It felt inevitable but Ben Stokes now top of the test rankings as the best all rounder in the world. The first English player to do so since Flintoff managed it back in 2006. He is a genuine all round cricketer who is now one of the best batsmen in the world with a rise up to 3 in the rankings alongside Marnus Labuschagne. Only Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are ahead of him which tells you just how good he is with the bat at the moment.
I won't delve too deep into stats because he's not a player who's about the stats but his form in the last 18 months in 14 tests is an average of 62 with the bat and 29 with the ball. He is the most complete cricketer in the game currently, arguably the best, and deserves all the appreciation he's getting at the moment. It's just a shame there wasn't a packed house watching his assault yesterday morning in a bid to force the result, they would have been going wild. As Root said, we are in the presence of greatness and we just need to sit back and enjoy what he's doing on the cricket pitch.
Ben Stokes Appreciation Thread
posted on 23/7/20
Can't be bothered to check but Kallis is the benchmark for modern all rounders
Anyone be bothered to check if he will get close or beat Kallis figures
posted on 24/7/20
comment by * R U Dumb, Stupid or Dumb (U18359)
posted 5 hours, 52 minutes ago
Can't be bothered to check but Kallis is the benchmark for modern all rounders
Anyone be bothered to check if he will get close or beat Kallis figures
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He is more similar to Sobers who was also very attacking batsman, was the first ever to hit six sixes in an over. Kallis was the best of his time but he was moderate in terms of attacking.
posted on 24/7/20
Kallis is one of the greatest batsman of all time, let alone all rounder. Just checked and of the over 10k runs club only Sanga averaged more than him.
He's criminally underrated.
posted on 24/7/20
Kallis is the greatest cricketer ive seen. Was an idol of mine growing up but i couldnt play cricket to save my life.
I think everyone rated his batting and fielding. Batting record is ridiculous, especially batting at number 4, while also being a criminally underrated bowler who could have easily walked into a side as a 3rd seamer. Almost 300 test wickets and a hat full of ODI ones too.
Legend.
posted on 24/7/20
Kallis was a solid bowler who took almost 300 wickets at just under 33. I don't think he bowled quite as much later in his career and became more of a specialist bat. As previously said, his run scoring was ridiculous. 13k runs at 55 with 45 centuries. The guy was a run machine and an exceptional test bat.
One interesting thing I read is that Stokes' runs and wickets tally is very close to Kallis' stats at this stage of their careers. Kallis then went on to play another 100 tests though so I'd be amazed, considering what he puts his body through every game, that he'd play another 100 tests.
I think Kallis was underrated probably due to ODIs where despite a decent average at like 45, his strike rate was 70 something and he was seen as a player who would just bat for his average. I think most see him as one of the best test batsmen of all time where strike rates aren't a problem.
posted on 24/7/20
Kallis was a solid bowler
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His milkshake brought all the boys to the yard
posted on 24/7/20
comment by Ole-Dirty-Baztard (U19119)
posted 15 hours ago
Sort of guy you need if you want to batter someone. Always looking to attack when they don’t expect it and beat them down.
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They expect it, they just don't know what to do about it so give up and watch the fireworks happen.
posted on 24/7/20
Sobers is the best ever allrounder to play the game. Kallis was phenomenal and stats are enviable but Sobers was better.
posted on 24/7/20
Sobers could literally do everything. Bowled every type of delivery. Batted up and down the order.
posted on 3/8/20
In a way Kallis is the best point of comparison for Stokesy, since they're both called "all-rounders" although the weighting for each is probably 70/30 in favour of batting, whereas for Flintoff or Botham it was the reverse.
Stokes will easily get 10 more test hundreds. Easily. So Liverpoolwhoelse should end up happy.