To general astonishment and no little embarrassment, the all-time World Test XI was announced yesterday. Chosen after more than a quarter of a million votes were cast on the International Cricket Council's website to mark the 2,000th Test match, the most startling omission is Sir Garry Sobers, the greatest all-rounder in history.

There is also no place for Sir Vivian Richards, one of the five cricketers of the 20th century in another poll conducted among a panel of 100, mostly cricketing luminaries at the turn of the century.

The team also contains no Englishmen (not WG Grace, father of the professional game, nor Sir Jack Hobbs, who was also one of the five cricketers of the 20th century), or come to that a single South African, New Zealander or Sri Lankan.

There are four Indians, four Australians, two West Indians and a Pakistani, all of them great players but several debatable inclusions. Except for Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest batsman of all, there is not a single player who began his career before 1971. Eight played in the last 20 years, two are still playing.

It reflects the demographic and age of its voters. It is controversial, fun, and of course plain wrong.

A team for the ages?

Fans were invited to vote on the ICC's website for their greatest Test side of all time. This is who they picked:

Virender Sehwag (India)
Sunil Gavaskar (India)
Donald Bradman (Australia)
Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Brian Lara (West Indies)
Kapil Dev (India)
Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
Shane Warne (Australia)
Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
Glenn McGrath (Australia)