ESPN Cricinfo named Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Muthiah Muralidaran as the top three men's cricketers of the 21st century during an event in Mumbai.
The rankings establish a historical benchmark for excellence in the modern era, synthesizing the views of some of the game's most influential figures.
The Cricinfo Honours event featured a countdown of the 25 greatest international cricketers [1]. This list was determined by a jury of eminent cricket personalities, including Ravi Shastri, Matthew Hayden, Andy Flower, Greg Chappell, Eoin Morgan, and Wasim Akram [2].
Among the top honors, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Muthiah Muralidaran were recognized as the premier men's players of the century [3]. The jury also identified Ellyse Perry as the greatest women's international cricketer [4].
Beyond the general rankings, the ceremony included specialized awards. The jury designated the greatest T20 batter and the greatest T20 bowler, reflecting the growth of the shortest format of the game since the turn of the century [1].
The selection process relied on the expertise of the jury to balance statistical dominance with impact on the sport. By including legends from different eras and roles, the list attempts to capture the evolution of international cricket from the traditional test format to the global T20 phenomenon.
“Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Muthiah Muralidaran were recognized as the premier men's players of the century.”
This ranking represents a formal consolidation of cricket's modern pantheon. By combining a diverse jury of players and coaches to select the top 25, the awards bridge the gap between raw statistics and the qualitative influence players had on the game's global expansion.
