Dravid, Ponting inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

HALL OF FAME

whether they will be heading to the 2019 World Cup at home as favourites or with doubts in mind. The injury to Jasprit Bumrah has upset the balance of the Indian bowling attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav can be incisive with the new ball and Hardik Pandya is proving effective with his variations but Bumrah provides the X-factor. He is the complete package, with the ability to deliver at any stage of the game. In his absence, Siddarth Kaul comes into the reckoning if Kohli seeks an extra pace option.

There are some serious selection dilemmas for Kohli, but none bigger than accommodating KL Rahul. The kind of form he displayed in the Indian Premier League and in the second T20I against Ireland, the captain’s issue is how to keep him out. Southpaw Suresh Raina has not done badly either. England have an equally formidable batting unit revolving around Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler, so much so that Test captain Joe Root is struggling to keep his place. at Durban, 2007 Eoin Morgan at Birmingham, 2014 Jade Dernbach at Manchester, 2011

ENGLAND

Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting were inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame for their stupendous achievements in international cricket.

Along with the two legends, retired England woman wicketkeeper-batter Claire Taylor was also named in the ‘Hall of Fame’ during a ceremony in Dublin on Sunday. Dravid became only the fifth player from India to be named in the elite list.

The other four Indians are former skippers Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble. Ponting is the 25th from Australia to receive the honour.

“It is a matter of great honour to be named by the ICC in the Cricket Hall of Fame. To find your name in a list of all-time greats across generations is something one only dreams of while setting out on a cricket career and the kind of recognition that would delight any player,” Dravid said.

“I am thankful to my near and dear ones as well as players I have played with and against, coaches and officials who have backed me over the years and helped me develop as a cricketer,” said Dravid, who scored 13,288 runs in 164 Tests with 36 centuries and 10,889 runs in 344 ODIs with 12 centuries.

Ponting too said he was deeply honoured. “I loved every moment of my journey as a player and am so very proud of the team and personal achievements along the way.” Ponting, 43, ended his career in 2012, accumulating 13,378 runs in 168 Tests with 41 centuries and 13,704 runs in 325 ODIs with 30 centuries. Ponting is second in the list of top scorers in Tests while Dravid is fourth. With his classical technique and monkish patience, ‘The Wall’ ended up with 13,288 runs in 164 Tests with an average of 52.31

With 619 wickets in 132 Tests, Kumble is India’s top wickettaker in Tests and third in the all-time list

In 67 Tests Bedi took 266 wickets at an average of 28.71. He was part of India’s famous spin quartet in the 60s and 70s

The first batsman to reach the milestone of 10,000 Test runs, the little master was known for his copybook technique and solid defence