Cricket

[Alex]

I know its basically impossible to compare eras, but he was probably the greatest all rounder I have ever seen.

[RichC]

He's the best all-rounder I've ever seen, superb player.

[Zapater]

Sad news, my favourite player. He had some poor form recently and didn't think he could recover. I hope he does well playing T20 cricket around the globe and domestic cricket at home. He gave SA everything, especially in the transition between Hansie and Smith when the captaincy was thrust upon Pollock. SA had some young players with a lot of talent, but things were extremely unstable. His runs and relentless bowling saved the team from huge decline.

"I just knew on that tour that I was done" - strange to imagining such a stubborn player admitting it.

Possibly the greatest of all time. Better batting stats than most batsmen, even champions like Ponting and better bowling stats than many acclaimed bowlers.

[Buzzo]

Sad news, my favourite player. He had some poor form recently and didn't think he could recover. I hope he does well playing T20 cricket around the globe and domestic cricket at home. He gave SA everything, especially in the transition between Hansie and Smith when the captaincy was thrust upon Pollock. SA had some young players with a lot of talent, but things were extremely unstable. His runs and relentless bowling saved the team from huge decline.

"I just knew on that tour that I was done" - strange to imagining such a stubborn player admitting it.

Possibly the greatest of all time. Better batting stats than most batsmen, even champions like Ponting and better bowling stats than many acclaimed bowlers.

He's possibly the only genuine all rounder I have seen.
Certainly sets the bench mark for what can be achieved as an all rounder.

[Alex]

Botham was clearly one of the all time greats too. No idea how they compare though, as Cricket is very different now.

[Buzzo]

Botham was clearly one of the all time greats too. No idea how they compare though, as Cricket is very different now.

I meant literally 'seen' . Its when the likes of Broad are mentioned as an all rounder that you realise how good the likes of Kallis and Beefy were.

[Alex]

Broad is a bowler who can bat.

Flintoff was probably the closest I had seen to a good all rounder other than Kallis in the Modern game. Maybe Pollock. But he was more of a Bowler who could bat well like Broad.

A proper all rounder bats at number 4,5 or 6 and can lead the line in bowling. Most cant do both well.

[Zapater]

Well cricket is a very different game now from when Kallis started out in the mid 90s let alone comparing now to the 70s and 80s. I feel that Pollock could've been close but he always seemed reluctant to take more responsibility to bat higher up the order when the opportunity presented himself as he had the potential to be a fine batsmen. Many early in his career tipped him to become batting allrounder in his older age.

I feel that Beefy and Pollock are in the category of 'bowling allrounders'. Although Botham was probably marginally better at batting and Pollock a better bowler. where I wouldn't use the allrounder term for a player like Broad where he is a bowler who can bat a little. Kallis is definitely the most complete player at the level he performed at. There are/were other players equally good at batting and bowling but they're nowhere near the quality of Kallis. i.e. Lance Klusener was a fine player, particularly in limited overs cricket; excellent with both bat and ball but I wouldn't say he performed at the level of Kallis example particularly when you consider his longevity and consistency.

[Shaggy]

It's mad to say it, especially with all the tributes pouring in, but I think he's still underrated. Certainly throughout most of his career he was under-valued. Madness. What a player.

[captainfog]

Well cricket is a very different game now from when Kallis started out in the mid 90s let alone comparing now to the 70s and 80s. I feel that Pollock could've been close but he always seemed reluctant to take more responsibility to bat higher up the order when the opportunity presented himself as he had the potential to be a fine batsmen. Many early in his career tipped him to become batting allrounder in his older age.

I feel that Beefy and Pollock are in the category of 'bowling allrounders'. Although Botham was probably marginally better at batting and Pollock a better bowler. where I wouldn't use the allrounder term for a player like Broad where he is a bowler who can bat a little. Kallis is definitely the most complete player at the level he performed at. There are/were other players equally good at batting and bowling but they're nowhere near the quality of Kallis. i.e. Lance Klusener was a fine player, particularly in limited overs cricket; excellent with both bat and ball but I wouldn't say he performed at the level of Kallis example particularly when you consider his longevity and consistency.

Beefy was a proper all rounder. He had to face much better bowlers back then too.

[Shaggy]

Agreed.

[Chazza]

Erm Ian Botham has just gone all cock pictures on his twitter

[Alex]

Nothing there now.

[Chazza]

Funnily enough

Claims he was hacked

[Tee]

Erm Ian Botham has just gone all cock pictures on his twitter

Haha, wtf?! I actually thought you typed 'Cook'