Seven new inductees added to ICC Hall of Fame
The ICC announced seven new additions to the ICC Hall of Fame on Monday, with a large group of former greats added as the latest inductees.
ICC Chair Jay Shah welcomed the new members to the Hall of Fame at a gala event at Abbey Road Studios in London.
"Through the ICC Hall of Fame, we pay tribute to the finest players the game has seen, individuals whose remarkable careers have shaped cricket's legacy and inspired generations," Shah said.
“This year, we are privileged to induct seven truly outstanding individuals into this prestigious group. On behalf of the ICC, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of them and hope they cherish this well-deserved recognition as a defining moment in their cricketing journey.”
The seven inductees are:
Matthew Hayden
103 Tests – 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73
161 ODIs – 6,133 runs at an average of 43.80
9 T20Is – 308 runs at an average of 51.33
A powerful opening batter who intimidated the best fast bowlers in the world, Matthew Hayden joins an exclusive group in the ICC Hall of Fame.
Hayden was thrilled to receive the induction.
"The ICC Hall of Fame includes many of my heroes of yesteryear as well as contemporaries whom I admired and enjoyed competing against," he said.
"Each of these players gave something to the game in their own way. It is incredible to be recognised along with them."
Hashim Amla
124 Tests – 9,282 runs at an average of 46.64
181 ODIs – 8,113 runs at an average of 49.46
44 T20Is – 1,277 runs at an average of 33.60
Amla dominated bowling attacks for much of his 15-year international career, becoming the first South African to score a triple century when he hit an unbeaten 311* against England in 2012 when he was at the top of his game.
A total of 55 international centuries shows exactly how good Amla was and the South African great is a welcome inductee into the ICC Hall of Fame.
"It is an honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, especially alongside Graeme," Amla said.
MS Dhoni
90 Tests – 4,876 runs at an average of 38.08, 294 dismissals
350 ODIs – 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57, 444 dismissals
98 T20Is – 1,617 runs at an average of 37.60, 91 dismissals
His most memorable moment came when he produced one of his trademark helicopter shots when hitting the winning runs for India at the 2011 edition of the ICC Men's cricket World Cup, but there was so much more to the inspirational skipper.
The Indian great remains the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball tournaments, having led India to success at the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007, the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
Dhoni said it was a great thrill to be inducted alongside so many great players.
"It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world," he said.
Graeme Smith
117 Tests – 9,265 runs at an average of 48.25, 8 wickets
197 ODIs – 6,989 runs at an average of 37.98, 18 wickets
33 T20Is – 982 runs at an average of 31.67
Smith forged a great career as a tough and uncompromising top-order batter and was thrust into the captaincy role he relished at the young age of 22.
“It feels amazing to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame alongside some legendary cricketers, all of whom have made significant contributions to the game in their own way," he said.
"This is also a proud moment for South Africa, as two of us have got recognition this year.”
Daniel Vettori
113 Tests – 4,531 runs at an average of 30.00, 362 wickets
295 ODIs – 2,253 runs at an average of 17.33, 305 wickets
34 T20Is – 205 runs at an average of 12.81, 38 wickets
Vettori paved out an excellent career as a player and was one of just three players to score 4,000 runs and take 300 wickets in Test cricket.
He was also an excellent captain for the Black Caps, taking over from Stephen Fleming and leading the side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009.
“Looking at the past inductees of the ICC Hall of Fame, one can see the outstanding talent and contribution they made to the growth and popularity of the game," Vettori said.
"To gain recognition alongside them is simply overwhelming and I can’t find words to describe the feeling.”
Sana Mir
120 ODIs – 1,630 runs at an average of 17.91, 151 wickets
106 T20Is – 802 runs at an average of 14.07, 89 wickets
With more than 200 international wickets against the white-ball, Mir is renowned for her work on the field and off the field.
“From dreaming as a little girl that one day there would even be a women’s team in our country to now standing here, inducted among the very legends I idolised long before I ever held a bat or a ball – this is a moment I couldn’t have dared to imagine," she said.
Sarah Taylor
10 Tests – 300 runs at an average of 18.75, 20 dismissals
126 ODIs – 4,056 runs at an average of 38.26, 138 dismissals
90 T20Is – 2,177 runs at an average of 29.02, 74 dismissals
Taylor played a major role in helping England win the double of the ICC Women's cricket World Cup and ICC women's T20 World Cup in 2009 and then stepped up once again at the backend of the 2017 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil by top-scoring for her side in the semi-final victory over South Africa and then producing an equally important innings of 45 in the title decider with India.
"Being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame is one of the best moments of my life and truly feels like a dream come true," Taylor said.
