All-Star Cricket: Top 10 legends whom we missed
Twenty-two legends, who played sporting two new colours, have taken the Citi Field baseball ground in New York to reminiscence us about the nostalgia. The best of the blokes were batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and spin wizard Shane Warne who has planned this tournament banking on the nostalgia surrounds the first pals of cricketers, who played sporting the rainbow jersey for their respective countries in the 1990’s.
In the first match in front of electric atmosphere, Virender Sehwag of Sachin’s Blasters scored an explosive 55 while Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds have taken three wickets each. For Warne Warriors Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara have built an 80 runs partnership that ensured Warne Warriors victory over Sachin Blasters’.
Legends like Wasim Akram, Allan Donald, Curtly Ambrose have played the game, but there are many whom we missed.
Here is the list of those 10 precious gems who could sparkle the tournament:
1)Adam Gilchrist
The explosive Australian left-handed opener, who have won three World Cups, is one of them. His batting was filled with a flurry of stroke play. So, his absence was badly missed. His opening partner Matthew Hayden has played the first T20.
2) Rahul Dravid
The former Indian middle order batsman was the part of fab five – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman. He was the highest run-scorer in the 1999 World Cup. He has more than 10,000 runs in Test and ODI formats. He was also the part of 2003 World Cup final.
3)Stephen Fleming
He was the captain of New Zealand for quite long time. The lanky batsman was known for his hard-hitting batting style. New Zealand had won the 2000 Champions Trophy under Fleming.
4) Micheal Bevan
He was probably the best ever finisher in the limited over cricket. He was the DNA of the Australia famed invincible ODI team. Without this crafted finisher, Australia’s 2003 World Cup victory was impossible.Except the final Australia’s top order failed to perform. But, it was Bevan, whose batting helped Australia to put a total that was below par but too much for the opponent team as lethal pace attack comprised of with Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Andy Bichel used to wreck havoc on opponent’s batting line up.
5)Brett Lee
The former World Cup-winning Australian speedster was one of the fascinating bowlers we have seen ever. He shared a rivalry with some of the great batsmen – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Virender Sehwag.
6) Andrew Flintoff
One of the best all around of modern ear cricket. This flamboyant was the main protagonist of England’s 2005 Ashes-winning team. Flintoff in 2002 took off his shirt to celebrate Mumbai ODI victory over India. Captain Sourav Ganguly took the revenge in the Lord’s when India chased down England’s 325. Ganguly took off the shirt and swing it at the Lord’s balcony.
7)Inzamam-ul-Haq
The great batsman from Pakistan has won the 1992 World Cup as a young star. He was a technically equipped batsman. But, he was too fat. The former Pakistan captain succeeded in international cricket for his supreme temperament and talent. He was also a very candid man as his press conferences were full of humour.
8)Anil Kumble
This great Indian leg-spinner was the torchbearer of India’s Test cricket success on the foreign field. His partnership with Harbhajan Singh was a nightmare to any batsmen in any day. Kumble ability to take a wicket at any kind of the pitch made him famous around the world. He is the only second bowler in the history who has taken 10 wickets in a Test innings after Jim Laker of England.
9) Graeme Smith
The South African was the part of the invincible South African Test team. He played most of his career as a captain. Under his captaincy, South Africa have become the No. 1 Test team in the World. He also won the famous New Wanderers match in which Australia scored 434 and South Africa chased down the target with one wicket in hand. Smith has scored 90.
10) Zaheer Khan
Arguably the best swing bowler of the 21st century, Zaheer has announced his retirement last month. . He spearheaded India’s bowling department in the 2011 World Cup victory and India’s success in Test cricket in 2009. He played a key role when India have become the number one team in ICC Test ranking. Khan is the fifth highest wicket taker in the history of World Cup. He has had many bunnies. His rivalry with former South Africa captain Graeme Smith was well known. He has taken Smith’s wicket 13 times in his entire career.