1 Sir Viv Richards 64 pts

`There has never been a better player, in my opinion' Ian Botham

`Awesome' David Lloyd

`He hit my good balls for four and my bad ones for six' Bob Willis

`He did things great cricketers dream of!' Dean Jones

`He had talent, charisma and the ability to intimidate opponents before he had even faced a ball' Graham Thorpe

`He had an incredible capacity to change the complexion of the game' Sidath Wettimuny

`He destroyed bowlers mentally …He was the best batsman of my generation by far' Sunil Gavaskar

`He took on the world with a cap' Adam Hollioake

2 Ian Botham 51

`He was not just a great player but also an entertainer' Darren Gough

`He really captured the imagination and hearts of cricket people with his heroics. He is British and proud of it. A super hero' David Lloyd

`Pure inspiration' Nick Knight

`He is a giant in this era. His record is phenomenal and speaks for itself' Jack Russell

`He dominated international cricket with both bat and ball, producing exceptional performances that captured the attention of millions worldwide.' John Traicos

`An inspiration as I grew up' Graham Thorpe

`He was not only idolised by the public but by those that played with him also' John Emburey

An idol to his own team-mates: Ian Botham, Headingley, 1981

3 Shane Warne 34 pts

`He re-invented the art of spin bowling, a facet of the game that had been dying. Through his efforts and his momentous success, he triggered an overall reappraisal in the value and importance of having a spin bowler in a Test line-up' Mark Taylor

`Quite simply a genius. Getting runs against him means real satisfaction' Graham Thorpe

`Changed the view that pace is best' Dean Headley

`Facing him at his best has been the biggest test in my international career – and scoring runs off him has been the biggest thrill' Nasser Hussain

`A phenomenal bowler' Alec Stewart

`My mate, but also another fabulous entertainer, who has revolutionised the game' Darren Gough

`Quite simply a genius': Shane Warne bowls Mike Gatting with his first ball in an Ashes Test

4 Sir Richard Hadlee 23

`Fantastic strike rate in Test cricket. Great contribution to Nottinghamshire. Could be very effective when batting – a real professional' Bill Athey.

`A lone force in the New Zealand attack, on many occasions he kept New Zealand in the game' John Emburey

`As an allrounder he was excellent' Chris Broad

`A matchwinner at the highest level with either bat or ball' Tim Robinson

5 Sachin Tendulkar 18

`Just look at his record. The ability to tear any attack apart. He is still a young man as well' Dennis Lillee

`Because of his ability to destroy high-class bowling' Neil Harvey

6 Allan Border 17.5

`A cricketer who had to work, and turned every opportunity his way. So mentally tough' Dean Jones

`Almost singlehandedly transformed Australia' Adam Hollioake

`He nearly always played to his given talent. You always knew you were in a fight when he walked to the wicket. A great competitor' Mark Greatbatch

`Dragged Australia up and still managed to remain a

world-class player' Graeme Hick

7 Malcolm Marshall 13

`In an era when the Windies dominated, he led the way. Malcolm was a complete freak – short in stature, tall in knowledge. In every game, first-class or international, he had something to prove and he proved he was a champion' Martin Crowe

8 Dennis Lillee 9 pts

`The complete (fast) bowler' Shane Warne

`He could get the best batsmen out under all conditions. Quick, accurate, intelligent and adaptable, he was a matchwinner' Greg Chappell

9 Graham Gooch 8

`He got runs against the world's best and his ability to lead by example was a real inspiration' Alec Stewart

`He is my cricketing mentor and his record and attitude speaks for itself' Nasser Hussain

10 Kapil Dev 7

`He could change the course of the match and win it for his team with either the bat or the ball. He was also an excellent fielder. More importantly he was instrumental in inspiring budding Indian fast bowlers and showing them that even on lifeless pitches there was life for bowlers who could move the ball and pace was not everything' Sunil Gavaskar

`A brilliant talent and an entertainer. To keep going as long as he did on subcontinent pitches was an amazing effort' Robert Croft

Chosen by Gavaskar and Croft: Kapil Dev

11= Wasim Akram 6

 Imran Khan 6

`He was more than just a cricketer and ended up playing for a higher reason than success.' Adam Hollioake.

13 Gordon Greenidge 5

`A superlative, matchwinning opening batsman. Dominated from the first ball, whether in Test or county cricket, against the quicks or spin. No challenge was too great' Wayne Larkins

A pair of gaints: Gordon Greenidge opening for Hampshire with Barry Richards, who gets a mention in dispatches from Dennis Lillee

14 Courtney Walsh 4

`He has given 100% every game he has played. Hasn't changed his attitude since the day he started playing. Never big-headed' Peter Willey

15= Michael Holding 3

`He epitomises everything about a fast bowler athleticism and balance in approach and delivery, genuine pace and consistency' Alex Tudor

Tied at 15th: Australian captians Steve Waugh top right and Greg Chappell bottom right, West Indies captain Brian Lara bottom left and his sometime critic Michael Holding top left

 Brian Lara 3

 Steve Waugh 3

`Always the Aussie wicket we want most. His concentration and mental strength are unbelievable' Darren Gough

 Greg Chappell 3

19 Bob Willis 2

`British – bloody-minded – dedicated – made the most of what he had' David Lloyd

20= Allan Donald 1

`A truly great fast bowler' Alec Stewart

 Sunil Gavaskar 1

 Derek Randall 1

`Greatest character of my time' Chris Broad

 David Gower 1

`Up until the bludgeoner [ Gooch] took over, this man had got more Test runs for England than anyone else. He was very relaxed, laid-back, a pleasure to play for and with, and to watch. His 150 against India at the Oval when we followed on in 1990 was just immaculate and it was made sure we won the series. Good fielder as well, great pair of hands,' Eddie Hemmings

 Javed Miandad 1

`A unique competitor and a brilliant talent. His improvisation was second to none, in both types of the game' John Wright

True great: Allan Donald Top centre Derek Randall Above Gavaskar, Gower, Miandad

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