ICC Dream Team

Pakistan’s feared left arm fast bowler Wasim Akram was picked among the all-time One-Day International (ODIs) dream team announced by International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday. Australia, India, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan represented as 40th anniversary of ODI cricket is marked. To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first One-Day International, cricket fans around the world have cast their votes on the ICC website for what they consider to be the all-time ODI team. In total, fans from 97 countries cast almost 600,000 votes on www.icc-cricket.com between December 22 and January 2 to make their views known as to who have been the best ODI players of the past 40 years in the key categories of opening batsmen, middle-order batsmen, wicketkeeper, spin bowlers and fast bowlers. Three players from Australia and India, two from the West Indies and one each from South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have made the final dream 11 with another Aussie named as 12th man while the momentous “438” game between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg in 2006 has been voted the best ODI yet. The All-Time ODI Dream Team (as voted for by visitors is: Opening batsmen: Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag (both India) Middle order: Brian Lara, Viv Richards (both West Indies) and Ricky Ponting (Austrlia), All-rounder: Kapil Dev (India) Wicketkeeper: Adam Gilchrist (Austrlia), Spinner: Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) Fast bowlers: Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Glenn McGrath (Australia) and Allan Donald (South Africa). 12th man: Michael Bevan (Australia), the player who received the most number of votes without being enough to make the would-be starting 11). Supporters had the chance to select the dream team from a shortlist of 48 players in different categories and they could pick their favourite game from a choice of 10 memorable matches. The match they chose was a run- feast in Johannesburg ’s famous Wanderers Stadium in March 2006. Batting first, Australia made a record 434-4 in 50 overs with captain Ricky Ponting setting the day alight with 164 off just 105 balls. The mood of the capacity crowd did not improve when South Africa lost a wicket with just three runs on the board. But then an innings of magic from Herschelle Gibbs (175 off 111) backed up by cameos by Graeme Smith (90 off 55), Mark Boucher (50 not out) and Johan van der Wath (35) saw the Proteas to a scarcely possible winning score of 438 with nine wickets down and one ball remaining. It was a wonderful occasion and truly an ODI never to be forgotten. The first ever ODI was played between Australia and England on January 5, 1971 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Cricket Australia will also mark the 40th anniversary of ODI cricket with a number of events, including a reception with members of Australia ’s first ODI team at Victoria’s Government House, during Melbourne’s Cricket weekend which also includes a Twenty20 International from January 14-16. The Australian ODI team from 1971 will also be presented to the crowd during the innings break of the first ODI match of the series between Australia and England at the MCG on Sunday 16 January. The 40th anniversary of the ODI is being marked in the build-up to cricket ’s flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19 February. As with all nine previous editions of the tournament, fans around the globe will no doubt be treated to amazing feats of individual and team brilliance that will live long in the memory

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