Cricket is a gentleman's game, but that doesn't mean you can't be competitive. Sachin Tendulkar
Many talented players have left their mark on the game of cricket, and we've rounded up a selection of the greatest players here. Let's look at some cricketing greats and what they've contributed to the game.
International Cricketers
Sachin Tendulkar
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as the best batsman of all time.
He is often called the "Little Master" but also goes by many other nicknames, including Master Blaster, Run Machine and God of Cricket.
He is the highest run-scorer in both One Day International and Test cricket, with 15 921 runs to his name in Tests and 18 426 in ODIs.
Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to have scored 100 international centuries.
Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara was the Sri Lankan captain, and is one of the most highly regarded batsmen in the game. He is the second-highest run scorer in international cricket —across all formats of the game— with more than 28 000 runs scored!
What's more is that he is also an exceptional wicketkeeper, with a skill for helping bowlers improve their efficiency.
Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday! Kumara Sangakkara
MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a master tactician and one of the most successful captains of the Indian team. He led his squad to their first number one spot in Test cricket.
His leadership propelled India to new heights, including winning the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Fans would wait in anticipation for him to play his helicopter shot, which used to score boundaries from full and yorker deliveries. This unconventional shot uses a wrist flick to whip the ball over the boundary towards the leg side with precision and power, and is completed with a circular overhead follow-through.
Brian Lara
Brian Lara holds the record for the highest score by an individual player in Test cricket; an astonishing 400 not out against England in 2004.
The West Indies legend is renowned for his stylish yet aggressive technique, and has scored over 10 000 runs in ODIs and 11 953 runs in Tests.
Shane Warne
Australia's Shane Warne is considered one of the greatest spin bowlers in cricket. His often match-winning leg-spin had a unique ability to trick batsmen, and he is 1 of only 2 bowlers to have achieved over 700 Test match wickets.
Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram took 502 wickets in ODIs and 414 wickets in Tests for his nation Pakistan. He is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, and is known for his swing and deadly pace.
The "Sultan of Swing, as he is sometimes known, is 1 of only 3 bowlers to achieve 2 hat-tricks in Test cricket, and 1 of only 3 bowlers achieved this is ODIs.
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is a former Australian captain, who was an exceptional batsmen. He scored over 13 000 runs in both ODIs and Tests and ODIs, and led the Aussies to numerous victories, including two World Cups.
Sir Ian Botham
Sir Ian Botham is one of England's greatest all-rounders, who was known for his leadership qualities along with his effective bowling and aggressive batting. He played 102 Tests and scored and took 383 wickets and 5 200 runs along the way.
One of England's greatest all-rounders. Botham played 102 Tests and scored 5,200 runs, taking 383 wickets. Instrumental in the famous Ashes series win in 1981, known for his exceptional performances with both bat and ball.
Sir Donald Bradman
Australia's Sir Donald Bradman is regarded by some as the greatest batsman in cricket history due to his impressive batting average of 99.94. He played 52 Tests during which he scored 6 996 runs. Sir Donald is often referred to as "The Don".
Sir Garfield Sobers
Sir Garfield Sobers from the West Indies, is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. His phenomenal batting and bowling skills made him a force to be reckoned with on the pitch, and he played a crucial role in the West Indies' dominance during the 1960s and 1970s.
Sir Vivian Richards
Sir Vivian Richards was known for his flamboyant and aggressive batting style. He played a crucial role in ensuring the dominance of the West Indies' in international cricket in the 1970s and 1980s. He scored nearly 7 000 runs in ODIs and over 8 500 runs in Test matches.
You can learn more about cricket history in other article in this series.
Cricket is not just about personal achievements, it's about contributing to the success of the team. Hardik Pandya
Famous South African Cricketers
No list of great cricket players would be complete without mentioning our home-grown legends. In fact, maybe the best cricket player in the world comes from our sunny shores ...
While you consider this, let's take a look at the achievements of some of SA's finest.
AB de Villiers
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers is known for his innovative and explosive batting. He is one of cricket's most versatile and entertaining players, and goes by the nickname Mr. 360 for his ability to play shots all around the ground.
AB is loved by fans for his unorthodox playing style and ability to create shots when there aren't many options.
He holds the record for the fastest century scored in an ODI, reaching 100 in just 31 balls in a 2015 match against the West Indies.
Hashim Amla
Hashim is known for his elegant playing style and calm demeanour.
He became the first South African to score a triple century in Test cricket and holds the record for the highest individual score by a South African in Tests.
Makhaya Ntini
Makhaya broke many barriers and became one of South Africa’s best opening bowlers.
He was the first South African to take 10 wickets in a match at Lord’s in London, and his name was added to the famous Lord’s Honours Boards for this incredible achievement.
Makhaya helped the Proteas to many memorable victories, and made a significant contribution to the team's success in international cricket. Over his career he took 390 wickets in 101 Test matches.
Dale Steyn
Dale was a consistent wicket-taker for the Proteas. He is known for his incredible pace and ability to generate swing and seam movement. Dale was capable of bowling at speeds in excess of 150 km/h, and earned nicknames like "The Phalaborwa Express and "The Steyn remover". His fastest ball bowled reached a speed of 156.7 km/h!
He is South Africa's all-time leading Test wicket-taker with more than 400 Test wickets to his name.
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis is one of the greatest all-rounders in cricketing history, known for his consistent performance with both bat and ball.
He scored over 10 000 runs in ODIs and both Test matches, and took more than 270 ODI wickets and 290 Test wickets.
Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock was a great all-rounder, who provided South Africa with a combination of brilliant medium-fast bowling and skilful lower-order batting.
He had incredible bowling accuracy and the ability to swing the ball both ways, and played a crucial role in both ODIs and Test matches. In 2007 he became the first South African to take 400 Test wickets.
Shaun captained the Proteas for many years and remains a respected figure in the cricketing world for his dedication, leadership, and sportsmanship.
Of course it would be impossible to mention every skilled cricketer out there, but we hope this has inspired you to pursue your passion for cricket and learn some more about the greats who have gone before.
Which up-and-coming cricket players do you think will have their names echoed through history?
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