Legends of CricketIn order to identify the 25 greatest cricketers of all time, ESPN assembled a panel of eminent cricket authorities. The result of their deliberations became the basis for ESPN's Legends of Cricket. The panel included Richie Benaud, Dickie Bird, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Ian Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Richard Hadlee. The final 'legends' and the order in which they belong generated considerable debate. Most agree that Sir Donald Bradman is entitled to be No. 1, and Sir Garfield Sobers No. 2, but after that, opinions diverge. Can you compare WG Grace with Sachin Tendulkar? Who was the greatest West Indian fast bowler? Was Ian Botham, Sir Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan or Kapil Dev the best all-rounder of the '80s? Has Dennis Lillee's impact on the game been greater than that of Shane Warne? Greg Chappell is here; how about Steve Waugh and Allan Border? Which South Africans make the top 25? In Legends of Cricket, Geoff Armstrong profiles each of the champions who made the top 25. The profiles feature the opinions of more than 40 current and former Test stars, including 21 Test captains, the world's most famous umpire and a number of high-profile commentators and writers. What do the greats profiled here have in common? They all have powerful personalities, an unerring self-belief, courage and an unshakeable love for the game. Some are more flamboyant and charismatic than others, and not all are natural leaders, but every one has brought something new and extraordinary to cricket. Genuine Legends can do that. |
Contents
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 13 | |
Legend No 2 SIR GARFIELD SOBERS | 23 |
Legend No 3 SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS | 33 |
Legend No 4 SHANE WARNE | 41 |
Legend No 5 SIR JACK HOBBS | 49 |
Legend No 14 WG GRACE | 121 |
Legend No 15 GRAEME POLLOCK | 129 |
Legend No 16 MALCOLM MARSHALL | 137 |
Legend No 17 GREG CHAPPELL | 145 |
Legend No 18 GEORGE HEADLEY | 153 |
Legend No 19 SIR FRANK WORRELL | 161 |
Legend No 20 SIR LEONARD HUTTON | 169 |
Legend No 21 WASIM AKRAM | 177 |
Legend No 6 DENNIS LILLEE | 57 |
Legend No 7 SACHIN TENDULKAR | 65 |
Legend No 8 IMRAN KHAN | 73 |
Legend No 9 WALLY HAMMOND | 81 |
Legend No 10 SUNIL GAVASKAR | 89 |
Legend No 11 IAN BOTHAM | 97 |
Legend No 12 SIR RICHARD HADLEE | 105 |
Legend No 13 KEITH MILLER | 113 |
Legend No 22 KAPIL DEV | 185 |
Legend No 23 STEVE WAUGH | 193 |
Legend No 24 BARRY RICHARDS | 201 |
Legend No 25 ALLAN BORDER | 209 |
STATISTICS | 217 |
Back flap | 225 |
Back cover | 226 |
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Adelaide all-rounder Allan Border Ashes series Ashes Test Australia Australian captain ball Barry Richards batsman batting average became bouncer bowling captaincy Clive Lloyd county cricket Dennis Lillee double century English ESPN's Legends fast bowler field final Test first-class cricket four George Headley Getty Images going Grace Graeme Pollock greatest Greg Chappell Hammond hundred Hutton Ian Botham Ian Chappell Imran Khan India Kapil Dev later Legends of Cricket London Lord's Melbourne never one-day international Oval pace Pakistan pitch played player record remember Richard Hadlee Richie Benaud runs Sachin Tendulkar says season second Test selectors Shane Warne shots side Sir Donald Bradman South Africa spinners sport Steve Waugh stumps Sunil Gavaskar Sydney teammates Test career Test century Test cricket Test debut Test match Test series third Test took umpire victory Viv Richards Wasim Akram West Indian West Indies wickets Wisden World Cup wrote Zealand