The 1980s was the first era where cricket was seen as a sport more than between 2 countries that being England and Australia. The ODI Cricket World Cup was started in 1975 and it was the 1980s where the tournament got the recognition it deserved. The West Indies team was the best in the world. India was a rising power in cricket and the world. Pakistan was starting to see an influx of talent. Players such as Viv Richards, Allan Border, Malcolm Marshall, Kapil Dev were at the Top of their game.
Let’s look at the Top 10 Greatest Cricketers of the 1980s
1) Kapil Dev (India)
Kapil Dev was the best all round cricketer of the 1980s. Be it batting which was his secondary skill or bowling, he was excellent in both formats of cricket with both skills. Kapil Dev made 3353 runs in 80 Test Matches. He had an average of 30.76 with 5 Test hundreds. Kapil Dev also took a massive 272 Wickets in Test Cricket in this decade. He had 26 Five Wicket Hauls. Kapil Dev was exceptional in ODI Cricket as well. He scored 2869 runs in 143 Matches and that was the brilliant 175 that he made in the 1983 World Cup. Kapil Dev took 168 Wickets in 143 ODI Matches. He was a beast who made more than 6000 runs and took 440 wickets in international cricket. Do check here Best Innings of Kapil Dev
2) Viv Richards (West Indies)
It was a close call between Allan Border and Viv Richards. However the sheer impact of Viv Richards in ODI Cricket in the 1980s cannot be stated. He was different as in he single handedly won Matches for West Indies and the cricketing world looked in awe and the opposition teams would fear him. He made 5113 runs in 78 Test Matches. He had a strike rate of 71.25 in Test Cricket in the 1980s. He hit 15 hundreds and had an average of 49.16. In ODI Cricket, Viv Richards was a force of nature. He scored 5559 runs in 156 ODIs. He had an extraordinary strike rate of 91.61 and an average of 45.94. He hit 8 hundreds. Viv Richards made a total of more than 10600 runs in international cricket.
3) Allan Border (Australia)
The best batter from Australia in the 1980s. He was the leader of the Australian team and he won the 1987 World Cup. He played 97 Test Matches and he scored 7386 runs at an average of 55.11. He hit 20 hundreds. Allan Border made more than 1200 runs more than the second highest run getter in the 1980s. In ODI Cricket, Allan Border was equally proficient. He played 183 Matches and he made 4697 runs. He had an average of 31.95. Allan Border made a total of more than 12,000 international runs in the 1980s. Do read here Best Allan Border Innings
4) Imran Khan (Pakistan)
The 1980s was the era of the greatest all rounders to ever play the sport of cricket. Kapil Dev has already been talked out and it is the turn of Imran Khan. Imran Khan was the greatest cricketer that Pakistan has seen. Imran Khan played 54 Test Matches and he took 256 Test Wickets. He had an average of 19.12 while bowling. He took an amazing 18 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket. Imran Khan took 144 wickets in 124 Matches. He also made 2653 runs at an average of 33.58. Imran Khan took 400 international wickets in the 1980s.
5) Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
The first true bowler in this list. Malcolm Marshall had a truly incredible 1980s as a cricketer. He was the fast bowler that was feared around the world. He played 63 Test Matches and he took 323 Wickets which is more than 5 Wickets per Test Match. He had an average of 19.91. He took 22 Five Wicket Hauls and 4 times he took 10 Wickets in a Test Match. He also played in 109 ODI Matches. He took 135 Wickets. Malcolm Marshall took 458 Wickets in international cricket in the 1980s. Read here Best Malcolm Marshall bowling performances
6) Ian Botham (England)
The greatest England cricketer of the 1980s. He is also the third all rounder in this list. Sir Ian Botham took 258 Wickets in 75 Test Matches in the 1980s. He took 15 Five Wicket Hauls in the decade. Ian Botham scored 4051 runs in Test Cricket. He made 10 hundreds at an average of 33.75. He took 91 wickets in 75 ODI Matches. Therefore Sir Ian Botham took 349 Wickets in international cricket. He won the 1981 Ashes series for England almost single handedly. Check here Best Ian Botham Performances
7) Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
The fourth great all rounder of the 1980s is in this list. Sir Richard Hadlee is one of the greatest cricketers New Zealand has ever seen. He played 53 Test Matches in the 1980s. He took a mammoth 289 wickets at an average of 19.28. Sir Richard Hadlee took a mind blowing 28 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket In the decade. In ODI Cricket, he played 92 Matches and he took 133 Wickets. He had an average of 19.78 and he took 5 Five Wicket Hauls. Sir Richard Hadlee took 422 Wickets and 37 Five Wicket Hauls in international cricket. Also check out here Best Bowling Performances by Sir Richard Hadlee
8) Javed Miandad (Pakistan)
Javed Miandad was the most dependable batter for Pakistan in the 1980s. He was a character and he was a match winner for Pakistan. He played 76 Test Matches in the 1980s. He scored 5642 runs at a very good average of 54.77. He hit 16 Hundreds in Test Cricket. Javed Miandad was equally good in ODI Cricket. He made 5041 runs in 142 Matches. He had an average of 46.24 and he hit 6 hundreds in ODI Cricket. Javed Miandad made more than 10600 international runs in the 1980s. Here you can check Best Innings of Javed Miandad
9) Gordon Greenidge (West Indies)
The third player from West Indies that is in this list. The batters and bowlers from the West Indies were better than anyone on the planet. Gordon Greenidge was a star. He played 75 Test Matches and he scored 5094 runs. He had an average of 45.89. He hit 12 hundreds in Test Cricket. In ODI Cricket, Gordon Greenidge made 4205 runs from 98 Matches. He had an average of 47.78. He made 10 hundreds in ODI Cricket in the 1980s. Gordon Greenidge made more than 9300 runs and made 22 hundreds in international cricket.
10) Abdul Kadir (Pakistan)
The third player from Pakistan in this list and the first outright spinner in this list. This shows that the 1980s was not an era for spinners. Abdul Kadir stood out. He played 57 Test Matches and he took 216 wickets. He had an average of 32.31. He took 14 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket. Abdul Kadir took 131 wickets in ODI Cricket in 99 ODIs. He had an average of 25.07. Abdul Kadir took 347 international wickets in the 1980s.
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