ICC Cricket Week: Ambassadors Program

ICC has invited some of the legendary figures of world cricket to become Year 2000 Cricket Ambassadors. Under the auspices of the Development Program the Ambassadors will attend events such as coaching clinics, umpire seminars and cricket festivals to enhance the promotion of the sport.

Bishen Bedi - One of the supreme artists among the great left-arm spinners that have graced world cricket. A successful captain of the Indian Test team, for whom he took 266 wickets in 67 appearances, who is still revered as one of the masters of his craft among those who saw him bowl.

'Dickie' Bird - After a first-class playing career in English county cricket, he became the most recognised and the most respected umpire on the Test circuit, officiating in 66 Tests and standing in three World Cup finals.

Allan Border - One of Australia's most successful left-handed batsmen during a distinguished Test career that saw him play a record 156 times for his country, easily topping the list of runscorers with 11,174. A shrewd captain, he led Australia in 93 consecutive Test matches, winning 32, and led them to World Cup success in a 1987 Test.

Ian Botham - England's finest all-rounder of the modern era. He played in 102 Tests, taking only 21 to reach the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets. In total, he scored 5,200 Test runs and remains England's leading Test wicket-taker with 383.

Geoffrey Boycott - One of the most dedicated and proficient opening batsmen that England has produced, scoring 8,114 runs during a Test career that spanned 108 matches. One of the select band of batsmen who has recorded a hundred first-class centuries.

Ian Chappell - His outstanding reputation as captain of Australia, with 15 wins during his 30 match reign, might detract from an equally impressive record as a batsman, scoring 5,345 runs and taking 105 catches as a brilliant slip fielder.

Martin Crowe - Without having the luxury of a strong batting lineup to support him, he excelled in his 77 Tests to become New Zealand's highest run-scorer at that level with 5,444. One of the most stylish batsmen that his country has produced, there was a great dependency on him throughout his career Kapil Dev - One of the outstanding all-rounders in Test cricket. He played in 131 matches for India, scoring 5,248 runs but, more significantly, claiming the record for the most wickets in Tests with 434. Captained India to World Cup success in 1983.

Sunil Gavaskar - The leading run-scorer in Indian Test history with 10,122, he lies second on the all-time list in Test cricket and holds the record for the most centuries, with 34 to his credit. To make his record even more impressive, he achieved it as an opening batsman blessed with an immaculate technique.

Tony Greig - 3,599 Test runs and 141 wickets do not reflect the full impact that this South African born all-rounder made on English cricket. A combative player and captain, he was an instrumental figure in World Series Cricket, emigrating to Australia at the conclusion of his playing career and remaining an influential figure in the game.

Sir Richard Hadlee - One of the great fast-medium bowlers of all time he achieved infamy in 86 Tests for New Zealand by taking 431 wickets. He has taken five wickets in an innings (36) and 10 wickets in a match (9) more times than anyone else. Also scored 3,124 Test runs.

Michael Holding - Recognised as one of the truly great practitioners of the art of fast bowling, he took 249 Test wickets to confirm his position among the very best of West Indian fast bowlers. A superb athlete, he combined fierce pace with immaculate control and a shrewd cricketing brain to be the complete fast bowler.

David Houghton - An influential figure in Zimbabwe becoming established as a Test nation. Scored the first of his 4 Test centuries in his country's inaugural match at the age of 35, and went on to score 1,465 runs in his 22 Tests at an average of 43.08.

Asif Iqbal - In his 52 tests for Pakistan he made 3,308 runs as a graceful right-handed batsman while his useful medium-paced bowling brought him 51 wickets. Opponents underestimated him at their peril, for he reserved his best performances for times when they were most needed by his team.

Imran Khan - Undoubtedly Pakistan's greatest all-rounder and one of the country's most successful captains. 3,807 Test runs and 362 wickets in his 88 matches, 48 of them as captain, speak volumes for the man who made such an impact on his country's cricket and who held the World Cup aloft in 1992.

Duleep Mendis - Had the distinction of being in the Sri Lankan side as that country enjoyed Test status for the first time. An aggregate of 1,329 runs in his 24 Tests might appear to be a modest return, but he made 4 centuries and 8 fifties at a time when such individual scores meant so much for the confidence of an emerging nation.

Mushtaq Mohammad - Fourth in line of the great Pakistan dynasty of cricketers, he made his first-class debut at the age of 13, at 15 he scored the first of his 3,643 Test runs, and before he was 19 had recorded the first of his 10 Test centuries. Very much an allrounder, he took 79 Test wickets with his leg-breaks.

Graeme Pollock - Before his Test career had been cut short by South Africa's sporting exile, he had established himself as one of the finest batsmen of the modern era. In just 23 matches for South Africa, this elegant left-hander scored 2,256 runs at an average of 60.97 including 7 centuries.

Mike Procter - Immensely strong as a fast bowler and as a batsman who could destroy opposing attacks, he appeared in just 7 matches before South Africa's exclusion from Test cricket. In that time he demanded the world's attention with 41 wickets along with 226 runs. He might well have challenged the best as an all-rounder.

John Reid - A mighty figure in New Zealand cricket, he played in 58 consecutive Tests, 34 of them as captain during which time he had the honour to lead his country to its first victory. A true all-rounder, he scored 3,428 runs, took 85 wickets, held 43 catches and even made a stumping in Test cricket.

Barry Richards - The fact that he only played 4 Tests before South Africa's exclusion yet scored 508 runs with 2 centuries illustrates what an impact he might have made on international cricket. As it is, the game is left with the memory of one of the most talented batsmen of his or any other age.

Sir Vivian Richards - When he went to the wicket he was like a monarch ascending his throne. He played in 121 Tests, scoring 8,540 runs, and on 50 occasions was captain of a West Indian side that reigned supreme in world cricket. He finished as a winner 27 times as skipper, very often by dint of his own sparkling batting.

Ravi Shastri - He made a sensational Test debut for India at the age of 19 when he was flown to New Zealand and, next day, took the first 6 of a final tally of 151 wickets with his left-arm spin. He also scored 3,830 runs, and holds the distinction of being only the second man to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket.

Sir Garfield Sobers - Perhaps the greatest all-rounder ever to have played cricket. He played 93 times for the West Indies, scoring 8,032 runs as well as taking 235 wickets with left-arm pace, orthodox spin or chinamen. A brilliant fielder, he held 109 catches, everything he did on the field appeared elegant, easy and fun.