Greatest all-rounders of all time in Tests

#8 Sir Ian Botham

The greatest cricketing figure of 1980s, Ian Botham was a key figure in the revival of English Cricket. Best remembered for his heroic performance in Ashes, which also came to be known as 'Botham's Ashes' later, Botham was the architect of England's victory at multiple instances. With a train of three performances - two with bat, one with ball, in 1981 under Mike Brearley's captaincy, he led England to an astonishing Ashes victory. A hero with uninhibited and simple methods, he single-handedly awarded England the series with his power backed 339 runs and 34 wickets.

The fastest one to reach the 1000 test runs mark and 100 wickets in only 21 tests, 'Beefy' as he's lovingly known, had a fearless strike rate of 60.71. He scored 5200 in tests at an average of 33.54 which included 14 tons and 22 half centuries. He also picked 383 wickets at an average of 28.40, highest by an English batsman till James Anderson broke the record. Though a fitter Botham averaged closer to 21, injuries took the better off him.

His performance against India was impressive. In the test of 1980 in Mumbai, he braked India to just 242 with his scintillating 58/6 and then revived the English innings from 58/5 with his remarkable score of 114. In the second innings, he skittled out India for 48/7 and won the match single-handedly. One of the most complete all-rounders of the game, Botham could change the momentum of the game with his out-swinger or his belligerent batting. He was the fastest to the all-rounder triple of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in just 72 Tests. In 1986 he surpassed Dennis Lillee's record of 355 wickets and became the highest wicket taker in tests which included 27 five wicket hauls and 4 ten wicket hauls.