Sydney, June 9: West Indian cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers believes that Andrew Symonds cannot be considered a great all-rounder without major improvement to his bowling.

Sobers, the greatest all-rounder of all-time, praised Symonds for his ability to turn matches with his bat, but doubted if he could do the same with the ball.

“A couple of years back, Andrew Flintoff really caught my imagination because he seemed to have it all, but he has had a bad time of it lately,” Sobers said.

He said that Symonds has done phenomenally well with the bat, and has the ability to be a very good all-rounder, but to be a great one you need to be able to turn a game with the bat or the ball.

“I don't know if his bowling is to that standard yet,” The Age quoted Sobers, as saying.

“The great all-rounders were not considered part-timers in one particular department. They could turn games at any stage, and on any surface,” he added.

Sobers, though, was highly complimentary of the maturity Symonds has displayed at the crease in recent innings. (ANI)