7 Current Cricketers Who Fit All Three Formats
A remarkable accomplishment is rare, yet some players have done just that and more.
Heinrich Klaasen stands out for his extraordinary white-ball hitting, yet placing an inexperienced player this high may prove controversial.
Jonny Bairstow
Though he has endured some difficulties with Test cricket, Bairstow remains an integral member of England’s middle order and an effective T20i opener. A promising all-round sportsman as a child (even having trials with Leeds United as a right back), cricket eventually became his passion, and he followed in his father’s footsteps by signing a full-time contract with Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Bairstow’s struggles in Test cricket can be traced to his technique. His strong bottom-handed grip, which was so effective against white ball cricket, often leaves a gap between bat and pad, allowing bowlers to catch him off guard. However, according to CricViz senior analyst Freddie Wilde, Bairstow has adjusted to this format well, showing the ability to make the transition successfully.
As with Joe Root and Jos Buttler, he shows no intention to abandon international formats and remains a key figure across three international arenas. Additionally, his fielding capabilities were evident during Tuesday’s second Test match at Headingley, where he caught Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara off a Kemar Roach delivery to catch him off an Indian bowler, making a catch off Kemar Roach that stood him up as proof.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav – known to his fans as ‘Kul-Cha’ – has caused mayhem across formats since debuting for India in 2017. Renowned for his deadly wrist spin abilities that allow him to turn both ways while using lethal googlies to deceive batsmen, this Kanpur native is one of cricket’s most dangerous bowlers.
He has already amassed three ODI hat-tricks and is the only player to take two different bowlers on for two separate hat-tricks (Yuzvendra Chahal was the other). Additionally, he boasts six five-wicket hauls in Test cricket and an average of 14.1 in Twenty20 internationals.
Left-arm chinaman bowlers are rare in cricket and take time to master. But Jadeja has quickly developed his game into one of the best worldwide and is unquestionably one of this generation’s finest wrist spinners. After being released from Kolkata Knight Riders during his initial IPL season, Jadeja returned stronger and is now an important member of India’s squad.
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has established himself as India’s go-to spin bowler across all formats. Though there have been concerns regarding his test credentials, Jadeja is convinced he belongs in longer formats such as test cricket – something his performance against Australia proved.
He made his ODI debut in 2009 and soon started to impress. His left-arm orthodox spin and athletic fielding skills ensured he always got priority over other spinners.
Time proved his bowling to be better, and since then, he has taken over 200 wickets in one-day internationals (ODIs). His batting prowess also made him a regular feature on ODI squads.
However, Jadeja found his niche in Test cricket and has flourished ever since. His combination of left-arm spin and powerful batting down the order has been essential for India’s success in the longest format—something Jadeja is clearly relishing, as evidenced by his staggering batting average and bowling figures in Tests. He’s truly been an effective match-winner!
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya began his cricketing career while living with his brother Krunal in a one-room apartment in a middle-class neighbourhood of Vadodara. However, Himanshu ensured both boys were enrolled into former Indian cricketer Kiran More’s academy at the IPCL sports complex ground within the city.
Hardik emerged in his 20s as an established senior player, earning high praise for his leadership qualities and open-minded approach to players he believed in. He created a team environment characterized by trust between teammates, and many were drawn to him because of this.
However, his cricketing abilities were what most drew attention. He is an impressive pinch hitter who can turn games in favour of underdogs in the final innings.
He can bowl an accurate length and is an exciting fielder. He exemplifies modern-day batsmanship and stands as India’s closest seam-bowling all-rounder since Kapil Dev and Irfan Pathan; should he remain injury-free, he could become India’s mainstay across all three play formats.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as one of the premier all-format bowlers of this generation since debuting in 2016. From day one, his unique run-up, skilful yorkers and clever slower balls captured everyone’s attention – becoming an instantaneous showstopper in limited overs cricket and even dominating Test matches.
He is one of pace bowling’s foremost chameleons, adept at seamlessly switching between seam and swing bowling styles. He is also a master of full-length deliveries and slow googlies designed to trick batsmen.
Bumrah’s wicket-taking abilities have been complemented by his exceptional economy rate—conceding fewer runs per over than Boult, Rabada, and Mohammed Shami—and he is one of few bowlers with good records against right-handed batsmen as well as lefties, although this may have been enhanced due to facing weaker batting lineups.
Bumrah is an all-round bowler who excels in all three formats – T20, ODI and Test cricket – with his ability to dominate batters. As such, cricketing authorities worldwide consider him a master all-format bowler. He holds several world rankings for T20 bowling and is India’s pace battery leader.
Heinrich Klaasen
South African six-hitter Klaasen has quickly established himself as a key performer in white-ball cricket and was at his most dominant against England with his stunning 61-ball century in 2023. Klaasen’s power-hitting ability is highlighted by his strike rate, which is among the highest for batters who have scored over 500 runs over the past 12 months. He is also an outstanding spin cricket performer with an incredible strike rate and average against slow bowlers.
Heinrich Klaasen is an impressive example of how one player can contribute across all three formats. A versatile middle-order batsman with exceptional glovework, Heinrich has become an indispensable fixture of modern white-ball cricket.
Klaasen may have only played four Tests so far, yet his 104-run score shows just what an exciting talent he is at 32 years old. After de Kock retired earlier this year from Test cricket, Klaasen will likely replace Quinton de Kock as South Africa’s regular wicket-keeper at the 2024 World Cup. He also contributes regularly in domestic T20 competitions like the South African Red Hawks’ Indian Premier League campaign.
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Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah stands out as an outstanding bowler due to his wide array of pitches, including slow balls and lethal yorkers, and exquisite control across all formats of cricket, which has led him to become India’s go-to bowler in all formats.
He first rose to prominence while playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. His death-bowling skills caught the attention of national selectors and earned him selection for India’s team at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, where he made an impressionful mark as India’s top-order bowler.
Since then, he has established himself as the leader of an outstanding Indian pace battery and Test bowling maestro. Few bowlers can match his versatility on both ends in Tests. He is not just effective against right-handed batsmen—his average and economy rates among seamers against both are unparalleled. He is truly an extraordinary talent for modern cricket!
