DUBAI – Legendary West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards and prodigious left-hander Brian Lara were the only two West Indians yesterday voted to an all-time One-Day International dream team to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ODIs.
Sir Viv, one of the most devastating batsmen of the 1980s era and Lara, who dominated the contemporary game, were selected to an XI from a shortlist of 48 players, by fans from nearly 100 countries who voted on the International Cricket Council website.
They were both named in a middle order along with Australian captain Ricky Ponting, with batting prodigy Sachin Tendulkar and Indian counterpart Virender Sehwag, chosen as the openers.
Sir Viv plundered 6721 runs from 187 ODIs at an average of 47, in a career spanning 1975 to 1991.
He scored 11 centuries and had a strike rate of 90.
Lara, meanwhile, who quit international cricket four years ago, piled up 10 405 runs from 299 ODIs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 79. He stroked 19 centuries.
The dream team also comprises Indian legend Kapil Dev as the all-rounder, former Australian shotgun Adam Gilchrist as the wicketkeeper/batsman, with Pakistani left-armer Wasim Akram, Australian Glen McGrath and South African Allan Donald comprising the seam attack.
Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the slow bowling option.
Tendulkar, Sehwag and Ponting are the only current players in the squad. (CMC)
