Sachin, Sehwag nominated for ICC's all-time greatest Test team

Dubai, Jul 11 (PTI) Indian batting maestro Sachin
Tendulkar and opener Virender Sehwag are among the list of
players nominated for an online poll to select the greatest
team of all-time on the occasion of Test cricket's 2,000th
match.
The historic match will take place between India and
England at Lord's from July 21 to 25, and the ICC has called
on supporters from across the globe to select the greatest
team of all-time.
While Sehwag has found a place in the list of openers,
which also has the likes of former India skipper Sunil
Gavaskar, Tendulkar has been short-listed for the middle-order
batsman's slot.
However, no Indian player has found a place in the
shortlist for the slot of wicketkeepers and fast bowlers,
while the 1983 World Cup winning Indian team captain Kapil Dev
is in the reckoning as an all-rounder.
Legendary Bishan Singh Bedi and Anil Kumble have been
shortlisted for the spinner's role in the dream team.
Sir Donald Bradman and West Indian great Viv Richards are
in the fray for the middle-order's slot, while attacking
wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist is pitted against South
Africa's Mark Boucher for the stumper's position.
Legendary West Indian pacers Malcolm Marshall and Michael
Holding and Pakistani great Wasim Akram have been shortlisted
in the bowler's category along side champion spinner Shane
Warne.
The ICC's website is seeking votes from the fans and
cricket lovers across the world to pick the dream Test team
from a shortlist of 60 players split into five categories.
The fans will be asked to pick two opening batsmen, three
middle-order batsmen, a wicketkeeper, three fast bowlers and
one spinner.


The public vote on ICC's website closes in two days' time
with results set to be announced the week before the 2,000th
Test.
"With the 2,000th Test coming up it is appropriate to
remember some of the great players through the ages that have
thrilled audiences and inspired us all," ICC chief executive
Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.
"With so many legends of the game to choose from, it is a
very difficult task and I'm sure one that will lead to plenty
of fond recollection and great debate.
"Test cricket is the pinnacle format of our great sport
and it is important we continue to protect and promote it so
that it grows even stronger over the next 2,000 matches."
The shortlist for Dream Team:
Opening batsmen: Geoffrey Boycott, Sunil Gavaskar, Gordon
Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Hanif
Mohammad, Virender Sehwag, Herbert Sutcliffe, Victor Trumper.
Middle-order batsmen: Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Wally
Hammond, George Headley, Brian Lara, Javed Miandad, Graeme
Pollock, Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar.
All-rounder: Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Aubrey Faulkner,
Richard Hadlee, Jacques Kallis, Imran Khan, Keith Miller,
Wilfred Rhodes, Gary Sobers, Frank Worrell.
Wicketkeepers: Les Ames, Mark Boucher, Jeff Dujon,
Godfrey Evans, Andy Flower, Adam Gilchrist, Alan Knott, Rod
Marsh, Clyde Walcott, Wasim Bari.
Fast bowlers: Curtley Ambrose, Sydney Barnes, Michael
Holding, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Malcolm Marshall, Glenn
McGrath, Fred Trueman, Courtney Walsh, Wasim Akram.
Spinners: Bishen Bedi, Richie Benaud, Lance Gibbs,
Clarrie Grimmett, Jim Laker, Anil Kumble, Muttiah Muralidaran,
Bill O'Reilly, Derek Underwood, Shane Warne.