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Who is the GOAT of Cricket? Greatest of All Time Players List

Ashish

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Who is the GOAT of Cricket
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Cricket is the most popular sport in the country. This fantastic game has given the nation major entertainment and great moments of pride. Along with the format of the sport, it is the players who make any game popular.

Officially, 108 countries play International cricket, and various players emerge as legends repeatedly. The marvellous Sir Don Bradman, the God of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar, the deadly Michael Holding, Shane Warne, Sanath Jayasuriya, Virat Kohli, and so on have blessed this incredible sport with excitement and intriguing news. 

There is an extensive list of such players; however, some have surpassed others at various points. Let us try to find players who have created an inevitable impact worldwide to become the GOAT of Cricket.

What does GOAT stand for?

The term GOAT short, for Greatest Of All Time is widely recognised as a way to highlight the skill and expertise of an individual, in their field. Originally associated with sports it has now expanded to acknowledge anyone who is regarded as the best performer in their craft.

Who is the GOAT of Cricket?

The term ‘Greatest Of All Time’ (GOAT) is not limited to one cricketer because there are many areas to consider like batting, bowling, all-rounder and wicketkeeping. Among other contenders, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Shane Warne, Sir Vivian Richards and many more, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar tops the list as the best cricket player ever.

Where did GOAT come from?

Although it’s not clear where the GOAT acronym originated from, this term became widespread around the late 90s and early 2000s. The term “GOAT” was usually used to refer to athletes and sportspersons who were considered the topmost in their various games.

GOAT, as an acronym used in sports, helps to identify and give due respect to those players who have shattered all records and dominated their respective fields. Some examples of the GOATs in sports are  Sachin Tendulkar (India), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Shane Warne (Australia), Sir Viv Richards (Windies), Jimmy Anderson (England) and Virat Kohli (India.) Though there are many more names that could be added.

What are the Criteria for Cricketers to be Regarded as GOAT?

A cricketer must have impeccable field records to be regarded as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT). Their impact on their team must also be important, like the player enabling his team to win important matches, series, or tournaments.

Additionally, their overall contribution to the game is also evaluated. It simply means that the player should have contributed substantially to the game’s fandom or that he has inspired future generations to think of cricket as their full-time profession.

To summarise, statistical and impactful criteria are very important for a player to pass to be known as the greatest of all time. However, the one that can be weighed properly and accurately to consider the answer to the GOAT question is the statistical one.

Statistical Milestones and Records of GOAT Cricket Players

Why is the statistical measure considered to be the most apt one? Well, the answer is pretty simple and straightforward. Statistical records provide a concise and clear insight into the player’s performance and how valuable their contributions have been to the team.

The table below highlights the number of centuries scored by some of the greatest batsmen in cricket history:

PlayersTest CenturiesT20I CenturiesODI Centuries
Sir Don Bradman29NilNil
Sachin Tendulkar51Nil49
Sir Vivian Richards24Nil11
Sir Garfield Sobers26NilNil
Virat Kohli29150

Related Read: Highest Score in Test Cricket

Top Cricket’s Greatest Players of All Time – GOAT

1. Sir Don Bradman: Scoring Machine

Sir Don Bradman is an icon when it comes to cricket. His stunning batting average of 99.4 in test matches remains unmatched, making him one of the best. He could still rightly be described as embodying domination in the mound, as his batting reign of the 1930s and 40s is remembered.

Technique, footwork, accuracy, and consistent big scores make Bradman one of the ‘Greats Of All Time’.

2. Sachin Tendulkar: Master Blaster

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is known as the God of Cricket for his unbelievable records and impeccable contribution to the game. Tendulkar’s glorious career lasted nearly twenty-four years, during which time he scored 100 centuries in international cricket. Indian audiences also lovingly refer to Tendulkar as the Cricket God.

This makes a case for Sachin Tendulkar to be considered a serious contender in the GOAT debate! After all, his elegant stroke play and ability to do so well in all formats will surely be honoured.  

3. Sir Vivian Richards: The Dominator

Sir Vivian Richards, one of the best-ever batters in the West Indies and the whole cricket world, destroyed traditional batting methods and played fearlessly. His assertive dominance over the bowlers was truly unmatched, and his charismatic presence on the field was an added bonus. He caused a disruption in the game during the 1970s and 1980s, and he, indeed, is one of the GOATs.

4. Sir Garfield Sobers: The Complete Cricketer

Garfield Sobers, or Sir Gar as he is commonly known in the cricket world, is rated as one of the greatest all-round cricketers ever. He was a good batsman, bowler, and brilliant fielder.

His two favourite things to do were showing versatility and breaking records on the field. Thus, he is an influential candidate for the GOAT title. His brilliant play laid the foundation for emulation in future generations.

5. Virat Kohli: A Militant for the Modern Maestro

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli greatly influences contemporary cricket due to his outstanding batting performance. About accuracy, fitness, determination, and records, Kohli has been likened to the other legends, and rightfully so.

Undoubtedly, VK’s play has inspired the young generation, and this indeed deserves brownie points. Hence, thanks to his impact on Indian and global cricket and statistics, he is one of the GOAT contenders.

Also Read: Top 9 World Best Cricket Captains in the World

Who is the Current GOAT of Cricket?

In the rightful fashion, Virat Kohli is the current contender for the honour. His game has been unmatched in the past few years, and how he has shattered records and even created new ones is truly exceptional. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, he scored his 50th International century.

In comparison, Tendulkar took 24 years and 664 international matches across the three formats to reach 100 international centuries, and VK already has over 75 centuries in 15 years and nearly 517 appearances. After winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, he retired from the shortest format of the game.

Virat Kohli’s achievements have led many to consider him as the GOAT. His impressive statistics, including a high batting average and numerous centuries, speak volumes about his skill and consistency. Kohli’s leadership qualities and match-winning performances under pressure further bolster his case.

Also Read: What is a Dot Ball in Cricket?

GOAT Bowlers Ever in Cricket

There have been a great number of bowlers who have had lethal spells that destroyed the opposition regardless of the match situation. And here is where the greatest cricketer bowler comes into play; they are those whose contributions to their teams have consistently kept them ahead in the game by preventing batters from hammering runs at them independently and taking wickets repeatedly.

Some Indian bowlers too have earned themselves this title including the young Indian Jasprit Bumrah, probably one of the most feared modern-day fast bowlers.

Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka, Shane Warne from Australia and James Anderson from England are considered some of the greatest bowlers or GOATs (Greatest Of All Time) in cricket history with 1357, 1001 and 977 dismissals respectively across all forms of cricket.

Muttiah Muralitharan is a bowler who has taken most wickets in the longer formats of the game, Tests and ODIs and was known for his unorthodox bowling style and tricky spin. 

Shane Warne on the other hand, an Australian veteran bowler was termed as a master of variations as he kept the batsmen guessing every ball.

Arguably no definitive answer can be given to this question but Muttiah Muralitharan remains one of cricket’s greatest players ever because of having the most number of dismissals worldwide.

GOAT All-Rounders in Cricket’s History

With the evolving nature of the game, the demand for all-rounders has increased as they are the players who can add value to the team with both the bat and the ball. 

There have been several players from gone eras who have helped their team maintain a lead whilst dominating both sides in each inning.

These guys can attack opposing bowlers with runs while also wreaking havoc on batting lineups during the opposite turn.

Ever since cricket began, there have been a number of all-rounders who could be described as the greatest of all time. Kapil Dev made his mark in the 80s, Imran Khan in the 90s, and Sanath Jayasuriya and Jacques Kallis were other players who had their moments of being the GOAT at different times.

The role that all-rounders play in modern-day cricket is ever-changing with Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ben Stokes and Glenn Maxwell having become indispensable to their teams.

This means that the all-rounders always aim to keep their side ahead while also making worthwhile contributions in every inning.

Certainly, this has to be veteran South African cricketer Jacques Kallis – he is the GOAT of all-rounders. He has netted around 25000 runs across formats during his career and grabbed 550 wickets.

Greatest of all Times (GOAT) Wicket-Keepers in Cricket History

They have been instrumental to team performance on the field by quickly dismissing batters with lightning speed behind wickets.

The role of a wicket-keeper is not just restricted to keeping the wickets and dismissing the batters but also revolves around helping the captain to set the field positions, make strategic decisions, hold the batting order together with their attacking batting and taking the DRS call while closely examining the position of the batsmen and the length and impact of the delivery.

When it comes to GOAT wicket-keepers, only a few names pop into the minds of cricket fans with the primary being that of India’s most successful captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has shattered all records of registering dismissals with his lightning-fast hands. 

Even though South Africa’s Mark Boucher (998 dismissals) and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist (905 dismissals) have registered more dismissals than Dhoni (829 dismissals) in international cricket, the latter remains the top qualifier for the acronym of a GOAT wicket-keeper in the history of the sport. 

Dhoni remains the GOAT of his field simply because of his ability to thrash the bowlers during the death overs and perform the role of a perfect finisher while being the mastermind of the game and making the highly valuable strategic decisions that help the team to seal the victory in the games.

In the world of cricket the term GOAT, which stands for Greatest Of All Time covers a range of skills such as batting, bowling, round performance and wicketkeeping. While Sachin Tendulkar is often considered the player, individuals like Shane Warne, Jacques Kallis and MS Dhoni are hailed as GOATs in their specific areas of expertise. Each of them has set standards and made a significant impact on the sport. The debate, on who deserves the title of GOAT continues, but these legendary players collectively embody the highest level of cricketing excellence.

Also Read: Who is The King of Cricket?

Conclusion

The debate over the GOAT of cricket is subjective and depends on individual opinions that a person holds of every player. A fan could be emotionally attached to the player and would regard them as the best out there. On the other hand, another fan could simply base their decision on statistics.

Each contender has strengths that he has gained over the course of his career. Don Bradman has the highest scoring rate, followed by the establishments made by centurion Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers’ multidimensional skills, and modern great Virat Kohli, all form strong cases.

Who is the GOAT will always be an issue of consensus each time new talents are produced, each with his twist to the game. Thus, as cricket lovers, we can cherish the great names and splendid paths the game has shown us.

FAQs

Players such as Indian Captain Rohit Sharma are still active. Because of their extraordinary records and dedication to the sport, they are equally eligible to be crowned GOAT in 2024.

The question is more or less rhetorical since it would be difficult to come up with a definitive answer because of the subjectivity of the question. Even though Kohli has good scores and stable results, the title of the true GOAT comprises individual discretion.

We recognise the GOAT in cricket but must define it to understand it fully. In cricket, the meaning of GOAT is Greatest Of All Time.

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About the author

Ashish

Ashish has over 5 years of content writing experience. He was fond of playing online games since childhood during that time, he developed his interest in writing about casinos and card games. In 2016, he chose to upscale his passion into a profession by joining a top-notch educational institute. Over the passing years, he stayed tuned to the gaming world, shaping his gaming knowledge into writing skills. At Fun88, he focuses on casino gaming content that empowers interested readers to navigate and optimize their gaming journey with confidence.