 5-wicket and 7, 10-wicket hauls. His horrible statistics of bowling make him to be among the very best bowlers of all time.

5.Dennis Lilee:

Dennis Lilee is probably the greatest Oz fast bowler and also of his generation. He was a bowler with great aggression and "never say die attitude". He is the very first bowler to take 300 test wickets and fastest at his time to take 100 ODI wickets with the highly respectable bowling averages of 23.92 and 20.82. He got prestigious awards like "Wisden cricketer of the year" and many more for his services to the cricket. He struggled with injuries throughout the career but whenever he came on the field, made fortunes for the team. His pair with Jeff Thomson and caught Marsh bowled Lilee were the famous and regular features of the cricket. The way, he used to grip the ball, was imitated later on by many cricketers.

Top ten bowlers of all time:
(6) Sydney Barnes, (7) Glenn McGrath, (8) Clarrie Grimmett, (9) Waqar Younis, (10) Anil Kumble

4.Muttaiah Muralitharan:

M. Muralitharan is the former Srilankan off-spinner, who does not need any great introduction. He is probably one of the greatest off-break bowlers ever in the history of cricket. He is the cricketer with almost all the test-cricket bowling records associated with his name e.g. highest number of wickets in Test and ODI both,most five wicket hauls, most ten wicket hauls and many more. But only thing he is often criticized for is his bowling action and the larger proportion of wickets to be those of tail-enders. Above all Murali is a bowling maestro and probably the greatest Srilankan cricketer ever, Sachin of bowling statistics and a master of "doosra" ball. He deserves to be among the top 5 bowlers of all time in any list. With a superb bowling average of around 21 in every format, and with many match-winning performances, he is really one of the greatest bowlers ever.

3. Wasim Akram:

Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani cricketer, who is known to be the best swing bowler ever able to swing the ball all the ways possible  He was a discovery of Pakistan cricket in the year 1984 when he was just 18, in a cricket-camp by Javed Miadad, the captain at that time. He is, doubtlessly  the best student and scholar of the swing bowling, with the gifted approach of bowling it in-swing, out-swing, reverse-swing and swing with the wind. He is the very first bowler to get 500 ODI wickets(a total of 502, the second best of all time) and 414 test wickets at the respective bowling averages of around 23.5. He also holds the all time world record of grabbing highest number of List A cricket wickets. He played the very key role in winning 1992 CWC by Pakistan and served the cricket world for more than 18 long years.

2.Shane Warne:

Shame Keith Warne is a former Australian cricketer, who was the best ever spin bowler with the specialty in the leg-spin. He was the one to bowl the famous "ball of the century", the very first ball by him in the Ashes, on which he cleanly bowled Mike Gatting of England. Shane Warne is called to be a bowler able to make the ball spin even on the ice or glass surface. He was the very first bowler to get 500, 600 and 700 wickets in test matches. He finished his career with 708 test and 293 ODI wickets  A bowler, with the ability to bring high variation in his bowling from top class leg-spin to brilliant googly to surprising straight flipper delivery, made Oz side win the CWC of 1999.

1. Sir Richard Hadlee:

Richard Hadlee is a former New Zealand cricketer who was a master of swing bowling and was able to move it both ways. He is probably the greatest player ever in the New Zealand history of cricket. He is the very first bowler to take 400 test wickets. He went on to take 36 five-wicket and 9 ten-wicket hauls in test matches. He was a master of swing bowling and was able to bowl both way swing, in and out. He was so much consistent at getting wickets and was full of sportsmanship. Many of his county seasons were finished at a mere bowling average of around 15. He was a bowler to be knighted during his cricket career and finished with the wicket even at the last bowl of his career. He took more than 100 five wicket hauls in his first class career.

Top ten bowlers of all time:
(1) Sir Richard Hadlee, (2) Shane Warne, (3) asim Akram, (4) Muralitharan, (5) Dennis Lilee

TOP TEN CRICKETERS OF ALL TIME

TOP TEN CRICKETERS OF ALL TIME

Cricket is second most popular and most watched sport today. Although it has been very ancient game and is believed to be started in England and played by shepherds; this game became the possession of royal families and upper class people later. As time passed by, the game spread to the various parts of the globe, ruled by English government. The very first reputed tournament called "County Championship" started in the early eighteenth century and popularized the game. First test match was played in 1877. Since then the sport has made advancements by leaps and bounds, being played at many levels, in many formats, in many countries and has become a cultural symbol in many nations. But the main thing is to sort out ten most brilliant cricketers of all time, that too out of several thousands who have played the game. Still I have made some efforts to put out these ten names to be called the ten greatest cricketers of all time. Although GREATNESS does not have a basis to be measured but still this list has been framed on many grounds like the span, stats, achievements, spirit, contribution in win, consistency, skills, technique and popularity. So let's begin now with the list:

10. Wasim Akram:

Wasim Akram born 3 June 1966 is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman in cricket, who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches. He went on to take 502 wickets in ODI and 414 in test matches. He was finest ODI bowler of all time who could bowl six different deliveries in six different valid manners. He was a fine aggressive left handed batsman too. He played key role in team success in 1992 CWC and was man of the match of the final game. He was a 17 times player of the match in test cricket. Throughout his career of 18 long years, he always remained consistent and broke records. He was a good captain and master of reverse swing bowling. His 881 wickets record in List A cricket still stands.

9. Wally Hammond:

Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond (19 June 1903 – 1 July 1965) was an English test cricketer who played for English side from 1927 to 1947. He was a brilliant top order batsman of England who scored more than 7000 test runs at an average of 58. He was the best counterpart of Sir Bradman And their rivalry is one of the most famous rivalries in cricket. He was a good medium pace bowler and excellent slip fielder who took more than 100 catches. He is also known for his bad boy image, giant personality, bold captain and multiple marriages. Still Wally Hammond without eligibility qualifies to the top ten greatest cricketers of all time.

8. Imran Khan:

Imran Khan Niazi, most popularly known as the "Lion Of Pakistan"is by far the best cricketer from the Pakistani soil. He was the most completely cricketer with brilliant bowling skills, attacking batting stamina, natural leadership qualities, best fitness levels and long career. The man is credited to be the finest artist of swing bowling, who mastered the in, out and reverse swing. By many critics, he is viewed as the most brilliant all-rounder in the history of cricket  He was a cricketer having skills and courage to open the innings with bat and bowl both. He is by far the best Pakistani captain who at the age of over 40 went on to make Pakistan the champion of cricket world. He finished his career with 362 test and 182 ODI wickets at averages of 22.81 and 22.61 and batting averages of over 33 and 37 respectively. He was the superstar of the game in his time.

7.  Shane Warne:

Shane Keith Warne is the former Australian leg spinner. Debuting in the very start of the 1992 against India, this finest leg spinner ever went on to achieve milestones in cricket. His very first ball in the Ashes was termed as the 'ball of the century'. He was a miraculous bowler whom people called a bowler with the ability to spin the bowl on even glass or ice. He went on to grab 1000 tests and ODI wickets in all and played most important role in the success of the Oz team in 1990s and 2000s. He bowled excellently in the WC 1999 and several Ashes victories. He was chosen one of the five cricketers of the century by Wisden in 1999. He was so popular and a sex symbol in the cricket media.

 

  6. Sir Richard Hadlee:

Sir Richard John Hadlee is the greatest cricketer of New Zealand of all time. He belonged to the reputed Hadlee cricket family of NZ and his father Walter was the former captain of NZ cricket team. Hadlee made his debut in 1973 but could not fix his position till 1977. After that he became a deadly fast bowler with balanced out swing bowling and remarkable batting performances and went on to break almost all the bowling records. He became the very first bowler to take 400 test wickets and was key player in making NZ win on their English,Oz and WI tours. He was awarded knighthood in 1990, only player to get this prestigious award during his career  His bowling performance of 15/123 is by far the best bowling performance int he test cricket. He finished his career with 431 test wickets at an average of 22.29 and 146 ODI wickets at 21.56.

Top ten greatest cricketers:
(6) Sir Richard Hadlee, (7) Shane Warne, (8) Imran Khan, (9) Wally Hammond, and (10) Wasim Akram

5. Sir Viv Richards:

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is doubtlessly the most dangerous batsman of the cricket history. He was the key player of the West Indian team in 70s and 80s. He batted in top order and killed almost all the top bowlers of that time. He played the key role in the success of the caribian team in the world cup victory of the first two editions. He was a brilliant test cricketer with a batting average of over 50 and most brilliant ODI cricketer with man of the match per 6 matches. He also captained WI team for more than 50 test matches without even a single series loss.

4. Sir Jack Hobbs:

Sir Jack Hobbs was an English cricketer who played for England in the very start of the twentieth century.He was a brilliant master of batting technique and went on to play more than 800  first class matches and scored 199 centuries, a first class cricket world record. He at the international level played 61 matches and scored over 5000 runs at an average of over 55. The man went on to play cricket till the age of 52 and was awarded knighthood in 1953 for his services for cricket. He died on December 21, 1963 at the age of 81.

3. Sir Garry Sobers: 

Sir Garfield Sobers is the most brilliant West Indian cricketers of all time. The man went on to play at international level from 1954 through 1974. The cricketer who had a reputation of being a left arm china-man bowler, transformed into a skilled batsman who went on to hit 6 sixes in a single over and became the first t do so in first class history. He is also considered the greatest all rounder of all time by many  His record for 365 not out in test stood for many years...

 2. Sir Don Bradman:

If there is any sportsman who even makes the stats amazed by his performances, no doubt he is DON. He was a man with normal physique who ruled the cricket world in 30s and 40s. He went on to make Oz team became "THE INVINCIBLE"in his captaincy. Negative tactics like body-line were also devised against him but he overcame all though this. Not only in cricket, but also in all ball sports, he has been mathematically proved to be far ahead than the players like Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan  His batting average of 99.94 has become a famous figure in the sports world. His dismissal for a duck in the very last inning of his career is considered as the greatest sports shock of all time. He is greatest Australian of all times too.

  1. Sachin Tendulkar:

Sachin Tendulkar is doubtlessly the greatest cricketer of all time. He is the real mega-superstar of the game. Born in Mumbai, the largest city of India on April 24, 1973 ; the guy made his first class debut at the age of 15 with a hundred. He debuted in tests in December  1989 against Pakistan at an age of just 16. Since then this man has contributed as much in the Indian cricket that almost half of the credit of its success goes to the man itself. Sachin has achieved numerous achievements throughout his career  has created so many records that almost half the record-book is associated to him. As an sportsman, he is the most humble and gentle cricketer ever seen. His skills as a batsman are most close to perfect and many of the amazing shots have been invented by himself. He is the most popular cricketer of all time too. He takes the credit of bringing the stardom and popularity to this sport solely. He is the only Indian every person of India will like to get sacrificed over. He very recently announced the retirement from the limited over format. Its his true and holiest kind of dedication towards the cricket that he is still serving cricket. I personally feel proud in mentioning him as the greatest cricketer....

Top ten greatest cricketers:
(1) Sachin, (2) Sir Don Bradman, (3) Sir Sobers, (4) Sir Jack Hobbs, (5) Sir Viv Richards