Shaun Pollock Chases Kapil Dev

By Gaurang - July 31, '03
July 31 2003

Of the current crop of genuine all-rounders in the world, and there are surprisingly few around, Shaun Pollock is the one who will end up with a record that will put him in the company of the all-time greats.

At age 30, with just 11 more wickets to get to 300 Test wickets and 400-odd runs to reach 3000 Test runs after 71 Tests, South Africa's Shaun Pollock is the only candidate in with a chance of joining Kapil Dev on top of the All-Rounder's Mt. Kailas (or shall we say Mt. Kapil) of 4000 runs and 400 wickets in Tests.

His amazing bowling average of just 20 runs per wicket is better than most pure bowlers who are reckoned to be all time greats!

Add to that his batting prowess with a total 2507 runs at a respectable average of 34, which would have been higher had he played higher up in the batting order.

But unfortunately for him, although not necessarily his team, South Africa has during his career produced some great all-rounders like Brian McMillan, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener, and he has been content to bat at number 8 and below.

The 3000 Test runs + 300 Test wickets trio of Imran, Hadlee and Botham will soon enough welcome a new member.

Clearly, if there is any current allrounder who is threatening to join the ranks of the great all-rounders it is Shaun McLean Pollock.

Shaun Pollock's Test statistics