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Sydney: Five specialist bowlers plus all-rounder Gary Sobers make up the late Sir Donald Bradman's Dream Team revealed in a book launched here on Monday. [an error occurred while processing this directive]Bradman's team contains only one current player - India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar. He went for the leg-spin of Bill O'Reilly and Clarie Grimmet, who had bowled in tandem with enormous success under Bradman, rather than Shane Warne.Bradman, who died at his Adelaide home in February aged 92, admitted history might prove him wrong about Warne. He picked Australian greats Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee, whom he labelled the game's best-ever paceman, to lead an awesome attack.Australia's Arthur Morris, and Barry Richards, who missed out on a lot of Test cricket because of the apartheid ban on South Africa, were chosen to open the batting. Morris, one of a handful of survivors of Bradman's 1948 Invincibles, was too much of a diplomat and gentleman to comment on whether or not he deserved to be named."I'm pleased, I'm proud," was all the 79-year-old, who was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1949, would say.When Bradman was bowled for a duck in his last Test innings at The Oval in 1948, Morris was at the other end and went on to score the most forgotten 196 in the game's history. Bradman chose only four specialist batsmen - himself, Morris, Richards and Tendulkar with Sobers at No 5."If they can't make 500, who can?" was Bradman's argument.Sir Donald amassed 6,996 Test runs in 80 innings during the 1930s and 1940s at an unrivalled average of 99.94, to be acknowledged as the world's greatest ever cricketer. But the man himself had another choice.When the author asked him who was the first name he put down, Bradman said, without hesitation, "Sobers"."He offers balance and variety with bat and ball. He is, in my opinion, the greatest cricketer of all time," he said.Bradman's Team: Arthur Morris (Australia), Barry Richards (South Africa), Don Bradman (Australia), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Gary Sobers (West Indies), Don Tallon (Australia), Ray Lindwall (Australia), Dennis Lillee (Australia), Alec Bedser (England), Bill O'Reilly (Australia), Clarrie Grimmett (Australia) and Wally Hammond (England - 12th man)
Copyright AFP 2001
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