Garfield Sobers

When Garfield Sobers first played for the West Indies in 1954, he was a shy left-arm spinner batting down the order who seemed destined for a solid but unremarkable career. Within a decade he had become the most complete cricketer the game has seen: a devastating stroke-maker who could take apart any attack, a bowler who could open with pace or switch to spin, and a brilliant close fielder.

His 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958 stood as the highest Test score for 36 years, but the numbers only hint at his range. Sobers could hook, drive and cut at will, adapt his bowling to any pitch, and had the nerve to attack when the situation demanded caution. He captained the West Indies for much of the late 1960s with typical flair, though results were mixed. He played his last Test in 1974, having scored 8,032 Test runs and taken 235 wickets, and was knighted the following year. He left a template for the all-rounder that no one has matched since.