Cricket: ICC marks centenary year with new Hall of Fame

THE International Cricket Council is to unveil a Hall of Fame as part of its centenary year celebrations. The original list compiled by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations includes 55 players, and more will be added each year.

Of the inaugural list, 22 are English – from WG Grace, who retired in 1899, to Graham Gooch, who last played in 1995 – while there are 13 West Indians, 11 Australians, three Indians, three Pakistanis, two South Africans and one New Zealander.

"Cricket gets plenty right, has plenty to celebrate and to look forward to," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. "It will be a means of recognising the historical contribution of players and officials making cricket what it is."

The ICC's centenary year of 2009 is intended to be a global celebration,

and playing events will include the ICC Women's World Cup, the ICC World Twenty20 event for men and women and the ICC Champions Trophy.

Off the field there will be the opening of the ICC Global Cricket Academy and the inauguration of the ICC's new headquarters – both in Dubai.

The ICC will also celebrate the contribution of volunteers across the world through the award of 1,000 centenary medals. There will be new developments with its social responsibility partnership on HIV/AIDS.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said: "To be recognised by the premier authority in the game, the ICC, and that, too, in its centenary year, is an honour indeed.

"It is a privilege and I am overwhelmed and humbled to be included in such august company as Sir Donald Bradman and the one and only Sir Garry Sobers."

ICC CRICKET HALL OF FAME

55 initial inductees: Sydney Barnes, Bishan Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O'Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell.