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No Tendulkar, Lara, Bradman in Birds Greatest XIDesk Report, bdnews24.com
Published:
2013-04-18
Updated: 2013-04-18
Former England umpire Dickie Bird, who turns 80 on Friday, has not found space for three of the modern era's greatest batsman - Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting - as well as the legendary Don Bradman in his list of the greatest Test XI.
Ahead of his birthday, Bird had his greatest-ever XI published in The Telegraph but conspicuous with their absence from the list were the top ten run-getters in the Test format as well as the man who finished his career with a batting average of 99.94.
Bird, who officiated in 66 Tests and stood in three World Cup finals during a 28-year career as a first-class umpire, included just one Indian in his XI -- former opener and captain Sunil Gavaskar.
Opening the batting with Gavaskar in Bird's XI was South African Barry Richards.
Bird then goes on to include legends Vivian Richards and Greg Chappell. He also nominates another player "largely lost because of apartheid", Graeme Pollock, as part of the list.
Sir Garfield Sobers is an obvious choice in any such list and Bird simply states the all-rounder was the greatest I have ever seen play the game".
ICC Hall of Famer and wicketkeeper-batsman Alan Knott is the only Englishman and compatriot of Bird to feature in the list.
Imran Khan is the captain of Bird's Greatest Test XI and Shane Warne finds a spot as well.
Dennis Lillee and West Indian spinner Lance Gibbs round off the eleven.
DICK BIRD'S GREATEST TEST XI:
Sunil Gavaskar, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell, Garfield Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Allan Knott (wk), Imran Khan (capt), Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, Lance Gibbs.
Published:
2013-04-18
Updated: 2013-04-18
Former England umpire Dickie Bird, who turns 80 on Friday, has not found space for three of the modern era's greatest batsman - Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting - as well as the legendary Don Bradman in his list of the greatest Test XI.
Ahead of his birthday, Bird had his greatest-ever XI published in The Telegraph but conspicuous with their absence from the list were the top ten run-getters in the Test format as well as the man who finished his career with a batting average of 99.94.
Bird, who officiated in 66 Tests and stood in three World Cup finals during a 28-year career as a first-class umpire, included just one Indian in his XI -- former opener and captain Sunil Gavaskar.
Opening the batting with Gavaskar in Bird's XI was South African Barry Richards.
Bird then goes on to include legends Vivian Richards and Greg Chappell. He also nominates another player "largely lost because of apartheid", Graeme Pollock, as part of the list.
Sir Garfield Sobers is an obvious choice in any such list and Bird simply states the all-rounder was the greatest I have ever seen play the game".
ICC Hall of Famer and wicketkeeper-batsman Alan Knott is the only Englishman and compatriot of Bird to feature in the list.
Imran Khan is the captain of Bird's Greatest Test XI and Shane Warne finds a spot as well.
Dennis Lillee and West Indian spinner Lance Gibbs round off the eleven.
DICK BIRD'S GREATEST TEST XI:
Sunil Gavaskar, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell, Garfield Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Allan Knott (wk), Imran Khan (capt), Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, Lance Gibbs.
