Inthe summer of 2005, Andrew Flintoff established himself as England's greatest allround cricketer since the days of Ian Botham, producing a succession of wholehearted and inspirational performances to reap 402 runs and 24 wickets in five Tests, and carry his team to glory in arguably the greatest Ashes series of all time.
Andrew Symonds brings gusto to whatever he does, whether firing down offbreaks or mediums, hurling his ungainly bulk round the field or vigorously ruffling the bowler's hair at the celebration of a wicket.Against pakistan in 2003 world. Symonds sculpted a masterly 143 not out in 125 balls. Until that day, he had mustered just 762 one-day runs at only 23; ever since he has averaged more than 45 and become a hero to the masses.
Jacques Kallis is a throwback, Against India at home at the end of the 2006, Kallis topped the ODI run tally on either side with 168 at 84, including an unbeaten hundred, but managed only one fifty in the Test series. Against Pakistan just after that, Kallis continued to amaze with his all-round feats. He was the leading run-scorer of the series and his bowling was vital in a weaker attack at Newlands.
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I vl Give my vote to Jacques Kallis

Has to be Flintoff,he bats,bowls,fields and drinks allcomers under the table/pedalo.

I'd have thought that the best all-rounder in this World Cup is likely to be Pollock, with Oram in second place: any of half a dozen others might play out of their skin to get close.... but Pollock and Oram have been in stunning form and are surely the most likely to deliver.

We have been though this before. Flintoff got many votes mainly because of his larger than life character compared with the somewhat staid Kallis. But if we look at their performaces on paper (e la Rachael ), Kallis has a far better batting recored than Flintoff while his understated bowling in only very slightly below Flintoff's record. Of course, because of the fact that Kallis is a quiet man who goes about his business and seldom makes news outside the playing field as opposed to his err....rather more illustrious English opponent would push the South African into the background with most critics. But for me, Jaques Kallis is unquestionably the best all-rounder in world cricket today and one of the greatest ever.

For me Pollock is a bowler who can bat, not a genuine all-rounder. While Oram is a batsman who can turn his arm over.

The question is would Pollock get in the side on batting alone, no, would Oram on bowling alone, no.

Flintoff would get in the side if he couldn't bat, and if he couldn't bowl. Symonds is the same, but I feel his batting is a lot stronger than his bowling, he is not a front line bowler in Tests, where as Flintoff is. Kallis would have been the same as Flintoff, five years ago, but his desire not to bowl, means he is not as effective.

This means it has to be Freddie, IMO

No. He would certainly get in as a bowler alone if he could not bat, but definitely NOT as a specialist batsman because he is not one.

Which is where you are very wrong, as he has played for England as a batsman. His best batting period for England occurred when he did have the burden of bowling.

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2...I_AVS_ENG.html

All right, we will agree to disagree on that point. In my book Flintoff should not be chosen purley because of his batting if he could not bowl a ball in anger. But then, we will never know for sure, will we?

No an in form Flintoff gets the nod over kallis - for the reason Flintoff is a better batsman than kallis is a bowler IMO.

Kallis is really a specialist bat - who can bowl a bit.

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Ern

Not sure I get you here Nostro... it is not a matter of debate.. you said Flintoff was not good enough to be picked as a batsman alone. I showed you that he had been already, and was successful when it happened!!

It is not a matter of disagreement, as we are dealing with a undeniable fact!!