Sunil Gavaskar in Dickie Bird's top XI, but there's no Sachin Tendulkar

[rkt.india]

Sachin Tendulkar isn't there. Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara and Sir Donald Bradman also didn't make the cut to cricket's most famous umpire Dickie Bird. A day before his 80th birthday, in an interview to The Telegraph, Bird listed the 11 players who, according to him, are the 'greatest-ever' in the Test format of the game. Interestingly, the top-10 run makers in Test cricket have failed to find a seat in Bird's team. However, while the expected players didn't make the cut, the only Indian to feature in the list was Sunil Gavaskar, who Bird has paired beside South African opener Barry Richards. Speaking about Gavaskar, Bird said, "Sunil was one of the two best opening bats I saw." About Richards, Bird said, "He would have broken all the records, but for apartheid." Another player who he put in his list was Graeme Pollock, simply because he was "largely lost because of apartheid". Sir Garfield Sobers, in Bird's terms, "the all-rounder was the greatest I have ever seen play the game", also made it to the list. The only Englishman to make it to the list was wicketkeeper-batsman Alan Knott. From Pakistan, Imran Khan made it to the list as the captain for Bird's greatest Test XI while Aussie spinner Shane Warne also finds a spot on the list. Dennis Lillee, who Bird dubbed as "the finest fast bowler who ever lived" and West Indian spinner Lance Gibbs round off the eleven-man list. Bird's Greatest Test XI: Sunil Gavaskar, Barry Richards, Sir Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell, Sir Garfield Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Allan Knott, Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, Lance Gibbs.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sunny-sunil-gavaskar-dickie-birds-top-xi-but-theres-no-sachin/1/266422.html

[Khalpat]

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sunny-sunil-gavaskar-dickie-birds-top-xi-but-theres-no-sachin/1/266422.html

To be frank, Sachin or no Sachin this team of Dickie Bird looks a great Test Team.

[Junyfan]

The great Khan is captain,as expected.Great team.

[G_B_]

hmm i think he has picked players mostly from the 70- 80s. Probably the era he can relate with the most. How else can you explain Alan Knott?? Probably his team consists of players he umpired quite a bit in international and county cricket.

[Austin 3:!6]

The great Khan is captain' date='as expected.Great team.[/quote'] A captain who won only 3 test matches outside sub continent?

[The Outsider]

Ab Dickie Bird ki khair nahin. :poink:

[BeautifulGame]

His XI is mostly based on performances his county cricket and Ashes I think. Not just Sachin , No Gilly either. Surprising he left out Marshall too . Not a single bowler from the great WI quatret :hmmm:

[Raghav_12]

His XI is mostly based on performances his county cricket and Ashes I think. Not just Sachin , No Gilly either. Surprising he left out Marshall too . Not a single bowler from the great WI quatret :hmmm:

Lance Gibbs :dontknow: On other aspect when people select Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock in all time XIs, I sense they try to pass on a political message that banning SA just for aparthied wasn't right. I have seen many ex-players/cricket writers doing this and if you do a profiling for such people you would see a distinct inclination for certain kind of social/political order in world.

[BeautifulGame]

Lance Gibbs :dontknow: On other aspect when people select Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock in all time XIs, I sense they try to pass on a political message that banning SA just for aparthied wasn't right. I have seen many ex-players/cricket writers doing this and if you do a profiling for such people you would see a distinct inclination for certain kind of social/political order in world.

I was referring to the pace quatret of Marshal Holding Roberts and garner :hmmm:

[Raghav_12]

I was referring to the pace quatret of Marshal Holding Roberts and garner :hmmm:

Sir.. sarcasm.. you have all pace bowlers coming from WI but he preferred to choose a spinner from that country.. I think this list is mock-worthy..

[Crookbond]

Lance Gibbs :dontknow: On other aspect when people select Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock in all time XIs, I sense they try to pass on a political message that banning SA just for aparthied wasn't right. I have seen many ex-players/cricket writers doing this and if you do a profiling for such people you would see a distinct inclination for certain kind of social/political order in world.

You've got to be kidding that Dickie Bird is trying to pass on a "political message" here.

[ganeshran]

His team, his choice

[trundlerNO1]

Allon Knot ahead of Gilchrist Lance Gibbs--??????, they have been better off spinner than him in history , he has got a strike rate of 87 :facepalm:

[suraj]

Stupid list there should be a law against ppl making list after crossing senility limit

[harmuk]

I have no problems, with folks picking GC and Viv over SRT and Lara in the Test middle order, and also taking Pollock and Barry Richards (they are just teriffic) , but one surprising selection surely to me is Gibbs (though his below 2 economy rate, and stifling accuracy choked batsman to death). But the Gibbs selection is not terrible, by any stretch of an imagination. To me I am not sure how he can pick Lillee or Imran, over Marshall or a Hadlee. Remember this is a Test XI. You have to be best at your primary skill and then take the second (batting or bowling) as a bonus. If one applies that criteria Marshall and Hadlee are better choices than Imran and Lillee. But again this is a one man's list. So with so many great choices in all categories, you will always find someone who you think are better fits. For pure WK'ing skills, I think Knott is an excellent choice, though he would not have gone wrong with Evans or Gilly.

[CSK Fan]

No Bradman, huh?

[Lurker]

His team seems to be that of a purist and influenced by players he has been perform well in English condition, which is absolutely fine, we all have our own criteria. Team is pretty complete and well rounded. Good opening bats, solid middle order, couple of great all rounders, decent pace attack, off-spin & leg spin combo, great keeper and couple of part time bowlers. Only oddball seems to be Lance Gibbs but he was a highly regarded off spinner so that is not entirely shocking.

[saket123]

who cares seriously? The old man is partial to people of his era.. just like most old men who think the world was utopian when they were younger and the newer generation has made it worse.

[The Outsider]

He picked a slightly different team in 1996: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WHY+I+WON'T+PICK+BOYKS+AND+BEEFY%3B+DICKIE+BIRD'S+WORLD+XI+%3A+Cricket...-a061329028 Had Hadlee, Holding, and Underwood instead of Imran and Warne.

[sivanand82]

Why so much fuss about Sachin name missing.Everybody have their personal tastes and opinions.