Legendary West Indies captain Sir Vivan Richards and prodigious left-hander Brian Lara are the only two West Indians to be voted to an all-time One-day International (ODI) dream team to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the ODIs.
Sir Viv, one of the most devastating batsmen of the l980s era and Lara, who dominated the contemporary game, were selected to an XI from a short list of 48 players, by fans from nearly 100 countries who voted on the International Cricket Council (ICC) website recently.
They were both named in a middle order along with Australian captain Ricky Pointing, batting prodigy Sachin Tendulkar and Indian counterpart Virendar Sehwag, chosen as openers.
Sir Viv struck 6,721 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 200 ODIs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 90, stroked 19 centuries.
The dream team also comprises Indian legend Kapil Dev as the all-rounder, former Australian wicketkeeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist, with Pakistani left-arm bowler Wasim Akram, Australian Glen McGrath and South African Allan Donald comprising the seam attack.
Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Mutiah Muralitharan is the slow bowling option. Tendulkar, Schewag and pointing are the only current players in the squad.
