Australia may have slipped from the top of ODI team rankings, but that
has not stopped them from picking their best ever one day team.
On the occasion of 20th anniversary of its maiden World Cup
triumph, Cricket Australia announced an `initial 30-member squad`, which
features Indian coach Greg Chappell, who with brother Ian played in the
first ever ODI on Jan 5, 1971.
The list is the first stage in the process of identifying Australia`s
best ever ODI team of 12, to be announced at the `Celebration of Australian
One-Day International Cricket` in Sydney on Feb 27.
The function will also honour the heroes of 1987 World Cup
winning team and farewell Ricky Ponting`s team to the 2007 World Cup
in the Caribbean.
The list of top 30 players came from the votes cast by the 163 players who
have represented Australia in the limited-overs game since its inception in
1971.
Seven are current players and part of the 2007 World Cup squad,
while eight of them have captained Australia.
Also included are modern legends Steve Waugh, who has played the most number
of ODIs (325), and Test cricket`s leading wicket-taker Shane Warne.
The top 30 Australian ODI cricketers: Terry Alderman, Michael Bevan, David
Boon, Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Simon Davis, Adam Gilchrist,
Jason Gillespie, Gary Gilmour, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Dean Jones, Brett
Lee Darren Lehmann, Dennis Lillee, Damien Martyn, Greg Matthews, Craig McDermott,
Glenn McGrath, Tom Moody, Simon O`Donnell, Ricky Ponting, Bruce Reid, Paul Reiffel,
Andrew Symonds, Doug Walters, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh.
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