No Indian in Richards 'All Star' World Cup team

After the ignominy of being eliminated in the preliminary league stage, the Indian cricketers' reputation suffered another jolt as they were booted out by Sir Vivian Richards from his 'All Star Team of the World Cup', which saw as many as four Aussies and three Lankans making the cut.

Two New Zealanders and a player each from South Africa and England in the All Star Eleven, led by redoubtable Ricky Ponting.

''There is no Sachin Tendulkar, no Rahul Dravid, no Sourav Ganguly in your eleven,'' an Indian reporter asked Richards and the original master blaster of the yore said, ''Well this team has been selected only on the basis of pioneering performances and record-breaking feats in this World Cup and unfortunately no Indian could meet those criteria.

''Yes on any other day a couple of Indians could have made it into my time but not this time,'' he said.

For Richards, Herschelle Gibbs smashing his way into record books with six sixes in an over was the moment of the Cup.

''This tournament featured some great moments with both the ball and bat. For me the one pioneering moment that I'll remember for years to come was Herschelle Gibbs smashing his way into the record books when he hit six sixes in an over,'' he said.

He said the selected 11 have been collectively awarded an impressive 16 Man-of-the-Match awards, led by the Australian duo of Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden, who can claim seven between them.

Richards' All star team comprises of: Matthew Hayden (Aus), Kumar Sangakkara (SL) Ricky Ponting (Captain) (Aus), Kevin Pietersen (Eng), Mahela Jayawardene (SL), Herschelle Gibbs (SA), Scott Styris (NZ), Shaun Tait (Aus), Shane Bond (NZ), Glenn McGrath (Aus), Muttiah Muralitharan (SL).

Reserves: Jacques Kallis (SA), Adam Gilchrist (Aus), Sanath Jayasuriya (SL), Boyd Rankin (Ireland) ---- MOREUNI HSB DH RAI1111

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