Dravid in, no place for Sachin in Sangakkara’s all-time XI
London, June 29 (IANS) Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid is the lone Indian to find a place in former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s list of all-time XI, led by islander Aravinda De Silva.
The list has four Australians and three Lankans while a lone spot for Indian, Pakistan, South African and West Indian players. It includes nobody from England or New Zealand.
Unlike former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who preferred to have batting icon Sachin Tendulkar for the opening slot, Sangakkara chose to have Dravid as the opening partner with Australian Matthew Hayden.
“Matthew Hayden will be at the top of the order facing the first ball and to complement him, I have got Rahul Dravid,” Sangakkara said in a video published on social media by the Lord’s Cricket Ground.
The iconic wicketkeeper-batsman chose his ‘all time favourite batsman’ Brian Lara along with former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting for the No.3 and 4 slots.
Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis found himself at No.5 while legendary Australian stumper Adam Gilchrist will be at No.6 besides donning the gloves.
In the bowling department, 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 skipper Wasim Akram.
Sangakkara’s team: Matthew Hayden, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Aravinda De Silva (Captain), Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vaas.
