Last week I suggested England’s ben Stokes was close to overtaking Jason Holder as the number one allrounder in the world, despite Holder’s heroics in the first #raisethebat Series Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
This week Stokes confirmed my suspicions.
Stokes scored a couple of 40-odds and took 4-49 and 2-39, the most wickets for England, in that first Test, but still, Holder’s six-for put him ahead, even though the latter had a very ordinary outing with the bat.
I have consistently thought Stokes, over the course of his career, displays the better all-round ability, though Holder clearly wins in the bowling department.
I have always felt that an allrounder on the biggest stage in cricket is not just someone who is ok in all areas. These are professional cricketers and by and large, they’ll be ok at anything they do.
But an allrounder, I believe, to be classified as such, should be excellent in all areas.
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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
Well the writer of this article has his bar set too high, IMO Holder is the all-rounder for the WI team, that's what the writer's critique should be base on, Stokes is the English version of Holder, who at the moment is having a great series.
TriniD addressed dis earlier dis week. TriniD called Holder ah SmALLrounder, primarily because he comes up small wid de bat too often. But embedded in TriniD's definition is de word "Allrounder" which Holder definitely is.
Anyone who can score a double in Test cricket against a formidable attack is a batsman. Holder just needs to live up tuh dat end of de bargain some more.
In reply to Trinidave
These Johnny come latelies.
Stokes only recently moved up the batting order and his batting average is still high thirties. 6 points above Holder
On the other hand Holder has a 6 point advantage in bowling.
Therefore if Holder is left out because of his batting the Stokes is left out as a bowler.
In reply to FuzzyWuzzy
I resent the fact that the writer feels the need to denigrate Holder in order to praise Stokes.It seems to me that this phenomenon is quite common these days and we saw it after the first test.People seem to think that it is a zero sum game.In order to praise somebody you have to denigrate their rivals.
Having said that,Stokes in his last 14 test matches has scored 1,374 runs at an average of 62 with 4 centuries and 6 half centuries.
In reply to Dukes
With 17 drop chances. 
In reply to natty_forever
With 17 drop chances
TriniD posted about dat too.
I guess Botham was not an All Rounder as well with his batting stats
In reply to Dukes
By the author's own explanation of who is an All Rounder(excell at all forms)Sobers is the only All Rounder ever
Both are excellent all rounders....Holder as Captain of the team ...played several match turning innings...century against England saving the match one instance... writer compares with his prejudged mind....under different coaches Holder's performance has varied...same for Strokes...may be frequent changing of coaches has impacted his role as batter in the team... Holder has looked clueless with bat in this series..he has chance to redeem in the 3rd test..
