Bird, who officiated in 66 Tests and stood in three World Cup finals during a 28-year career as a first-class umpire, included former opener and captain Sunil Gavaskar of India. Opening the batting with Gavaskar in Bird’s XI was South African Barry Richards. Bird then goes on to include legends Vivian Richards and Greg Chappell. He also nominates another player ‘largely lost because of apartheid’, Graeme Pollock, as part of the list. Sir Garfield Sobers is an obvious choice in any such list and Bird simply states ‘the all-rounder was the greatest I have ever seen play the game’. ICC Hall of Fame and wicketkeeper-batsman Alan Knott is the only Englishman and compatriot of Bird to feature in the list. Shane Warne of Australia finds a spot as well. Dennis Lillee and West Indian spinner Lance Gibbs round off the eleven.
DICK BIRD’S GREATEST TEST XI:
Sunil Gavaskar, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell, Garfield Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Allan Knott (wk), Imran Khan (capt), Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, Lance Gibbs.
