Richie Benaud's Greatest XI

Richie Benaud’s Greatest XI is the title of a 2004 DVD in which cricketing doyen Richie Benaud selected an imaginary cricket team, from the best players available from all countries and all eras. Utilising a tactic he adopted from Don Bradman, Benaud short-listed three players for each position before finalising the team.

The team

Opening batsmen

• Jack Hobbs
• Sunil Gavaskar

Number 3

• Don Bradman (Captain)

Numbers 4 & 5

• Sachin Tendulkar
• Viv Richards

All rounder

• Imran Khan
• Garry Sobers

Wicket-keeper

• Adam Gilchrist

Spin bowler

• Shane Warne

Fast bowlers

• Sydney Barnes
• Dennis Lillee

Twelfth man: Keith Miller

Manager: Frank Worrell

The short list

Openers:

  • Victor Trumper
  • Gordon Greenidge
  • Len Hutton
  • Arthur Morris
  • Jack Hobbs
  • Sunil Gavaskar

Number 3:

  • Don Bradman
  • Walter Hammond
  • George Headley

Middle Order:

  • Graeme Pollock
  • Brian Lara
  • Frank Worrell
  • Greg Chappell
  • Viv Richards
  • Sachin Tendulkar

All-rounders:

  • Keith Miller
  • Garry Sobers
  • Imran Khan
  • Ian Botham
  • Richard Hadlee
  • Kapil Dev

Wicket-keeper:

  • Rod Marsh
  • Ian Healy
  • Adam Gilchrist

Spin-Bowler:

  • Bill O'Reilly
  • Abdul Qadir
  • Shane Warne

Pace-Bowlers:

  • Ray Lindwall
  • Fred Trueman
  • Glenn McGrath
  • Harold Larwood
  • Dennis Lillee
  • Sydney Barnes

There were some notable exclusions from this list including Muttiah Muralitharan and none of the 1970s and 1980s West Indies pace attack such as Malcolm Marshall and Curtly Ambrose. Richie Benaud himself could have arguably been one of the all-rounders.