Sachin, Sehwag part of ICC's all-time Test XI

Cricket lovers from across the world have cast more than a quarter of million votes this month to choose their Greatest Test team of all time.

Fans voted on the ICC's official website, www.icc-cricket.com, using a short list provided by the game's governing body, to pick their leading eleven, as part of the activities to commemorate the 2000th Test Match, which will begin at Lord's between England and India on Thursday.

Four Australians, four Indians, two West Indians and one Pakistani have been named in the "people's" Dream XI. The final selection is as follows:

Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Sir Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Kapil Dev, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath.

Haroon Lorgat, ICC Chief Executive, said: "The huge interest generated during the past month was amazing as media and supporters worldwide speculated and then selected the fan's Greatest Test team of all time. It supports our view of the everlasting popularity of Test match cricket.

"It would have been quite special to see this team take the field of play given the array of batting and bowling talent contained within the playing eleven.

"Selecting from such greats is no easy job, and not surprisingly, the selection mainly reflects modern players seen by present day supporters. There are many greats from the past who would have easily merited selection in this team, but it is nevertheless interesting to see the fans view on their greatest eleven of all time."

© ICC

Morkel looks forward to IPL duel with Sachin

Delhi Daredevils' pacer Morne Morkel is relishing the prospect of another bowling duel with Sachin Tendulkar when his side takes on the Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

South African quickie Morkel had accounted for Tendulkar's wicket during the league stage match of the World Cup in Nagpur, which the Proteas won by three wickets.

He had also dismissed Tendulkar once during India's nearly two-month-long tour of South Africa just before the World Cup.

The lanky pacer said he had always enjoyed playing against the world's leading run-scorer in Test and one-day cricket.

"For the last couple of months, I had been regularly bowling to Tendulkar. Obviously, it's going to be one big challenge tomorrow. He is a world-class player and everyone knows that. He has been performing well for the last couple of months. It's a big challenge and as always I am looking forward to it," said Morkel.

The South African was bought by the Delhi outfit for USD 475,000 on the first day of the players' auction held in Bangalore in the second week of January this year.

When asked about sharing the dressing room with India opener Virender Sehwag, who is the skipper of Delhi Daredevils, Morkel said it's good to have a calm and composed person like him in the IPL.

"He is a good guy. Always planning and bringing out new things. It's exciting sharing the dressing room with him. He is the captain of our side and it's special to work under him. He is very calm and cool guy and it's good to have him in IPL," he said.

Morkel said it would be tough adjusting to the Twenty20 format but is ready to perform.

"It's going to be tough to adjust but IPL is a huge tournament and I am ready to play my part. It's going to be an exciting tournament with a new bunch of guys. First game is tomorrow and we are done with our preparations. Looking forward to start the tournament on a winning note," he said.

Morkel said it would be challenging to bowl on Indian wickets. "... but it's a challenge that I have always enjoyed. I have fair idea of the Indian conditions and pitches as the World Cup just finished. I am improving my skills on a daily basis."

© PTI

Kapil lauds 'unbelievable' Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar has been "unbelievable" in the last two years and keeps getting better with age, feels 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.

"Sachin in the last two years has been unbelievable. This genius is the other way around - the older he gets, the more he plays like a champion," Kapil Dev told members of the Indian Journalists Association.

The former all-rounder was all praise for the current Indian team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni which won the ICC Cricket World Cup last week in Mumbai.

"India has a team who can beat anybody. They still are not playing to their potential. The Indian team is far better than any other team, without doubt," he said.

Asked about the secret of the Indian team's success, Kapil said, "India's growth is seen in every championship - Commonwealth, Asian games and World Cup. We are definitely flying and flying very well and shining. Now India is the World Champions, besides being No 1 Team in the world in Test cricket.

"We have put money on the table and we have shown that we can play well too. That is what the World Cup has done to India. Now the only thing is when you reach the top position, your attitude changes," he added.

Asked why the team had faltered in the run up to the final, Kapil said, "When you have such a strong batting line up, complacency sometimes sets in. Despite that they were winning. They are far better players than they performed. Even Dhoni fired only when it was needed most, in the final."

The former pacer was also lavish in his praise for India's dashing opener Virender Sehwag: "He is a ruthless player. He changes the dynamics of cricket altogether. He keeps the game so simple."

Kapil said India could improve further if the team gave more attention to its bowling department.

"Yes, bowling is a matter of concern," he said.

Asked to compare the current team with the one that won the World Cup in 1983, Kapil said, "This cricket team is far better than the 1983 team. We did not have any experienced players in the 1983 team. We were absolutely raw, no big match temperament. But we combined better.

"But in the present team there are stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, M S Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh. In 1983, man to man, West Indies was far better than us."

Asked whether IPL had its effect on the Indian side, he said, "Everybody benefited from IPL. There are both positive and negative sides. The positive is you start learning to win. The negative is you don't get enough rest."

Kapil said the BCCI should put money in junior cricket and Ranji Trophy.

"They have to make up their mind. If we want growth in sports, then school sports have to be given due attention. If we can give facilities we can have 10 Sachins and Dhonis in the country.

"During our time, Sunil Gavaskar was like a God and if we don't get another Sachin, it will be sad."

Asked whether cricketers should be exempted from tax for the prize they win, Kapil Dev said, "The law should be uniform for all sportsmen. Other sportsmen who have got laurels in athletics, badminton and other games must be given same exemptions."

Focus on cricket, not Bharat Ratna: Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar for Bharat Ratna? He prefers to focus on Cricket for the time being![© AFP]

Milestone man Sachin Tendulkar today said he would like to be on the list of 'Bharat Ratna' awardees but he is not thinking about the highest civilian honour as of now and would leave it on destiny.

Former cricketers Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev and Dilp Vengsarkar after Tendulkar's record breaking double hundred had said that he deserves the honour.

"It's a rare honour and whosoever have got it are not only my heroes but the heroes of the entire country. Who would not like to join that list, but my focus is on cricket. If it has to happen it will happen," the champion batsman said at a media conference here today.

After his historic knock of unbeaten 200 at Gwalior, a host of current and former cricketers had said Tendulkar was greater than legendary Australian Sir Don Bradman but the Indian batting ace refused to be drawn into comparisons.

"I never believed in comparisons. I respect every individual off the field too and it's not about only Sir Don.

I respect them all. I'm happy to play for the country and am particularly happy when I do well and the team wins," he said.

Tendulkar was addressing the gathering as the brand ambassador of "Give India' - an NGO headed by former ICICI chairman N Vaghul.

He also said that he would support the Indian National Hockey team saying "I am not a hockey expert but I am a fan of the team just like everyone else. My good wishes are always with them whether they perform or fail to live upto their expectations," Tendulkar told reporters.

After the thumping 4-1 win over Pakistan, Tendulkar hoped that the team does well in the remainder of the tournament as well.

"On every Indian's behalf, I would say that we are always with you. Performance keeps fluctuating but our support for them remains consistent," he said.

"In fact, the support should be stronger in times when the team is going through tough phases. We will support them during that time," he added.

Talking about his double hundred, Tendulkar said he considers the record as a national mark and not an individual one.

"When I started the innings I did not know I will get 200. I will say it is an Indian record and will be happy if it stays as an Indian record," he said.

The master batsman said he was sure the entire country was waiting to support the Indian cricket team when the 2011 World Cup unfolds in the sub-continent.

"I'm (eagerly) waiting for it. The entire country would be rooting for us," he said.

Tendulkar lost his cool when a scribe sought his reaction on Virender Sehwag's recent statement the Delhi batsman wants to take over his mentor's the number four spot in the Test line-up when he quits the game.

"Once I'm done (called it a day) I will let you know," he quipped.

Tendulkar sounded very happy with the time he spent today giving tips to underprivileged children as part of the charity he supports.

"When I knew I could do this camp I was very happy. I can't improve their technique in one day but can talk on basics. I'm extremely proud to be part of this incredible movement," he said about his association with "Give India".

Tendulkar's masterpiece had set up India's huge 153-run win against South Africa on February 24.

© PTI