AGENCY
NEW DELHI: Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar did not find a place in Kumar Sangakkara’s list of all-time XI while Rahul Dravid was the lone Indian in the team selected by the former Sri Lankan skipper.
Sangakkara believes Dravid, who is currently India A coach, will be the best to complement former Australian batsman Mathew Hayden in the opening slot in the squad led by former Lankan batsman Aravinda De Silva.
“Mathew Hayden will be at the top of the order facing the first ball and to complement him, I have got Rahul Dravid,” said Sangakkara in a video published on social media by the Lord’s Cricket Ground.
In the batting line up, the regal left-handed batsman picked his ‘all time favourite batsman’ Brian Lara along with former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting.
Top all-rounder Jacques Kallis will complete the line up and erstwhile Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist will be doning the gloves behind the wicket.
The 46-year-old Sangakkara believes Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan are the two specialist spinners who are the best he has ever seen as they can bowl well in any condition.
The fast bowling department will have legendary Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas along with former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram as Sangakkara viewed him as an ‘unbelievable challenge’ to face.
The list in total has four Australian and three Lankan while a lone spot for Indian, Pakistan,
South African and West Indian players.
On Monday, former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum had brought up his all-time eleven list where Tendulkar was the lone Indian in the squad.
The XI: Mathew Hayden, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Aravinda De Silva (c), Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vaas. (PTI)
