IANS
Melbourne, February 10
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar received the highest votes from the British public to open the innings in the greatest One-Day International (ODI) XI.
West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle was elected to partner India’s little master at the top of the order, according to cricket.com.au.
Tendulkar received 29 percent of the opening batsman vote, ahead of second-placed Gayle on 25 percent, Adam Gilchrist (20 percent), Hashim Amla (12 percent) and Sanath Jayasuriya (8 percent).South Africa’s current ODI skipper AB de Villiers occupies the coveted No.3 position and is followed in the order by two West Indian legends in Brian Lara and Viv Richards.
Four Australians have been selected in the team. Australia’s three highest ODI wicket-takers – Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Warne – were included in the star-studded final XI, alongside game-changing wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.
It was a clear cut verdict for Gilchrist as keeper, the Australian earning 54 percent of the vote and named to bat at No.6 ahead of Proteas all-rounder Jacques Kallis.
Swing king and 1992 World Cup winner Wasim Akram joins the Australian triumvirate of bowlers to form an attack that boasts more than 1,000 matches and 1,556 wickets.
Over the past week, readers of Sportsday Live on the BBC website have selected the 50-over format’s best outfit from a shortlist of the very best one-day players.
The team was unveiled on the ‘Tuffers and Vaughan Show’, with former England skipper Michael Vaughan, Lancashire coach Ashley Giles and Australia legend Jason Gillespie also nominating their best one-day outfits.
Greatest ODI XI: Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Adam Gilchrist, Jacques Kallis, Wasim Akram, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath.
Athletes deserve more encouragement: Tendulkar
Retired batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who is the goodwill ambassador for the National Games, on Monday congratulated the medal winners and said the athletes need more encouragement.
Lauding the women swimmers Maana Patel, Chahat Arora, Saloni Dalal and cyclist Anjita T P, Tendulkar said the youngsters deserve support and encouragement from all quarters.
"Youngsters Manna Patel, Chahat Arora, Saloni Dalal, Anjita T P are some of the performers in the National Games in Kerala. They deserve more encouragement from all of us. Congratulations to the medal winners as also to every participant who is striving to give their very best," Tendulkar wrote on his Facebook page.
Gujarat's Maana Patel,14, has won three golds, while 12-year old Saloni Dalal was the youngest medal winner at the Games by securing a bronze in the 200 m breaststroke event.
Chandigarh's Chahat Arora won the gold in the 100m breaststroke event while Kerala's Anjita T P won the bronze in the cycling event.
