T20 all-rounders: a comprehensive analysis

Twenty20 is a format eminently suitable for the bits-and-pieces
player, the one who does something in every department of the game, not
always at the top-drawer level. However, T20 also calls for top-quality
all-rounders who perform with the bat and ball very effectively. This
article looks at such players.

The qualification criteria
are 200 runs and 10 wickets. Unfortunately, the bar has to be kept
somewhat low since very few matches have been played in the format.

The
first table looks at the overall quantitative achievements. I have just
added the runs scored and wickets captured multiplied by 25 to derive
an overall achievement table in terms of Equivalent Runs. This may be
longevity based but should not detract from the achievements of the
players.

The peerless Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi stands
supreme. He has scored 683 runs and captured 53 wickets, which is the
highest by any bowler. This translates to 2008 WktRuns, a stupendous
achievement, considering that he has played in 43 matches. Just look at
his contributions to Pakistan's pre-eminent status in T20
Internationals.

Jayasuriya is in next position, at nearly half of
Afridi's WktRuns level. His batting achievements are far ahead of the
bowling achievements.

Then comes a surprise. The relatively
lesser-known David Hussey takes the third spot with 1092 WktRuns. His
figures are similar to Jayasuriya's.

There are two more Pakistani
all-rounders in the Top 7. Watson's crossing of the 1000 WktRuns mark
in only 24 matches speaks of his class.

Now let us see a table
which is a qualitative one. The Runs and Wickets are divided by matches
played to derive a per-match all-rounder index.

It is possible that ten Doeschate would end his illustrious career as the best all-rounder never to have played Test cricket. He is the all-rounder supreme and has an average ArIndex value of 57 WktRuns per match. That is the extent of his contribution, 50+ in every match.

Just think of it. ten Doeschate would almost certainly walk into every ODI team in the world. He averages a phenomenal 67.0 in that format.

Shahid Afridi, for the high number of matches he has played, is in second position, with 46.7 WktRuns. Chris Gayle - when would he play for West Indies again? - is in third position with an excellent ArIndex value of 45.9.

The outstanding Shakib Al Hasan is deservedly in fourth place.

Watson rounds off this list of five world class all-rounders.