Sobers leads the way

Separating the greats of the game over different generations is a thankless task, and even more so when it comes to deciding on the greatest all-rounder. The players on this list possess different strengths, but how do you decide whether a batting all-rounder is of more value than a bowling all-rounder, or indeed a batsman-wicket-keeper? How do you decide whether runs scored or wicket's taken today mean more or less than those in bygone era's? Any conclusions therefore must be a purely personal thing, and I have to go for Sir Garry Sobers.

He would have comfortably held his own in the West Indies team in either discipline, was an outstanding fielder and an inspirational captain, with the belief in his own judgement to know when was the right time to bowl himself (take note Freddie). His statistics speak for themselves. He converted his maiden Test hundred into a world record that stood for a quarter of a century, and is the only man in Australian domestic history to have completed the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season when playing for South Australia. What's more, he did it twice.

His 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia remains one of the great innings, and he left a legacy of a generation of West Indian dominance. It is a shame that the world was denied the chance to see him in the one-day game to which he was so suited.

When thinking of the topic of all-rounders the mind is always drawn to those who had the talent but for one reason or another never made it to the level of Sobers, Khan, Botham and co. One of my earliest cricketing memories was watching Chris Lewis bat against the West Indies in 1991, and his failure to develop proved a constant trauma for a young fan.

I am in no way suggesting that Lewis could have been close to the level of player that we are discussing here, but what England would give now for another bowler who could bowl at 90-plus and had the ability to score a hundred in India. Instead he is now the constant subject of 'where are they now pieces.' Any thoughts on players who similarly missed the boat to Test greatness?