McCullum picks his greatest XI

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has selected Sir Viv Richard as captain of his ‘all-time cricketing XI’, in a team featuring four former Australian players.

In an unenviably difficult task, McCullum sifted through the best players from throughout his 14-year international career, with the criteria that he must have played with or against or have been influenced by those selected.

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In a video for Lord’s – where McCullum just completed a domestic T20 stint with Middlesex – the Black Caps great listed his Test XI and explained his choices.

Unsurprisingly, the swashbuckling Kiwi, who broke the record for fastest Test ton in his final match, prized aggression in his selections and opted for some of the game’s most attacking players, openers Chris Gayle and Sachin Tendulkar and followed by former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting at first drop.

"I wanted someone destructive at the top of the order. Chris Gayle – there ain’t much better than that," McCullum told lords.org.

"Obviously Sachin can bat for days. Ricky Ponting is another man with phenomenal statistics, he takes the game on and even if you lose two early wickets, he’s still going to come on and play his shots and be aggressive."

The No.4 spot went to West Indies legend Brian Lara, ahead of Richards at No.5.

"(Lara) can hopefully take the game away in a session. Sir Viv Richards comes in next and captains the side as well, with his charm, his swagger and his ability to hit the ball out of the park."

South Africa’s Jacques Kallis is the allrounder in the side at No.6, ahead of Australia great Adam Gilchrist, who dons the gloves in McCullum’s side.

"At number six I’ve gone for the greatest allrounder in my opinion of all time, Jacques Kallis, he’s a bit lower in the batting order than he’s used to but I’m sure he’ll find his way, he’s an adaptable man.

"Adam Gilchrist as wicketkeeper at seven, on the back of that top six I think he can come in and ice it off pretty quickly."

McCullum opted for two Australian greats in his bowling attack - Mitchell Johnson and Shane Warne – but rounded out his attack with possibly the most surprising selections, opting for current New Zealand spearheads Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

"Johnson terrorised the opposition for years on end he can also swing the willow as well if need be, (while) Warne speaks for himself.

"Then I’ve gone for two Kiwis. That’s purely because when I was captain of New Zealand, I said I’d never change (Boult and Southee) for the world.

"I saw them change us from an average Test team to a much harder to beat Test team, because of their ability to get 20 wickets."

MCCULLUM’S GREATEST CRICKETING XI

Chris Gayle, Sachin Tendulknar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Viv Richards (c), Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Warne, Tim Southee, Trent Boult