April 05 Friday 2002
No English cricketers in Wisden's top five 

LONDON: A listing of the world's top cricket players does not include an Englishman for the second time in the history of the sport's annual bible.

The 139th edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanac, which is published on Friday, names Australia's Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and Jason Gillespie among the world's top five players in 2002.

The lineup also includes India's VVS Laxman and Zimbabwe's Andy Flower.

In a further indictment of English cricket, editor Graeme Wright described the county game as "a confederacy of mediocrity" and even wondered whether it is a system worth preserving.

Wicketkeeper Gilchrist, captain of the Australia one-day side, was nominated for scoring "match-winning test centuries from number seven", Gillespie for his "alarmingly quick" fast-bowling and Martyn for his ability to "compose pristine hundreds."

Laxman's record innings of 281 in Kolkata last year, which helped India to an unlikely victory over Australia after being forced to follow-on, accounted for his selection. And batsman and wicketkeeper Flower was named for some "phenomenally consistent" batting that included innings of 142 and 199 not out in one Test against South Africa last year.