Tendulkar finds place in Bradman's dream team

Don Bradman rated Dennis Lillee as the best paceman of the 20th century, author Roland Perry said on Monday as he launched a new book published in Australia entitled "Bradman's Best".

Bradman, who died in February at the age of 92, named a "Dream Team" in Perry's book, selected from all cricket-playing nations since the first Test was played in 1877, the author said.

Bradman selected himself at three followed by India's Sachin Tendulkar at four.

Australia's Arthur Morris and South Africa's Barry Richards were the openers.

West Indies all-rounder Gary Sobers and Australia's wicketkeeper under Bradman's captaincy in the 1948 Ashes series, Don Tallon, were at five and six followed by five bowlers including two spinners.

The multi-talented bowling attack included Australia's Ray Lindwall and Lillee, England's Alec Bedser and Australia's spin duo Bill O'Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett, and Sobers who could bowl medium-pace and spin.

Seven Australians were named in the eleven, with one South African, one Indian, one Englishman and one West Indian.

England great Walter Hammond, boasting a Test average of 58.45 in 85 matches, was named as 12th man.

Bradman, whose 1948 Ashes-winning team became known as "The Invincibles", is considered the greatest batsman to have played the game, averaging 99.94 in 52 Tests.

"...Shortly before his death, Bradman did reveal his (team) selection -- and his reasons for his choice -- to Roland Perry, his biographer and a man he trusted implicitly," book publishers Random House said in a prepared statement.

LEG-CUTTER

Bradman said in the book that Lillee had a superb leg-cutter and was capable of the most devastation against the best batsmen in the world.

Bradman had recalled that Lillee was formidable in taking eight wickets for 29 for Australia against a Rest of the World XI in Perth in December, 1971.

"The sheer pace he generated opened up weaknesses you wouldn't normally see in such good techniques as on display in the World XI," Bradman said.

Wisden named Bradman, Sobers, England's Jack Hobbs, Australia's Shane Warne and former West Indies captain Viv Richards as the five cricketers of the 20th century in April last year.

In a news release promoting the book, Perry listed Bradman's view of Lillee. "Bradman judged Lillee as the best paceman of the 20th century. There was no-one quicker or more dangerous in his tearaway early years."

Perry said in a telephone interview with Reuters on Monday that Bradman regarded Sobers as the best all-round cricketer ever and wondered aloud how only 90 of the 100 people selecting the Wisden top five voted for him.

DOUBLE VALUE

Perry also said Bradman felt his 29 centuries in 52 Tests made himself worth double the value of a normal batsman in the side, while the all-rounder Sobers had a Test batting average of 57.78 and took 235 Test wickets.

"He's actually got six batsmen because Bradman himself was twice as good as anyone else in history," Perry said. "So Bradman felt this makes six effective batsmen, that's his card trick.

"He then had the great luxury of picking the most talented bowling line-up imaginable."

Perry added Bradman was in an excellent position to pick a world team considering he was a brilliant Australian selector for 37 years.

"He just happened to be the greatest cricketer of all time to add to that and a superb captain," Perry said.

The author said he would be writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ask that they consider staging a three-Test series every four years between a Rest of the World XI and the world's leading cricket nation at the time.

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) public affairs general manager Brendan McClements said the idea had never been discussed at ACB or ICC level, but both bodies often received suggestions on such topics.

Mail Cricket Editor