“If Cricket is a religion, Sachin is the God.” It pleases every Indian to hear this. But there are many more whose contribution to the game has been as, or more, or less spectacular than the Master Blaster. The countdown for the Top Ten Cricket Players Includes batsmen and bowlers alike.This list comprises of the recent cricketers, therefore the greats like Alan Border and Sir Garfield Sobers have not been mentioned.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind):

Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.In 2002, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, next to Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one day international (ODI) batsman of all time, next to Viv Richards. Tendulkar was the only player of the current generation to be included in Bradman’s Eleven, the dream team of Donald Bradman, published in his biography.

Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in both Test matches and ODIs, and also the batsman with the most centuries in either form of the game. The first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined, he now has more than eighty international centuries.

On October 17, 2008, when he surpassed Brian Lara’s record for the most runs scored in Test Cricket, he also became the first batsman to score 12,000 runs in that form of the game, having also been the third batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket.

He was also the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals, and also the first player to cross every subsequent 1000-run mark that has been crossed in ODI cricket history.

Tendulkar surpassed Australia’s Allan Border to become the player to cross the 50-run mark the most number of times in Test cricket history, and also the second ever player to score 10 Test centuries against Australia, after only Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years back.Padma Vibhushan award, India’s second highest civilian award, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Tendulkar has been honored with the award, India’s highest sporting honor.

2. Brian Lara :

He is widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen ever. He topped the Test batting rankings on several occasions and holds several cricketing records.

He also holds the record for the highest individual score in a test innings after scoring 400 not out against England at Antigua in 2004.

Remarkably, he is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in first class games over the course of a senior career. Lara also holds the test record of scoring most number of runs in a single over, when he scored 28 runs off an over by Robin Peterson of South Africa in 2003.

3. Sir Donald George Bradman (Eng):

I know. I know. He is not recent. But how can we leave him!!!

Often referred to as The Don,he was widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman’s career Test batting average of 99.94 has been claimed to be statistically the greatest achievement in any major sport.

As a captain and administrator Bradman was committed to attacking, entertaining cricket; he drew spectators in record numbers. He hated the constant adulation, however, and it affected how he dealt with others.

Following an enforced hiatus, due to the Second World War, he made a dramatic comeback, captaining an Australian team known as “The Invincibles” on a record-breaking unbeaten tour of England.

4. Ricky Ponting (Aus):

He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional right-arm medium pace bowler.

Ponting reached international standards at a young age for a batsman, making his One Day International and Test debuts in 1995 at the age of 20. However, his progress was not unhindered.

He lost his place in the team several times due to lack of form and discipline issues, before rising to the One Day International captaincy in early 2002 and becoming Test captain in early 2004.

In recent years, he has been consistently ranked in the top-ten batsmen in both One Day International cricket and Test matches in the official ICC ratings, and has been ranked number one for substantial periods.

5. Jacques Kallis (SA):

As an all-rounder he is a talented right-handed batsman and fast-medium swingbowler. He is the only Test cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than 10,000 runs and 250 wickets.

Often criticised for his apparent unwillingness to dominate the opposition and score runs quickly, Kallis has demonstrated increasing willingness to attack with the bat in hand in recent years, and from October-December 2007 produced a remarkable streak of 5 centuries in 4 Test Matches. With 30 Test centuries, one more than Sir Donald Bradman, Kallis has established himself as one of the modern greats of the game.

He was named Leading Cricketer in the World in the 2008 Wisden for his performances in 2007 in addition to being the ICC Test Player of the Year and ICC Player of the Year in 2005.

6. Shaun Pollock (SA):

Considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team. He was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003. He took over 400 test wickets and scored over 3,700 test runs in his 107 test matches.

Considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team. He

7. Muttiah Muralidharan (Sri Lanka):

Rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002.

Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in both Test cricket and in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Muralitharan became the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket when overtook the previous record-holder Shane Warne on 3 December 2007 in longer version of the game.

Muralitharan had previously held the record when he surpassed Courtney Walsh’s 519 wickets in 2004. But he suffered a shoulder injury later that year and was then overtaken by Warne.

8. Stephen Fleming (New Zealand):

Known for his astute tactical abilities, he is New Zealand’s most capped test player with 111 appearances, longest-serving and most successful captain, having led the side to 28 victories and having won Test match series’ against India, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Fleming played in the 2008 Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings after being signed for US$350,000. On 9 May 2007 Fleming married his long term partner Kelly Payne in a ceremony held in Wellington.

9.  Sunil  Gavaskar  (Ind):

Widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsman in test match history, Gavaskar set world records during his career for the most runs and most centuries scored by any batsman. He held the record of 34 Test centuries for almost two decades before it was broken by Sachin Tendulkar in December 2005. He was widely admired for his technique against fast bowling.

10.  Shoaib  Akhtar (Pak):

Blessed with the ability to throw the ball at 160.9 km/hr, the broke all world records. This also earned him the name Rawalpindi Express. His ability to bowl fast yorkers, well disguised slow balls, swinging deliveries, and sharp bouncers made him lethal even on dead pitches.

He has always stuck close to controversy, whether it be about on-field behavior, or about not being a team player.