Vaughan, Gillespie and Giles also weigh in on the best 50-over line-up
Brits vote four Aussies in greatest ODI XI
Four Australians have been selected in the greatest ODI XI, as voted by the British public.
Australia’s three highest one-day international wicket-takers – Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Warne – were included in the star-studded final XI, alongside game-changing wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.
The team selection was not without controversy, however, with West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle elected to partner India’s little master Sachin Tendulkar at the top of the order.
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, a member of three World Cup-winning teams (two as captain), was totally left out of the side which sparked outrage (well, for us anyway!).
@bbc5live @YCCCDizzy @MichaelVaughan Three World Cup wins. Two as captain. Undefeated twice and Punter still can't make it at No.3?!
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 9, 2015
“@CricketAus: A greatest ODI XI without Ricky Ponting? Read here: http://t.co/n9GHfDQvhK pic.twitter.com/sO1kkh3Oyy”. Yes, could not believe it!
— Jason Gillespie (@YCCCDizzy) February 10, 2015
“@CricketAus: A greatest ODI XI without Ricky Ponting? Read here: http://t.co/ZNynENKKFL pic.twitter.com/ZZIydUQHgD” Ridiculous
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 10, 2015
Tendulkar received 29 per cent of the opening batsman vote, ahead of second placed Gayle on 25 per cent, Gilchrist (20%), Hashim Amla (12%) and Sanath Jayasuriya (8%).
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 the Master Blaster Sir Viv Richards.
It was a clear cut verdict for Gilchrist as keeper, the Australian earning 54 per cent of the vote and named to bat at No.6 ahead of Proteas allrounder 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.
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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 XI 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.
Each pundit had seven players of the public voted XI in their sides with a few slight variations.
Vaughan selected two allrounders in West Indian Garfiled Sobers and Pakistan World Cup winner Imran Khan, along with Muthiah Muralidaran to partner Warne.
Gillespie chose Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene to bat in the middle order, and selected West Indies supreme quick Malcolm Marshall to partner McGrath and Akram.
And Giles demoted Gilchrist to No.7 to make room for Sri Lanka’s whirlwind opener Sanath Jayasuriya to partner Tendulkar, while Waqar Younis was drafted in to team-up with long-time teammate Akram.
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