LISTICLE
Follow UsClose your eyes, and think about Kieron Pollard.
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? A globetrotter? A champion? A T20 specialist?
But what if we tell you that he has a stellar first-class record? Shocking, right? Get ready to get your minds blown, for we have curated a list of such cricketers.
Colin Munro – 48 matches, 3,611 runs, average 51.58, SR 98.79
With 18 franchises and all the cricketing continents covered, Colin Munro is truly a certified globetrotter, with 428 appearances in the shortest format.
While he certainly has an amazing record (10,961 runs) in all T20s, his first-class record is equally fascinating. Across 48 first-class appearances, the South Africa-born cricketer has a record of 3,611 runs, averaging a staggering 51.58, with a strike rate of 98.79.
His proven record also includes 13 hundreds and 15 half-centuries, which also has two double centuries.
P.S. Munro smashed 23 sixes in his record knock of 281 (167), which to date remains the second-most sixes scored in a single first-class innings.
James Faulkner – 63 matches, 2,566 runs, average 30.91; 192 wickets @ 24.78
Think about James Faulkner, and the first thought that would come to your mind is either his back-of-a-hand slower ball or his hard-hitting batsmanship down the order. But during this entire while, did you think of his performance in red-ball cricket?
Faulkner has played one Test, but his first-class record is quite astonishing. The now 34-year-old scored 2,566 runs, averaging 30.91, with two centuries and 15 half-centuries. While his batting record is quite decent, his bowling numbers are exactly what makes it surprising.
With the ball, the left-arm pacer has picked up 192 first-class wickets, which include seven four-wicket hauls and five five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5/56 against the domestic behemoths Victoria. All of this, while averaging 24.78, his record might definitely come as a shock for you.
Chris Lynn - 41 matches, 2,743 runs, 43.53 average
Chris Lynn is perhaps the quintessential T20 globetrotter that could ever be, and to imagine him on this list is definitely surprising.
Lynn has represented Queensland in 38 matches, scoring 2,546 runs, averaging 42.43, 11 half-centuries, and five hundreds. What makes his career unique is that his BPB (12.5) is amongst the top 10 batters in Australia at the first-class level.
Imagine walking out to bat in the fourth over of an innings and smashing a 250 off just 329 deliveries. That’s exactly what Lynn did, with a strike rate of 75.99, smashing 31 boundaries in total during his long stay at the crease.
Kieron Pollard – 27 matches, 1,584 runs, 37.71 average; 14 wickets, 31.14 average
You can look at any T20 record, and there is a good chance that you will find Kieron Pollard’s name on it. He’s as big as the T20 format in itself.
But to imagine him in a white jersey and playing red-ball cricket? Imagination drives you crazy, doesn’t it? Pollard hasn’t played a lot of first-class matches (27, to be precise), but even in that small sample size, he has shown his red-ball prowess.
The West Indian all-rounder has scored four centuries, including a high score of 174. With the ball as well, Pollard, with his dibbly-dobbly, has picked up 14 wickets.
Rilee Rossouw – 108 matches, 7,363 runs, 40.90 average, 19 100s, 33 50s
This list is getting weirder, isn’t it?
351 T20 appearances. That’s how much Rilee Rossouw has played cricket all over the globe. What is astonishing is that the left-hander has quite a stellar record in red-ball cricket, representing the Knights.
Across 108 matches, the Proteas batter has amassed 7,363 runs, with a staggering average of 40.90, and smashing 19 centuries in total.
Fun Fact: Rossouw is one of the rare few players to have scored a domestic triple-century, 319, the second-highest score in South Africa.
Tabraiz Shamsi – 84 matches, 334 wickets, 26.52 average
Tabraiz Shamsi, what’s your first thought?
Crazy celebrations? T20 carnival? Party? That’s exactly what Shamsi is known for.
But did you know that the left-arm wrist spinner has picked up 334 wickets and averaged 26.52? It doesn’t end there—wait!!! He has 12 four-wicket hauls in first-class cricket, 22 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls.
Wait, let me tell you one more thing. He has best figures of 8/32, with a strike rate of 45.8. Awesome, isn’t it?
Did you even imagine that these T20 superstars would have such a stellar record?!
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