World’s Top All-Rounders:

The list of all-rounders is so long that it is quite difficult to compile and get it in a proper way but still here are some top all-rounders of the world. Wasim Akram, Klusener, Abdul Razzaq, Kallis, Pullock, Azhar, S Lee, Cairns and this list continues but these are the players who have performed repeatedly with both bat and ball quite consistently.

To rank the best out of them is most certainly not the easiest job in the world to do but still if I am asked to pick one from them, then I will most definitely go for Wasim Akram. The main reason being that there is no match to experience. A man with over 300 ODIs and around 100 tests, he is the only man to take more than 400 wickets in both forms of cricket. Bowling is his main strength but now he is just following his "guru" (teacher) Imran Khan who also was a great great bowler but at the end of his career had improved his batting so much that he could easily have played in the Pakistani team due to his batting. The same implies to Wasim

Second one, Zulu (Lance Klusener), person who almost took South Africa to World Cup final in the 1999 World Cup. He won the player of tournament award in the last world cup and I think that no one can forget the two fours he struck to Fleming of the first two balls of the last over when South Africa needed only 9 to win. The second one being a very special one as I simply have not seen any ball go to the fence more quicker than that one. His contributions with bat and ball for South Africa are simply massive.

Abdul Razzaq is also a very successful and promising young all-rounder who paved his way in the Pakistani team in the World Cup 99 and since then he has been one of the most important member of Pakistani team. He has taken more wickets than anyone in this season. He also won the Man of the Tournament award in United & Carltron series in Australia that featured Pakistan, Australia and India.

Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock have been two very successful all-rounders for South African team. Shaun is now the captain of side and is about to take most wickets in ODIs for South Africa. He is also a very useful lower order batsman and has played some really good knocks. Kallis is an excellent swing bowler, with broad shoulders and is considered as one the most technically correct batsman in the world of cricket.

Chris Cairns, New Zeland's most important member has repeatedly performed well with both bat and ball. He has got an excellent slower delivery and I still remember his sixes that he struck to Warne in the World Cup 99-group match against Australia.

Azhar Mehmood has been another very successful all-rounder for Pakistan. His form against South Africa has been superb and has performed quite well with both bat and ball but sadly he has not performed upto the expectations of people and critics.

There are many other names who can be considered as all-rounders like Jaysuria, Shane Lee, Steve Waugh, Robin Singh, Heath Streak and this list continues but the names mentioned above are the one who have commanded both batsmen and bowlers on their days. The game of cricket has become more beautiful and exciting because of their excellent skills.

source: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/cricket/45127