NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian batsman
Sachin Tendulkar has found a place in
Graeme Swann's All-time XI in which the former England offspinner has included himself with James Anderson being the only active cricketer making the cut and that too as a 12th man.
The team includes four Australians [Don Bradman,
Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath], three Englishmen [Jack Hobbs, Swann, Anderson], three West Indians [Gordon Greenidge, Garfield Sobers, Brian Lara] and one each from India [Tendulkar] and Pakistan [Wasim Akram].
Swann considers Lara as the best batsman he has bowled to while he regards Tendulkar as the best player of his generation. "Tendulkar is the best player of my generation. I would prefer bowling to Sachin than Lara but it's a touch and go," he said in a video posted by the Lord's Cricket Ground on YouTube.
On the reason why he left out Jacques Kallis as the allrounder and included Sobers, Swann said, "I wanted to put Jacques Kallis in at six but I needed a left-armer for foot holes (for the spinners)."
He has two quality spinners in the XI – one Warne the other himself.
"
Shane Warne, best bowler of all time. Full Stop," he said. "Graeme Swann, because it's my team. I've got a left-armer, foot hole. I'm in," he said with a cheeky smile.
Swann's All-time XI: Sir
Jack Hobbs,
Gordon Greenidge,
Sir Donald Bradman
,
Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Garfield Sobers, Adam Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), Shane Warne, Graeme Swann,
Glenn McGrath,
Wasim Akram, James Anderson (12th man).