Ravichandran Ashwin became the latest entrant in the club of players with 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent in Test cricket, achieving the feat against England. The unique double isn't as easy as it seems, with only seven players achieving the feat in the history of Test cricket.
Test cricket has produced some legendary all-rounders over the decades such as Imran Khan, Garry Sobers, Ian Botham, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Flintoff and many more. There have been only 17 all-rounders in Test cricket history who have scored 3000 runs and picked 200 wickets in their career.
The feat of 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent is even tougher to achieve. Given that Australia and England have played the sport for the longest time and the amount of Test cricket they play, it is no surprise that all seven of these instances have come against either Australia or England. Only two of these players have done the double while playing for a non-Ashes country.
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Players with 1000 runs and 100 wickets against a team in Test cricket
The first three players to have achieved the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent were from the time when there wasn't much international cricket apart from England and Australia. Check out the full list of players with 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent in Test cricket.
| Player | Runs | Average | Wickets | Average | Opponent |
| George Giffen | 1238 | 23.35 | 103 | 27.09 | England |
| Monty Noble | 1905 | 30.72 | 115 | 24.86 | England |
| Wilfred Rhodes | 1706 | 31.01 | 109 | 24.00 | Australia |
| Garry Sobers | 3214 | 60.64 | 102 | 32.52 | England |
| Ian Botham | 1673 | 29.35 | 148 | 27.65 | Australia |
| Stuart Broad | 1019 | 18.87 | 153 | 28.96 | Australia |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 1085 | 35.00 | 100 | 29.82 | England |
George Giffen
George Giffen was the first ever player to reach the double landmark of 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent. Giffen was from the earliest batch of cricketers, playing international cricket from 1881 to 1896. He had a prolific FC career where he played 251 matches and scored over 11000 runs while picking 1022 wickets.
The right arm medium pacer who could bat played 31 Tests for Australia in his career, all of which were against England. George Giffen snared 103 wickets at an average of 27.09 with seven five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he made 1238 runs at an average of 23.35. Giffen registered one century and six half centuries against England.
Monty Noble
Monty Noble had a long FC career but only played international cricket for 11 years between 1898 to 1909. His FC numbers were exceptional with nearly 14000 runs at 41 average and 624 wickets at 23.14 apiece.
During his Test career, Noble played 39 of his 42 Tests against England and three versus South Africa. He made 1905 runs against England at an average of 30.72, including a century and 15 half centuries. The right arm bowler took 115 wickets versus England at 24.86 apiece, with best match figures of 13/77.
Wilfred Rhodes
Wilfred Rhodes holds the record for the longest ever international cricket career, lasting from 1899 to 1930. His overall FC numbers are absolutely astonishing with nearly 40000 runs and 4204 wickets.
Wilfred Rhodes played 58 Tests for England and became the third player to get 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent. He made 1706 runs against Australia from 42 Tests at an average of 31 with one century. The left-arm orthodox spinner bagged 109 wickets versus arch rivals at 24 apiece.
Garry Sobers
Garry Sobers is arguably the best all-rounder Test cricket has ever seen. The former West Indies captain had a stellar Test career during 1954 to 1974. Sobers played 93 Tests his overall career and scored 8032 runs at a ridiculous average of 57.78 with 26 centuries. The versatile left-arm bowler picked 235 wickets at 34.03 apiece.
Sobers enjoyed playing against England, scoring 3214 runs from 36 Tests at an average of 60.64. He hit 10 hundreds and 13 fifties versus England. With the ball, he snared 102 scalps at an average of 32.57 with career-best of 8/80.
Ian Botham
Ian Botham was one of the greatest cricketers produced by England. His impact on English cricket as an all-rounder can hardly be matched. He played 102 Tests for England during 1976 to 1992, scoring 5200 runs at an average of 33.54 and picking 383 wickets at 28.40 apiece.
Botham played 36 Tests against arch rivals Australia, scoring 1673 runs at an average of 29.35 with four centuries. The right arm fast bowler snared 148 wickets versus England at an average of 27.65, including nine five-wicket hauls.
Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad was primarily a seam bowler who had a good phase with the bat. The Englishman claimed 604 wickets in his Test career from 164 matches at 27.68 apiece, including 20 five-wicket hauls. He also made 3662 runs at an average of 18.
Broad had quite the rivalry with Australia, against whom he picked 153 wickets at an average of 28.96 with eight five-wicket hauls. The left-hand batter scored 1019 runs at an average of 18.87 with four fifties. Broad’s highlight of the career also came against Australia when he ran through them with 8 for 15 at Trent Bridge in 2015.
Ravichandran Ashwin
India's Ravichandran Ashwin joined the list of players with 1000 runs and 100 wickets against an opponent on February 23 when he dismissed England's Jonny Bairstow. Ashwin has had an illustrious Test career, with 502 wickets at 24.02 apiece and 3308 runs at 26.67 average.
Ashwin has played 23 Tests against England, including the ongoing one at Ranchi. The off-spinner has taken 100 wickets at an average of 29.82, including six five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he has scored 1085 runs at 35 average with one century and six half-centuries.
