Sachin, Donald in ICC Hall of Fame

London, july 19

Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar has been inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame alongside South African pace legend Allan Donald. Joining Tendulkar and Donald in the Hall of Fame was two-time World Cup-winning Australian woman cricketer Cathryn Fitzpatrick. “It is an honour to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, which cherishes the contribution of cricketers over generations. They have all contributed to the growth and popularity of the game and I am happy to have done my bit,” Tendulkar said at the induction ceremony. 

He thanked his family and coach, who have supported him in his journey in international cricket for close to two-and-a-half decades.

Tendulkar was inducted immediately after becoming eligible for induction, which requires that a player should have played his last international match at least five years before. The 46-year-old former right-hand batsman is regarded the greatest to have played the game along with Sir Donald Bradman and remains the top run-accumulator in both Tests and the ODIs. He is the sixth Indian to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. 

‘White Lightning’

The 52-year-old Donald is one of the finest bowlers to have played the game and had 330 Test and 272 ODI wickets to his credit before calling it quits in 2003. Donald, known as the ‘White Lightning’, was arguably South Africa’s fastest bowler ever and finished with 330 Test and 272 ODI wickets. He is one of the players credited with South Africa’s success in the game after their return to international cricket in 1991.

Fastest bowler in women’s cricket

Fitzpatrick is the second highest wicket-taker of all time in women’s cricket with 180 ODI scalps and 60 in Tests. As a coach, she guided the Australian women’s team to three World Cup titles. Fitzpatrick, the eighth woman to win the award, was the fastest bowler in the women’s cricket for a period of 16 years, ending her career with 180 wickets in 109 matches, a record then. She helped Australia win two ICC Women’s World Cups and finished with 60 wickets in 13 Tests. 

ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said: “I would like to congratulate all three players, who enrich the list of all-time greats already members of this select club.” — PTI

Indians in ICC Hall of Fame

• Sachin Tendulkar  (2019)
• Rahul Dravid (2018)
• Anil Kumble (2015)
• Kapil Dev (2009)
• Bishan Singh Bedi (2009)
• Sunil Gavaskar (2009)