An all-time ODI XI with players from all ten major ODI nations

Only one of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan made it to the XIDisclaimer: This team selection is entirely based on the writer's opinion. ODI cricket is now being played by a number of nations around the world with the 2015 World Cup witnessing as many as 14 teams contesting it out for the biggest prize in the sport. But ten nations have had a considerable history in ODI cricket. These nations are Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe and West Indies.All these nations have produced players that have left an indelible impression on the game. These quality players have transcended their nations boundary and entertained fans all around the world.So let’s envisage an all time ODI XI which has players from all these ten ODI nations. So there will be only one nation that has two players in the team and all the other nations will have one player representing their country.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game

Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the best batsman the world has seen after Sir Don Bradman. Born with immense talent, he made full use of it and shouldered the Indian batting for years and his wicket was a bell of loss for the Indian team in the 90’s.

Sachin had an exceptional ODI career which spanned for more than 22 years. He scored a mammoth 18426 runs from 463 matches at an average of 44.83 and with a strike rate of 86.23. The records he has broken in the game is more than enough to warranty his place in the side as an opener.

#2 Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist was a true entertainer

Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist revolutionised the role of a wicketkeeper-batsman in the game of cricket with his aggressive style of batting adopting a simple philosophy while batting – ‘see the ball, hit the ball’. He formed an exceptionally successful opening pair with Matthew Hayden in ODIs.

Adam Gilchrist had a good ODI career in which he played 287 matches and scored 9619 runs at an average of 35.89. The most impressive thing about his ODI career was his strike rate which was 96.94. He would be a great sight to watch alongside Sachin Tendulkar.

#3 Sir Viv Richards

Viv Richards was well ahead of his time in the ODI format

Vivian Richards is arguably the best ODI cricketer of all time. At a time when batsman’s strike rate hovered in the 60’s and 70’s, his strike rate was an imposing 90.20 and his average was an outstanding 47.00.

A player who loved to decimate bowling attacks, Richards was a key player in West Indies two World Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979.He was handy with the ball as well and picked up 118 wickets in 187 ODIs he played. It is no surprise to see Viv Richards gracing our team.

#4 AB de Villiers

Ab de Villiers is a true modern day great

I have no doubt in my mind that when De Villiers announces his retirement from ODI cricket, he will go down in history as an all-time great. ’Mr 360 degree’, as he is fondly called due to his ability to score all over the ground with his unbelievable and unorthodox strokeplay, De Villiers is one of the most complete batsmen in modern day cricket.

His ODI record shows his batting prowess. He has scored 8403 runs in 195 ODIs at a mammoth average of 54.21 and an amazing strike rate of 100.28. He will be the backbone of our middle order.

#5 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib al Hasan is one of the most premier all-rounders in the game at present

Shakib Al Hasan is without a doubt the best player Bangladesh has produced in its cricketing history. An all-rounder of immense potential, he has been a key member of Bangladesh over the last decade and has been a cornerstone in many Bangladesh wins.

Shakib has played 156 ODIs and scored 4382 runs at an average of 35.33. The southpaw has also picked up 201 wickets at an average of 28.35. He will be an ideal allrounder in our team with his left arm batting and bowling.

#6 MS Dhoni (C)

Dhoni will be the captain of the side

MS Dhoni is perhaps the best finisher in ODI history. He has evolved immensely from a hard hitting basher with long hairs to an accumulator of runs with a perfect sense to move into the fifth gear.

Dhoni has played 270 ODIs and scored 8832 runs at an average of 52.26. One of the modern day ODI greats, Dhoni will lead this team of stars as he has all the credentials to lead this team as he proved with India’s triumphs at the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy under his captaincy.

#7 Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff was the main architect of england’s victory over Australia in the 2005 Ashes series win

Andrew Flintoff will always be remembered for England’s 2005 Ashes series win over Australia when he performed with both bat and ball to take his team to a famous series win. Flintoff was a perfect all-rounder with the ability to take games away with his aggressive batting and ability to win matches with his fast-medium bowling.

‘Freddie’ played 141 ODIs and scored 3394 runs at an average of 32.01 and a strike rate of 88.82. He also picked up 169 wickets at an average of 24.38. A true match winner, Flintoff will represent England in our team.

#8 Heath Streak

Streak led the Zimbabwean bowling attack for a number of years with much success

Heath Streak and Andy Flower were the faces of the Zimbabwe team in 90’s and early 21st century but due to the presence two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the team already, we have chosen Heath Streak as Zimbabwe’s representative in this team.

A strongly built player, Streak was the leader of Zimbabwe’s bowling attack for a number of years. He was a handy batsman as well who liked to play his strokes. Streak played 189 ODIs for Zimbabwe and picked up 239 wickets at an average of 29.82. He also scored 2943 runs at an average of 28.29.

#9 Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram was instrumental in Pakistan’s triumph at the 1992 World Cup

‘The Sultan of Swing’, Wasim Akram was a fantastic bowler with his ability to swing the new ball and come back in the later overs to reverse swing the old ball being the highlight among his many skills. He had the knack of picking up key wickets as he showed in the 1992 World Cup final. He also seemed able to bowl toe-crushing yorker at will, much to the horror of the opposition batsmen.

Wasim played 356 ODIs and picked up 502 wickets at an exceptional average of 23.52. He was also a handy lower order batsman and scored 3717 runs at an average of 16.52 and a strike rate of 88.33.

#10 Muttiah Muralitharan

Murali will be the specialist spinner in our team

Muttiah Muralitharan polarised opinion like few others in the game. Some believed he was a magician with the ball while some believed that the rules were changed in order to make his bowling appear legitimate while in fact he was actually chucking.

Controversies aside, Muralitharan remains the highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs. Murali picked up 534 wickets in 350 ODIs at an average of 23.08 and an economy rate of 3.93. Murali will be the only specialist spinner in our side.

#11 Shane Bond

Shane Bond will represent New Zealand in our team

Shane Bond, with his exceptional pace and abilities to pick up wickets, would have undoubtedly gone on to become a legend, had injuries not cut short his career to just a promising one.The best fast bowler New Zealand has produced after Richard Hadlee, Bond’s bowling was a sight to behold.

Bond played only 82 ODIs but left his impression like few others could. He picked up 147 wickets at an exceptional average of 20.88 which includes 7 four-for and four five-wicket hauls.