In cricket’s rich tapestry, all-rounders have always been the rarest gems of players who could bat like frontline batters and bowl like frontline bowlers. Over the decades, a few legendary all-rounders have not just excelled but also ruled the ICC rankings for extended periods, becoming the backbone of their national sides. These elite cricketers held the ICC No. 1 All-Rounder ranking for an astonishingly long time, a testament to their unmatched consistency and impact across formats. Here’s a look at the Top 5 All-Rounders in Cricket History Who Dominated the No. 1 Spot the Longest.
5. Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Format: Primarily Tests & ODIs
ICC No.1 Rank Duration: 2017–2024 (intermittently)
Span as Top All-Rounder: Over 1152 days in ICC Test rankings
From a flamboyant white-ball spinner to becoming one of India’s most dependable Test cricket winners, Ravindra Jadeja has scripted a phenomenal all-round transformation. Known for his razor-sharp fielding, economical left-arm spin, and gritty lower-order batting, Jadeja has been a game-changer across formats.
In Tests, Jadeja has often swapped the No. 1 ICC all-rounder spot with Shakib Al Hasan and Ben Stokes, but his consistency in turning matches with either discipline has kept him among the elite. Whether rescuing India from batting collapses or breaking crucial partnerships on dusty subcontinent tracks, Jadeja has proven to be the glue in India’s Test setup.
| Stat | Tests | ODIs |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 72 | 197 |
| Runs | 3,072 | 2,756 |
| Wickets | 293 | 220 |
| Batting Avg | 36.56 | 32.22 |
| Bowling Avg | 24.31 | 36.05 |
4. Kapil Dev (India)
Format: Tests & ODIs
ICC No.1 Rank Duration: 1980–1987
Span as Top All-Rounder: ~1300 days
India’s first genuine all-rounder and World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, was a force to be reckoned with. While his most iconic moment came in 1983, Kapil’s consistency across the ’80s kept him right at the top of the ICC All-Rounder rankings.
Known for his powerful hitting and relentless swing bowling, Kapil was India’s go-to man in crunch situations, rescuing the team with bat and breaking partnerships with the ball.
| Stat | Tests | ODIs |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 131 | 225 |
| Runs | 5,248 | 3,783 |
| Wickets | 434 | 253 |
| Batting Avg | 31.05 | 23.79 |
| Bowling Avg | 29.64 | 27.45 |
3. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
Format: Tests & ODIs
ICC No.1 Rank Duration: 1982–1989
Span as Top All-Rounder: 1500+ days cumulatively
Before becoming Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain and eventually Prime Minister, Imran Khan was one of cricket’s fiercest all-round forces. He combined raw pace and elegant strokeplay to dominate Test matches, often acting as the glue that held Pakistan’s bowling and batting together.
Imran’s peak came in the 1980s when he was consistently ranked among the top 3 all-rounders and frequently held the No. 1 spot, especially in Tests. His leadership and performance in the late ’80s culminated in the ultimate glory of the 1992 World Cup.
| Stat | Tests | ODIs |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 88 | 175 |
| Runs | 3,807 | 3,709 |
| Wickets | 362 | 182 |
| Batting Avg | 37.69 | 33.41 |
| Bowling Avg | 22.81 | 26.61 |
2. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Format: ODIs, Tests & T20Is
ICC No.1 Rank Duration: 2009–2023 (intermittently across all formats)
Span as Top All-Rounder: 4000+ days cumulatively
Arguably Bangladesh’s greatest-ever cricketer, Shakib Al Hasan, has been a global all-rounder phenomenon. Whether with his left-arm orthodox spin or fearless batting in the middle order, Shakib has constantly proven himself on the big stage from World Cups to Test series in tough conditions.
He has the distinction of being ranked No. 1 all-rounder across all three formats for several years, a feat unmatched in modern cricket. His consistency, especially in ODIs and T20Is, has made him a fixture atop the ICC rankings.
| Stat | Tests | ODIs | T20Is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 66 | 247 | 120 |
| Runs | 4,643 | 7,384 | 2,382 |
| Wickets | 233 | 317 | 146 |
1. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Format: Tests & ODIs
ICC No.1 Rank Duration: 2002–2008 (sporadically in both formats)
Span as Top All-Rounder: Over 2500+ days across formats
Widely hailed as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, Jacques Kallis was the definition of balance in South African cricket. A technically sound top-order batter and a more-than-handy seamer, Kallis racked up 10,000+ runs in both Tests and ODIs while picking up over 500 international wickets.
His ability to influence the game in both departments made him a frequent occupant of the No. 1 ICC All-Rounder spot, especially during the mid-2000s. Kallis didn’t just perform; he dominated, often single-handedly winning games for the Proteas.
| Stat | Tests | ODIs |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 166 | 328 |
| Runs | 13,289 | 11,579 |
| Batting Avg | 55.37 | 44.36 |
| Wickets | 292 | 273 |
| Bowling Avg | 32.65 | 31.79 |
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