By Debi Mohanty*
As the fifth and final Test of the India-England series looms at The Oval on July 31, 2025, all eyes turn to the all-rounders who could tilt the scales in this decisive clash for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With England leading 2-1 after India’s gritty draw in Manchester, where Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s centuries defied Ben Stokes’ 141 and 5/72, the stage is set for these versatile warriors to shape the outcome. Stokes, battling shoulder strain, and Jadeja, a spin-bowling linchpin, embody their teams’ fight, while Joe Root’s crafty spin and Washington’s emerging prowess add depth. The Oval’s pace-friendly pitch, coupled with a tight three-day turnaround and India’s injury woes—Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy are sidelined—elevate the all-rounders’ burden to bat long, break partnerships, and seize momentum in this high-stakes finale.
Through the first four Tests of the 2025 series, Indian and English all-rounders have left indelible marks. India’s Ravindra Jadeja (84 Tests, 3,824 runs, 5 centuries, 26 fifties, 330 wickets) has been a colossus, scoring 253 runs (including 107* in Manchester) and taking 14 wickets (notably 5/41 in Rajkot). Washington Sundar (8 Tests, 379 runs, 1 century, 22 wickets) shone with 101* and 2 wickets in Manchester, cementing his clutch credentials. England’s Ben Stokes (115 Tests, 7,032 runs, 230 wickets) delivered 293 runs (141 in Manchester) and 12 wickets (5/72 in Manchester), his captaincy driving England’s edge. Joe Root (162 Tests, 13,848 runs, 73 wickets), often unsung as an all-rounder, amassed 389 runs (150 in Manchester) and 4 wickets, his spin vital at Lord’s. Chris Woakes (59 Tests, 2,093 runs, 180 wickets) added 84 runs and 7 wickets, including two in Manchester’s first over, while rookie Jacob Bethell (4 Tests, 187 runs, 3 wickets) chipped in with 62 runs. These figures underscore their series-defining roles as The Oval beckons.
While these all-rounders shape the series’ climax, their performances echo a broader legacy of Test cricket’s versatile heroes, weaving a global tapestry of skill and spirit. Test cricket’s lifeblood in 2025 flows through its all-rounders, whose grit, flair, and charisma craft vivid tales across the 12 Test-playing nations, their stories anchored in annals of cricketing legends. England’s Ben Stokes and India’s Ravindra Jadeja ignite this saga with a rivalry that burns fiercely, framing the heroics of active all-rounders from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Each forges a distinct path, their characters echoing their nation’s legends like Ian Botham and Kapil Dev, with a nod to timeless icons like Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis.
Stokes, England’s fiery captain, turns chaos into brilliance. In Manchester 2025, his 141, laced with 16 fours and two sixes, drove England to 669, while his 5/72, dismissing Shubman Gill, left India at 1/2. Jadeja, India’s steely tactician, answered with a match-saving 107*, partnering Washington Sundar’s 101* for an unbroken 203-run stand, rejecting Stokes’ draw offer to secure a draw and keep the series at 2-1.
On the field, Stokes’ fire sparks unforgettable moments. In Hyderabad 2024, after India amassed 436, Stokes countered Mohammed Siraj’s fiery bouncers with a taunt, flicking a six off Kuldeep Yadav to anchor England’s 420, his defiance mirroring Botham’s verbal duels. Root, quieter but sharp, quipped to Rory Burns before Lord’s 2025, “Mate, you’re making my spin look like Warne!”, easing tension before England’s 22-run win, a nod to Flintoff’s banter.
In Hyderabad 2024, after India amassed 436, Jadeja’s 87 and 5 wickets, including Joe Root, clinched a 28-run win over Stokes’ gritty 70, bowled for 6 by retired great Ravichandran Ashwin. In Rajkot 2024, Jadeja’s 112 and 5/41 crushed Stokes’ 41, sealing a 434-run rout. At Lord’s 2025, Stokes’ 77, five wickets, and a run-out of Rishabh Pant outdid Jadeja’s 72 and 61*—a rare dual 50+ feat at Lord’s, echoing Vinoo Mankad —securing a 22-run thriller. Stokes, active with 7,032 runs and 230 wickets, carries Botham’s 1981 Ashes defiance, while Jadeja, active with 3,824 runs, 5 centuries, 26 fifties, and 330 Test Cricket wickets, evokes Kapil’s 1983 World Cup resolve.
India’s active depth in Test Cricket shines with Washington Sundar, a composed talent, whose 101* in Manchester 2025 and 7/59 in Kanpur 2024 against New Zealand recall Kapil’s clutch moments. Australia’s Cameron Green, a calm anchor, steadied Adelaide 2023 with 74* against Pakistan’s reverse swing, his poise mirroring Keith Miller’s versatility. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz, a spirited optimist, ignited Rawalpindi 2024 with 5/61 and 81, toppling Pakistan in a manner akin to retired Shakib Al Hasan’s flair. South Africa boasts two active stars. Wiaan Mulder, a steady workhorse, grafted 54 and 3/36 in Centurion 2024 against Sri Lanka, evoking Shaun Pollock’s reliability. Marco Jansen, a fiery enforcer, unleashed 7/13 in Durban 2024 against Bangladesh, his aggression recalling Allan Donald’s intensity. West Indies’ Jason Holder, a stoic pillar, stood tall in Bridgetown 2019 with 202* and 5/56 against England, his pride mirroring Frank Worrell’s leadership. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, a resolute battler, carved three centuries (108, 190, 62*) in England 2022, his tenacity echoing Richard Hadlee’s grit. Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, often erroneously called Agha Salman, active and strategic, anchored Karachi 2023 with 82 and 3/75 against New Zealand, his calm evoking Imran Khan’s tactical mind. Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva, active and graceful, chased 342 in Galle 2022 with 122 and 82 against Pakistan, his artistry recalling Mahela Jayawardene’s elegance. Ireland’s Mark Adair, active and tenacious, toiled in Galle 2023, taking 2/148 against Sri Lanka’s 704/3 on a spin-heavy pitch, his effort echoing Andy Bichel’s resilience. Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, active and passionate, roared in Bulawayo 2023 with 127 and 4/82 against the West Indies, his defiance mirroring Andy Flower’s fight. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, an active rookie, debuted in Colombo 2024 with 33* and 27 against Sri Lanka, his courage recalling Abdul Razzaq’s boldness. England’s Joe Root, active and often unsung as an all-rounder, pairs elegant batting with crafty spin, his 150 in Manchester 2025 and 3/77 in Ranchi 2024 evoking Andrew Flintoff’s versatility.
Current all-rounders bring distinct styles and records to Test cricket, their approaches shaping their nations’ fortunes. Stokes, with 7,032 runs and 230 wickets, plays with aggressive flair, charging at bowlers and swinging momentum, as seen in Manchester 2025, his leadership akin to a battlefield general. Jadeja, with 3,824 runs and 330 wickets, blends precision spin with gritty batting, his 5/41 in Rajkot 2024 showcasing surgical control. Mehidy, with 2,742 runs and 205 wickets, balances versatility with optimism, his Rawalpindi 2024 heroics turning games. Holder’s 2,926 runs and 160 wickets reflect stoic consistency, his Bridgetown 2019 double-century a testament to endurance. Green’s 1,377 runs and 35 wickets exude calm resilience, while Jansen’s 1,139 runs and 103 wickets unleash raw pace. Dhananjaya’s 3,926 runs and 47 wickets weave elegant strokeplay, and Raza’s 1,659 runs and 47 wickets embody passionate defiance. Sundar, Mitchell, Salman, Adair, and Omarzai, though varied in experience, contribute clutch moments, their records cementing their impact, from Kanpur to Galle.
Retired legends leave vibrant legacies. Ian Botham, England’s 1993-retired swashbuckler, trekked 160 miles across Sri Lanka’s jungles in 2010 with elephants, raising over £1 million for leukaemia research, a cause he championed for decades, his bold spirit inspiring Stokes. Kapil Dev, India’s 1994-retired icon, took to golf, winning the 2019 Chandigarh Golf Open, his competitive edge mirroring Jadeja’s tenacity. Ashwin, retired in December 2024 with 537 wickets and 3,503 runs, including 6 centuries, left a mark with his 2024 Chennai feat (113, 5/51 vs. Bangladesh). Shakib, retired from Test Cricket in October 2024 with 4,505 runs and 246 wickets, set a benchmark with his 2017 heroics (101, 5/68 vs. New Zealand).
These tales, from Botham’s charitable treks to Kapil’s fairway triumphs, show how all-rounders’ spirits endure. Off the field, Holder lights up Barbados’ Crop Over festival, leading calypso parades in a swirl of feathers, his energy echoing Worrell’s charisma. Raza runs 2025 Harare cricket clinics for youth, per Cricbuzz, his generosity recalling Flower’s commitment. Mehidy celebrated Rawalpindi 2024 by dancing with Dhaka fans, per a 2024 Cricbuzz video, evoking Shak-dancing with Dhaka fans, evoking Shakib’s flair. Green unwinds by sketching landscapes, his 2025 Adelaide Hills drawings noted in a Sydney Morning Herald feature, reflecting Miller’s artistic streak.
From Stokes and Jadeja’s Manchester standoff to Adair’s Galle struggle, active all-rounders—each Test Cricket playing nation boasting at least one—craft a vibrant tapestry. Their characters, from Holder’s stoicism to Raza’s passion, carry their country’s heritage, ensuring Test cricket’s soul thrives, rooted in the fire of Botham, Kapil, and their ilk, with a nod to Sobers and Kallis.
*Senior journalist
