Top 5 Australian all-rounders of all time

The term all-rounder gets strewn around far too callously these days, and anyone who can even hold both the bat and ball with some distinction is accorded this tag. However, genuine all-rounders in cricket have been a rare commodity and the fact that not many teams have the luxury of availing the services of such rare players, is a testament to their uniqueness.

A genuine all-rounder is one, who can merit selection into the team either by batting or bowling, and they have to be admirable in both these aspects.

Amongst the many different cricket teams, Australia have always been blessed with one all-rounder who has always helped in maintaining the balance of the team.

Here in this list we take a list of top 5 Australian all-rounders over the years.

#1 Keith Miller

Tall, brash, supremely talented and with looks to kill, Keith Miller is perhaps the greatest ever all-rounder to have emerged from Australia. On his day, Miller could win games almost single-handedly with either bat or ball, and his flamboyance with both was an absolute delight.

A member of Bradman's Invincibles, when Miller announced his retirement from Test cricket in 1956, he had the best numbers in the game for any all-rounder at that time.

Miller started as a batsman and then gradually worked on his bowling, and emerged as a world beater in both those domains. He was needed more as a bowler in the strong Invincibles line-up, and his numbers are a testament to his prowess.

In 55 matches, Miller scored 2958 runs with an average of 36.97, which included 7 centuries. With the ball he picked up 170 wickets with a dazzling average of 22.97.

#2 Jack Gregory

Jack Gregory, the New South Wales-born Australia cricketer had a brief career which spanned for only 24 Test matches, but then he made a substantial impact in the limited opportunity.

Gregory was mainly known as a strapping fast bowler, but his effectiveness with the bat can be gauged from his numbers. He scored 1146 runs with an average 36.50, which included 2 centuries. With the ball, he picked up 84 wickets at an average of 31.15.

Gregory batted without any gloves, and also did not any protective box. However, a chronic knee injury in 1928 halted his career with a jitter. He was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1922.

#3 Warwick Armstrong

Nicknamed the "Big Ship", Warwick Windridge Armstrong was a larger than life character both on and off the field. Armstrong was a giant on the field, and his number with both bat and ball has become synonymous with his imposing size.

In 50 matches, Armstrong scored 2863 runs with an average of 38.68. This included 6 centuries and 8 half-centuries. With the ball, big Armstrong picked up 87 wickets at an average of 33.59.

He could bowl right-arm seam, but could easily switch to leg-breaks if the surface and match situation demanded.

Armstrong captained Australia in ten Test matches between 1920 and 1921, and won eight Tests and drew two. Overall, he scored more than 16,000 runs and picked up more than 800 wickets in 269 first-class matches.

To honour his contributions, he was posthumously inducted into Australian cricket's Hall of Fame in 2000.

#4 Alan Davidson

A mean left-arm quick and a lusty hitter down the order, Alan Davidson realised his potential during the 1957-58 tour to South Africa, at the beginning of a career in which he picked up 72 wickets and scored 4 centuries. He had certainly come of age, and he then continued to serve Australia with distinction for the next 5 years.

He had an injury ravaged career and this had an impact on his career, but the man never threw in the towel. In 44 Tests, Davidson scored 1328 runs with an average of 24.59, and picked up 186 wickets at an average of 20.53.

Davidson was also a handy fielder and had a rocket arm which found many batsmen short. Also, he was a safe catcher in close catching positions.

#5 Shane Watson

Shane Watson had all the potential and promise to become one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game, but then his fragile body and inconsistent performances never allowed him to realise his true potential.

However, Watson did have periods of memorable performances, but considering his ability these were rather few and far in between, and his career could have been so much more inspirational if he dug in a lot more and showed more grit.

In 59 Test matches, the burly Queenslander scored 3731 runs at an average of 35.19, and also picked up 75 wickets with an average of 33.68.

His number improved in the limited overs format, where he scored 5757 runs in 169 innings at an average of 40.54. Also, he picked up 168 wickets in in 163 innings with an average of 31.79.