Top 10 Cricketers of All Time

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Cricket, a favourite sport for millions of lives on this planet. A bat-and-ball team game caught the attention of the whole world with the entertainment it has got. It all started in 16th century, the game was first played in England, believed that it was originally a children's game later adults too had started playing the same. Growth of cricket is seen during the 17th century in England and numerous references too available to indicate the same. Cricket became the national sport of England in the 18th century and the game too underwent major developments, new Laws were introduced in the game include three stump wicket, leg before wicket, etc. Well then soon after the game became more popular on the land of the 'Empire on which the sun never sets', it spread to other nations along with the colonial rush. In fact the British Empire had been instrumental in spreading the same overseas. By the middle of the 19th century, Cricket had become well established in many parts of the world especially where the British had their colonies. Organised competition at county and Test level developed, the last two decades before the World War - I, the Golden Age of cricket. Best players evolved from time to time, dominated the cricket world with their spectacular performance. Here is the list of the top ten all time best players of the The Gentleman's game.

Donald Bradman

1. Donald Bradman

Sir Donald George Bradman, often referred to as The Don, was born on 27 August 1908 in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia. The greatest batsman of all time, achieved 99.94 as his career 'Test batting' average which has been claimed to be the greatest achievement in any major sport. Bradman made his first-class debut at the Adelaide Oval, aged 19, in his 20-year playing career, Bradman became Australia's sporting idol. Apart from the batting average other records in his career include, 974 runs - Most runs in one series by any player, in 1930; Most double centuries, 12; Most triple centuries, 2; etc. Bradman was the first living Australian to have a museum dedicated to his life. His image has appeared on postage stamps and coins. The Royal Australian Mint issued with Bradman's image on it, a $5 commemorative gold coin. Sir Donald Bradman was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

Sachin Tendulkar

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2. Sachin Tendulkar

One of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was born on 24 April 1973 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. Sachin is the leading run-scorer, he is leading century maker in both Test and one-day international cricket. Just 12 years into his career by 2002, he became one of the greatest Test and ODI batsmen of all the time. Tendulkar is the only player as of now in Test Cricket history to score fifty centuries. He scored nearly 50 centuries in ODIs too, combined with test centuries; he now has 99 centuries in international cricket. Into the international cricket in 1989, Sachin Tendulkar now has become the cricketer to appear in the highest number of Test and ODI matches also the most runs scorer in both the forms of cricket. He is the only player to score 200 runs in a one-day international match. Tendulkar surpassed many legends in the game of cricket with his records. In his 22 years of career, sachin received many honors and awards both in home land and abroad.

3. Vivian Richards

West Indian cricketer Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards was born on 7 March 1952 in St. John's, Antigua. Vivian Richards was considered the best player of One Day International innings of all time. Richards made his Test match debut in 1974. He scored 8,540 runs in 121 matches, 24 centuries, etc were some of his records in his test career. He is also the scorer of the fastest-ever Test century, he made it in just 56 balls. Richards was part of the West Indian cricket team when they won the inaugural Cricket World Cup. In the following World Cup in 1979, Richard recorded century in the final. Richards captained the West Indies team, he maintained a record as a captain who never lost a Test series. In 2000, was voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century.

Brian Lara

4. Brian Lara

Brian Charles Lara, West Indian international cricket player was born on 2 May 1969, in Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago. His debut into international cricket was in 1990. One of the greatest batsmen of all time, Lara, on several occasions topped the Test batting rankings and holds several cricketing records. His highest individual score in first-class cricket was 501 not out, also he holds the record for the highest individual score of 400 not out in a test innings. Lara is the only cricketer to have ever scored a century, a double century, a triple century and a quadruple century in Test matches. He also scored a quintuple century in first class games. He is considered one of the best batsmen in the history of Test cricket. He was the all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket but was surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar in 2008. He achieved the feat of scoring centuries against all Test-playing nations. By scoring 28 runs in a match against South Africa he achieved the world record of scoring most runs in a single over in Test cricket. In 1994 and 1995, Lara was awarded the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World award. He also received the prestigious award of the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

Muttiah Muralitharan

5. Muttiah Muralitharan

Sri Lankan cricketer, Muralitharan was born on 17 April 1972 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, a cricket reference book in 2002 rated him the greatest Test match bowler. He made his Test debut in 1992 and ODI in 1993. Muralitharan was one of the most successful bowlers in the game of cricket. He is the highest wicket-taker in both Test cricket and in One Day Internationals. He played 133 Test matches and took 800 wickets, thus became the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. 519 wickets in played 314 One Day Internationals, he became the leading wicket taker in here too.

Also See : Cricket World Cup Records

Cricket World Cup Records
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the championship of men's One Day International cricket held once in every four years. It is the most viewed sporting event, world's fourth largest tournament aswell.

Garfield Sobers

6. Garfield Sobers

Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, West Indies cricketer was born on 28 July 1936 in Bridgetown, Barbados. He is considered as one of the greatest ever all-rounder in cricket. He made his Test debut in 1954. Sobers captained West Indies, the team has got immediate success against Australia, this was first win for West Indies against Australia in a Test series. He enjoyed spectacular success in England too and widely acclaimed as King Cricket. In 1968 Sobers achieved the feat of six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket and this was the first-ever record by any batsman. Left-handed as both batsman and bowler, Sobers was an outstanding all-round cricketer the world has seen, a brilliant batsman, splendid fielder and a bowler of extraordinary skill. For his services to cricket, In 1975, Sober was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. He was awarded as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1964. He won Walter Lawrence Trophy in 1974. In 2000, Sober was chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Century.

Steve Waugh

7. Steve Waugh

Australian cricketer, Stephen Rodger Waugh was born on 2 June 1965 in Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia. He made his first-class debut in 1984-85 for New South Wales. His Test debut was in 1985, ODIs was in 1986. The 1987 World Cup was considered the turning point of Waugh's career. Waugh's performance was good, especially bowling. He later became a key player in Australian Cricket Team. Waugh captained team Australia and began planning for a more modern team for the Cricket World Cup in 1999, he succeeded in leading the team to win the tournament. Waugh captained the Australian Test cricket team from 1999 to 2004. Right-handed batsman, Right-arm medium bowler, Waugh was successful as an all-rounder. Waugh was honored with the Australian of the Year award in 2004. He was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

Sir Ian Botham

8. Sir Ian Botham

Sir Ian Terence Botham was born on 24 November 1955 in Heswall, Cheshire, England. He was a genuine all-rounder, captained England cricket test team. He holds a number of Test cricket records, he is regarded as a great all-rounder. Botham made his Test debut in 1977, he was recognised as one of England's greatest Test players. He holds the record of the fastest to achieve runs and wickets aswell in test cricket. In the same Test match on 5 occasions, Botham scored a century and took 5 wickets in an innings. Also he scored a century and took ten wickets in a Test match and became the first player to set such a record. He also holds a record of six sixes in a single Ashes Test Match. A talented cricketer, he was a footballer too, appeared in The Football League for 11 times. In 2004 he was honored with BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. He was knighted by the Queen in 2007.

Shane Warne

9. Shane Warne

Australian international cricketer, Shane Keith Warne was born on 13 September 1969 in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia. Warne was one of the greatest bowlers in the history of Cricket. He made his Test debut in 1992 and ODI in 1993. He sas the record for the most wickets taken by any bowler in Test cricket, well he was surpassed by Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka later with regard to most wickets record. Warne took over 1000 international wickets both in Tests and One-Day Internationals. Right-arm leg break bowler, Warne was successful as a batsman too though was come in lower-order. In 1994, He was chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year. King of Spin, Shane Warne, was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality in 2005.