CRICKET
Five oldest All-Rounders to ascend top position in world rankings
All-rounders are some of the most valuable assets for a team in cricket. They can contribute in different ways to help their team to win matches. More often than not, Rounders bring balance to the teams and ensure that the team can play an extra specialist batter or a bowler. An All-rounder in a cricket team is worth gold but is often criticized for failure in a department in a game.
To be at the top of the game for an All Rounder in more than one category is very difficult. However, some players have been able to achieve it in the past. Some of the All Rounders continue to be at the top of their game in different departments. But doing it after getting old is a sensational feat. Mohammad Nabi recently became the number one All-Rounder in ODIs at the age of 39.
It is such a great feat, as he dethroned Shakib Al Hasan from the rankings after more than five long years. Here are the five All-Rounders who have become the number one ranked in the category in different formats despite being some of the oldest in terms of age.
Also check: 5 players to achieve number one rankings in world cricket across formats
5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
Five All-Rounders who have become the number one ranked in the category in different formats despite being some of the oldest in terms of age (Source: X)
Shahid Afridi was 35 years and 7 months when he achieved the feat. The star player from Pakistan was known for defying age whenever he played. To date, he continues to play cricket after coming back from retirement now and then. It is the same passion of his that helped him to become the number one All-rounder in the world. Pakistan benefited from his performances despite being old.
4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Five All-Rounders who have become the number one ranked in the category in different formats despite being some of the oldest in terms of age (Source: X)
Jacques Kallis was 36 years and 11 months when he was at the top of the rankings in the category of All Rounders. The former South African cricketer was one of the best All-Rounders of all time. The star cricketer was a terrific batter and a very useful bowler. He was also very athletic on the field and often claimed stunning catches in the slip cordon. Cricket has not seen many players like him to date.
3. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Five All-Rounders who have become the number one ranked in the category in different formats despite being some of the oldest in terms of age (Source: X)
Sanath Jayasuriya was 37 years and 9 months old when he reached the summit of the rankings of the All-Rounders. Starting his career as a pure bowler, Jayasuriya transformed himself into a terrific batter. He became a proper batting All-rounder at his peak. Sri Lanka has a terrific player in Santh who could win the matches both with the bat and with the ball. He was the Player of the Tournament in the ODI WC 1996.
2. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
Five All-Rounders who have become the number one ranked in the category in different formats despite being some of the oldest in terms of age (Source: X)
Tillakaratne Dilshan was 38 years and 8 months old when he became the number one All-rounder in the world. The former Sri Lankan cricketer was an aggressive batter at the top in limited-overs cricket with a lot of innovative shots. He was handy with the ball as well and could keep the wickets if required. In his prime, Dilshan was terrific as a batter and won Sri Lanka a lot of matches all by himself.
1. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
Five All-Rounders who have become the number one ranked in the category in different formats despite being some of the oldest in terms of age (Source: X)
Mohammad Nabi was 39 years and 1 month when he dethroned Shakib Al Hasan to become the number one All-rounder in ODIs. For the first time since 2019, a player dethroned the Bangladesh player in the rankings of All-Rounders. In the process, Nabi became the oldest number-one-ranked All-rounder in cricket. He is a great spin bowler and can finish the matches lower down the order on his own.