England’s Ben Stokes has announced that he will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the ongoing Test against New Zealand, bringing an end to one of the most remarkable careers the game has ever seen.
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Few cricketers have produced more unforgettable moments.
The Headingley miracle against Australia. The heroic 84 not out that inspired England to the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The match-winning fifty in the 2022 T20 World Cup final. The fearless “Bazball” era that transformed England’s Test team.
Stokes was a player built for the biggest occasions.
Yet as tributes pour in, one question inevitably resurfaces.
Where does Ben Stokes rank among cricket’s greatest all-rounders?
While Stokes deserves to be remembered as one of the finest all-rounders of the modern era, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis still has the strongest claim to being the greatest all-rounder, and arguably the greatest cricketer the sport has ever produced.
Stokes Was The Ultimate Match Winner
Statistics alone cannot fully explain Ben Stokes. He thrived under pressure in a way few players ever have.
His unbeaten 135 against Australia at Headingley in 2019 remains one of the greatest Test innings ever played. Weeks earlier, he had dragged England to their first-ever ODI World Cup title, earning Player of the Match in one of cricket’s most dramatic finals.
He also captained England through one of the country’s most entertaining periods of Test cricket, helping revive a struggling side alongside Brendon McCullum.
By the end of his career, Stokes had scored more than 10,000 international runs and taken over 300 international wickets, while becoming just the second player in Test history after Jacques Kallis to combine more than 7,000 Test runs with 250 Test wickets.
His legacy is unquestionable.
📈 Players with 7000 runs and 250 wickets in Test cricket:
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 26, 2026
🔘 Jacques Kallis
🔘 Ben Stokes
An incredible spell this morning from Ben Stokes to make history at Trent Bridge ❤️ pic.twitter.com/KF7U8exGwj
Then There Is Jacques Kallis
The problem for anyone trying to overtake Kallis is simple.
The numbers are almost impossible to comprehend.
Across his international career, Kallis scored:
- 13,289 Test runs at an average of 55.37
- 45 Test centuries
- 292 Test wickets
- 200 Test catches
In One Day Internationals, he added:
- 11,579 ODI runs
- 17 ODI centuries
- 273 ODI wickets
He remains the only player in cricket history to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 200 wickets in both Tests and One Day Internationals.
That achievement alone separates him from every other all-rounder.
Batting Like A Specialist
What made Kallis unique was that he was not simply a brilliant all-rounder.
He was one of the greatest batsmen ever.
His Test batting average of 55.37 is higher than legends including Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh.
If Kallis had never bowled a single delivery, he would still comfortably rank among the finest Test batters in history.
Very few all-rounders can make that claim.
Bowling Better Than Most Specialists
Then there is the bowling. Nearly 300 Test wickets and more than 500 international wickets.
He could swing the new ball, extract movement off the seam and deliver long, disciplined spells whenever South Africa needed a breakthrough.
Unlike many batting all-rounders, Kallis was frequently trusted with the ball and often dismissed the world’s best players.
He was not simply a useful fifth bowler; Kallis was a genuine frontline option.
Longevity Matters
Another factor that strengthens Kallis’ case is longevity.
He played 166 Test matches across nearly two decades while maintaining extraordinary standards throughout his career.
Producing elite numbers over five seasons is impressive.
Producing them over almost twenty years is almost unprecedented.
Few players in any sport have sustained excellence for as long as Kallis.
Stokes Had The Bigger Moments
This is where the debate becomes fascinating.
If you needed one player to win a World Cup final or rescue an impossible Test match, many would choose Ben Stokes. His career was defined by iconic moments, and his ability to perform when everything was on the line is almost unmatched.
That may well be his greatest legacy.
Kallis Had The Greater Career
However, when comparing complete careers, Kallis’ numbers become overwhelming.
More runs.
More centuries.
More wickets.
Higher batting average.
Longer career.
Greater consistency.
While Stokes built a reputation as cricket’s greatest clutch performer, Kallis spent almost two decades delivering world-class performances every single year.
Consistency is a form of greatness too.
"Jacques Kallis is the greatest cricketer that’s ever played. Full stop." – Ricky Ponting on The Howie Games podcast.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 4, 2025
Kallis' Test numbers are quite something 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nP8YRowjEy
Final Thoughts
Ben Stokes retires as an England legend, and one of the greatest all-rounders cricket has ever produced.
His impact on English cricket extends far beyond statistics, and his greatest performances will be replayed for generations.
But when the debate turns to the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, Jacques Kallis still stands alone.
In fact, there is a compelling argument that he is not just the greatest all-rounder the game has ever seen. He may well be the greatest cricketer of all time.
When a player scores more than 24,000 international runs, takes well over 500 wickets, averages above 55 in Test cricket and remains statistically unmatched nearly two decades after retiring, the numbers speak for themselves.
Some records are extraordinary.
Jacques Kallis’ career is almost beyond belief.
Lwanele is the Content Manager for BetJets News and has dedicated six years to creating top-notch sports betting content for major bookmakers, establishing himself as a trusted source for betting advice. As the resident tipster for TAB’s popular TV show Racing Today, he specialises in cricket, MMA, and soccer betting. Known for his keen analysis and practical tips, Lwanele provides BetJets readers with the tools they need to approach betting with confidence and strategy.
