ICC Hall of Fame special inductions announced to mark the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the addition of 10 cricket icons into the Hall of Fame to celebrate the prestigious history of Test cricket. The same coincides with the first-ever ICC World Test Championship Final. The 10 legends added have made a significant contribution to the history of Test cricket, taking the total number of illustrious ICC Hall of Famers to 103. Aubrey Faulkner, Monty Noble, Sir Learie Constantine, Stan McCabe, Ted Dexter, Vinoo Mankad, Desmond Haynes, Bob Willis, Andy Flower and Kumar Sangakkara are those players.

Aubrey Faulkner and Monty Noble are the cricketers whose contributions to the game were prior to 1918. Faulkner played 25 Tests, scored 1,754 runs at 40.79, took 82 wickets at 26.58, and was one of the pioneers of the “googly” at the time. He was the only man to head both the ICC Batting and Bowling rankings in Test cricket. Noble played 42 Tests, accumulated 1,997 runs at an average of 30.25, took 121 wickets at 25.00, and is considered one of the greatest Australian all-rounders.

Sir Learie Constantine of West Indies and Stan McCabe of Australia are the players whose greatest contributions to the game were from 1918-1945. Constantine played 18 Tests, scored 635 runs at 19.24, took 58 wickets at 30.10, and can be considered the first great West Indian all-rounder. Stan McCabe of Australia played 39 Tests, amassed 2,748 runs at 48.21, took 36 wickets at 42.86, and was a right-handed batsman of the highest class.

Vinoo Mankad receives due recognition

Vinoo Mankad marks the first addition from India, joining English cricketer Ted Dexter as the players whose most noteworthy contributions were from 1946 to 1970. Dexter played 62 Tests, scored 4,502 runs at 47.89, took 66 wickets at 34.93, and was a superb batsman who combined a firm defence with the ability to destroy any bowling attack off both the front and back foot. Mankad played 44 Tests, accumulated 2,109 runs at 31.47, took 162 wickets at 32.32, and was an opening batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler.

“Well I wasn’t completely aware of the ICC Hall of Fame until I found out I was going to be inducted, so after looking at some of the names in it and knowing that cricket deserves to have a Hall of Fame, I was really chuffed to hear the news. The names in the ICC Hall of Fame include some super players, some of whom I played with, against, and some of whom I had a lot to do with when I was working in English cricket. My fondest memory as a player is probably the New Year’s Ashes Test 1962/63 against the might of Benaud’s Australia. We needed almost 240 to win the match on the final day and boy did I feel good when we got over the line! That is something I will never forget,” said Dexter as quoted by ICC.

Windies cricketer Desmond Haynes and English bowler Bob Willis’ contributions to the game from 1971 to 1995 have resulted in their addition to the Hall of Famers. Haynes played 116 Tests, scored 7,487 runs at 42.29 and stitched a prolific opening partnership alongside Gordon Greenidge. Willis accounted for 325 dismissals at 25.20 in 90 Tests, spearheading the English bowling attack.

“I have played Cricket with some of the greats of the game from the West Indies who are also inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame. That team from 1978 till about the 1990s was a fantastic team. As a young boy growing up in Barbados, I never dreamt that I would be one day inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame. I have really come a long way and I am very happy for this honour. The journey was not smooth, I started playing cricket in a little area of St. James in Barbados where I was loved by everyone in the community, who also helped me stay out of trouble. This is also for my grandmother, my mum and my wife, all of whom supported me in my journey,” stated Haynes.

The final two additions are Zimbabwe cricketer Andy Flower and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara. Flower played 63 Tests, scoring 4,794 runs at 51.54, took 151 catches with nine stumpings as a left-handed wicket-keeper batsman. Kumar amassed 12,400 runs in 134 matches at 57.40, took 182 catches and 20 stumpings.