Allrounder

An all-rounder is a person who can contribute effectively in multiple areas, especially in sports where a single player influences the game through several skills. The term is most common in cricket, where an all-rounder is someone who can both bat and bowl well, and often field capably as well. It contrasts with specialists who focus primarily on one discipline.

In cricket, there are different shades of all-rounders. A batting all-rounder has strong batting and can bowl occasionally or semi-regularly; a bowling all-rounder is primarily a bowler who can bat, sometimes up the order; a genuine or utility all-rounder excels in both batting and bowling. All-rounders are valued for balance in a team lineup and for versatility across match conditions. Their effectiveness is discussed in terms of combining batting and bowling capabilities, as well as rankings and statistics that reflect both aspects of performance.

Notable examples from cricket include Sir Garfield Sobers, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Jacques Kallis, and Ben Stokes, among others. These players are often cited for their impact in multiple facets of the game, contributing to matches with both runs and wickets.

Outside cricket, the term all-rounder is used more loosely to describe athletes who perform multiple roles or positions, such as football players who contribute both offensively and defensively, or basketball players who can handle several positions. It can also describe professionals with broad, versatile skill sets in other fields.

Etymology-wise, all-rounder is a compound derived from all-round, with its cricket-specific use dating to the 19th century to denote players who contribute in all phases of the game.