allrounders

Allrounders are individuals who possess multiple skill sets at a high level. In sports, they are players who contribute in more than one discipline. In cricket, an allrounder is a player who regularly contributes with both bat and ball, and often fields in key positions. The term is commonly used to describe players who can influence games with both batting and bowling, providing team balance and tactical flexibility.

In cricket, roles exist: batting allrounder (strength in batting with adequate bowling), bowling allrounder (primary bowling with useful batting), and true or genuine allrounder (consistently competitive in both disciplines). They are valued for balance of team composition and for flexibility in match strategy. Their performance is evaluated using statistics such as runs scored, batting average, wickets, bowling average, strike rates, and composite metrics that attempt to capture contributions in both disciplines. Fielding ability and fitness are also important components of their overall value.

Notable examples include Sir Garfield Sobers of the West Indies, widely regarded as one of the greatest allrounders for excelling with bat, ball, and leadership. In the modern era, Jacques Kallis of South Africa is often cited as one of the best allrounders ever; others such as Ben Stokes (England), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Ian Botham (England), and Kapil Dev (India) have left a lasting impact by shaping matches with multiple contributions. The category spans eras and formats, from Test cricket to One Day Internationals and Twenty20s.

Beyond cricket, the term allrounder can refer to a person with broad competencies across tasks or fields, valued for flexibility and versatility rather than specialization. The concept emphasizes breadth of capability and the ability to adapt to varied roles.