Sachin Tendulkar born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India is the second greatest test batsman. He made his international debut in 1989 and is a perennial crowd-favorite, he is the only Indian cricketer to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour for his performance in 1997-1998. Sachin Tendulkar made his debut when he was only 15 years plus when he visited Pakistan with Indian team in 1989. He hit 59 at Faisalabad in his second Test. His first century came against England when he made 119 at Old Trafford in 1990.

Ricky Thomas Ponting Born on December 19, 1974, in Launceston, Tasmania, is the present captain of the Australian One-Day and Test cricket teams. He is one of the world's leading batsmen in both forms of the game, as of June 2004 having made 6019 runs in 78 Tests at the outstanding batting average of 54.7, and 7255 runs at 42 (and with the good strike rate of 78) in 201 one-day international matches.

Unlike many Australian cricketers, Ponting's talents were quickly rewarded with selection, playing for Tasmania at age 17, and his test debut coming against Sri Lanka in the 1995/96 season at age 20.

Early off-field difficulties, involving him on two occasions getting excessively drunk while on tour, and once becoming involved in a bar fight, saw him temporarily dropped from the team in 1999, but aside from an ankle injury in 2000 he has been a permanent fixture in the team, mostly batting in the number 3 position where the best batsman in the team is traditionally played.

Graeme Smith born on February, 1, 1981 in Johannesburg is the captain of south africa team and an occasional off spin bowler. He is youngest ever cricketer to became captain at the age of 22. He is a tall and strongly built left handed opening batsman standing at 6'3 and 15 stone who is usually very leg-side orientated at the crease. He made his Test debut for South Africa in 2002 in Cape Town against Australia. He displayed strong character and mental strength in that match by scoring a half century.

Mohammad Yousuf is the highest star on Pakistan's cricket horizon and has established himself as one of the most exciting batsmen in contemporary cricket. Born on August 27, 1974, Yousuf has proved his mettle in both genres of the game. In the abridged version, the youngster has the eye and reflexes to maintain a brisk run-rate. Making his intentions clear at the very outset, Yousuf shows a ready willingness to dance down the wicket to the flighted hall and loft it high and straight over the are between mid-off and mid-on. The fast men of the game also fare no better against his onslaught.

The left handed Matthew Hayden is a masterful opening batsman who is rarely unsettled and who hits the ball to all parts of the wicket. He possesses a beautifully uncomplicated technique which allows him to drive forcefully from the front foot and to issue thunderously executed cuts, hooks and pulls from the back. He is tall, powerfully built, and plays with muscular authority.

From the moment that he struck a magnificent 149 in his maiden first-class innings, Hayden has continued to demonstrate a seemingly unquenchable thirst for big scores.His sheer weight of runs for Queensland,

Hampshire and Northamptonshire has made him one of domestic cricket's best performing batsmen of recent times and, though he struggled initially on his elevation in the mid-1990s, he has now begun to make a decisive mark for himself in the international arena as well.

Hayden's qualities were arguably best showcased during a phenomenal personal tour of India in early 2001 that netted him 549 Test runs from a mere six innings. Striking evidence of his ability also arrived in twin home series against New Zealand and South Africa in 2001-02, when he cracked four individual centuries and joined with fellow opener Justin Langer to produce a world-record four double century partnerships in the course of a single season.

Adam Gilchrist born on November 14, 1971 in Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia is a Vice Captain of Australian cricket team. Gilchrist is an outstanding, aggressive left-handed batsman and effective wicketkeeper, combining the two roles for the Australian national team. His strike rate is amongst the highest in the history of both One-day and Test cricket and he currently holds the record for the second fastest century in Test match cricket. At Old Trafford in August 2005 he passed Alec Stewart's world record of 4,540 runs as a Test wicketkeeper. His ability to destroy the opposition in a very short period of time led him to be known as 'The Demolition Man'

Michael Hussey born on May 27, 1975 in Morley, Western Australia. Michael is left-handed batsman, he has made a highly successful start to his international career. He plays his first-class cricket as vice-captain for the Western Warriors in Australia, and has played for several counties in England. His batting average in both forms of the game is over 70, and he currently tops the list of best averages ever in ODI cricket. Statistically, Hussey's international career (so far) has been extraordinarily successful. His batting average in Tests is nearly 80 and in ODIs just under 60. He currently tops the list of best averages ever in ODI cricket. Hussey's ODI average would be lower were it not for an early string of not outs, but nevertheless his strike rate of 90.90 is very respectable.

Kevin Pietersen born on June, 27, 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is an attacking right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for Hampshire County Cricket Club and is an important member of both the England Test match and One-day International teams. He became the fastest batsman to reach both 1000 and 2000 runs in One-day International cricket, and currently has the highest average of any England player to have played more than 20 innings of one-day cricket. He also has the second-highest run total from his first 25.

Pietersen, an enthusiastic, bold-minded and big-hitting No 5, first ruffled feathers by shunning South Africa - he was disenchanted with the quota system - in favour of England; his eligibility coming courtesy of an English mother. He never doubted he would play for England: he has self-confidence in spades but, fortunately, he has sackfuls of talent

Herschelle Gibbs born on February 23, 1974 in Cape Town is a Batsman of South Africa team. Gibbs is able to play, amongst other shots the cover drive, the square cut and the leg glance with some style. At backward point, he is considered by some to be the next Jonty Rhodes. On March 12, 2006, Herschelle Gibbs played a momumental innings against Australia, scoring 175 off just 111 balls leading South Africa to victory in the highest scoring one-day international match in history. Gibbs became the first player to hit six sixes in one over in One-day international cricket, doing so against the Netherlands in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Mahinder Singh Dhoni born on July 7, 1981 in Ranchi, Jharkhand is an aggressive right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, and the Indian ODI Team's vice-captain. Dhoni scored 148 against Pakistan in his fifth ODI match in 2005 - the then highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper. Later in the year, he broke his own record as well as set the current world record for the highest score in the second innings in ODI matches as he scored 183* against Sri Lanka. Dhoni's success in the limited overs format secured him a place in the test team and coincidentally he made his maiden test century in his fifth Test match, when he scored 148 against Pakistan. Consistent performance in ODI cricket through the end of the 2005/06 season saw Dhoni ranked as the No. 1 batsman in the ICC ODI ratings briefly.

Shiv Chanderpaul born on August 16, 1974 in Unity Village, Demerara-Mahaica, Guyana is a former captain of West Indies cricket team. He is a left handed batsman and has a ability to stick on the wickets for long hours. He is known for his very unorthodox front-on batting stance, although his footwork just before delivery shifts his body into a more conventional position by the time he plays the ball which makes him a prolific scorer on both sides of the wicket with the off driver and the flick off the toes.

Michael Clarke born on April 2, 1981 in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia is a right-handed batsman, highly-regarded fielder and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler. He made his first-class debut for New South Wales as an eighteen year old in the 1999-2000 Australian domestic season. He played a major part in Australia's 2-1 series victory, their first in India in over thirty years, contributing outstanding bowling figures of 6 for 9 in the final Test of the series. In recognition of his performance in the 2004 calendar year, he was awarded the Allan Border Medal in 2005.

Kumar Sangakkara born on October, 27, 1977 in Matale is a left handed batsman. He has acqiured number 3 position in batting and learned wiketkeeping and become a specialist wicketkeeper. His wicket keeping has improved to such an extent that he is now considered, by the LG ICC Test ratings, the best current wicket-keeping batsman. He likes to hit the ball square of the wicket on the off-side. In July 2006, he scored his highest Test score of 287 against South Africa and shared a record-breaking partnership of 624 with Mahela Jayawardene. This is a world record in both Test and first class cricket, and was the first case of a partnership of 600 or more in a first-class or Test match innings. Sangakkara also has six ODI centuries, including one against Australia in Colombo, 2004, in his hundredth match.

Andrew Symonds born on June 9, 1975 in Birmingham, England is a talented powerful right-handed batsman. He can also bowl off spin or medium pace, making him a good all-rounder. He is an outstanding fielder as well, able to take catches well and with powerful throws and excellent reflexes; some may consider him almost the 'perfect cricket package'. He made his debut for the Queensland state team in the 1994-1995 season, Symonds has scored over 10,000 runs in first-class cricket.

Villiers born on February 17, 1984 in Pretoria is a right handed batsman, who, in a very short space of time, has accumulated many runs and scored three centuries in Tests; including centuries against England, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. He also has 4 Test 90's. He has also rapidly become a decent ODI batsmen and is currently being touted as the future of South African cricket.

He became the second youngest and second fastest South African to reach 1000 test runs after Graeme Pollock. In his test career so far he has batted, bowled and kept wicket as well. He is a naturally born sportsman and has talents in golf, rugby, cricket and tennis.

Jacques Kallis is the best allrounder in the world. The burly Capetonian bats at number three or four in the South African line-up, although this World Cup is more likely to find him in the latter position. He is the rock amongst SA's batsmen: able to focus mercilessly for long periods of time and defy the opposition bowling. He is also capable of accelerating the scoring with a wide array of strokes. He has no discernable weakness against pace or spin bowling. He is a difficult man to dislodge.

Kallis is also one of the ten best seam bowlers in the world. He usually moves the ball away from the right-handed batsman and possesses

a short ball surprising in its pace, as well as a slow ball surprising in its lack of pace. He is likely to feature first change, but is also very adept at firing in the yorkers at the death. Finally, Kallis is also SA's premier slip fielder. Big hands and sharp reflexes serve him well in this crucial position.

Ramnaresh Sarwan born on June, 23, 1980 in Guyana, is a Captain of West Indies team and a right handed batsman. On his first tour, to England in 2000, Sarwan lived up to the hype by topping the averages. A dream series against South Africa in 2003-04, where he averaged nearly a 100 runs a Test, was followed by a lean run against England. He played a big hand in tournaments, and carried on his good form in Australia.

Yuvraj Singh born on December 12, 1981 in Chandigarh, India is primarily a left-handed batsman but can bowl part-time left-arm orthodox spin. He is one of the better fielders in the Indian team, fielding primarily at point, with a good aim at the stumps. He was adjudged the Man of the Match in his second ODI for India engineering a sensational win over World Champions Australia. The highlight of his domestic career is the mammoth knock of 358 against Bihar in the final of the Cooch Behar Trophy. His father Yograj Singh is a Punjabi movie star and former indian fast bowler.

Chris Gayle born on September 21, 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica is a hard-hitting left-handed batsman who can bowl right-arm off spin when called upon. Gayle, who normally opens the innings when he plays for the West Indies, is a destructive batsman who is most effective playing square of the wicket. In July 2001, he established the record for opening partnerships at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo when they [Chris Gayle (175) and Daren Ganga (89)] put on 214 together against Zimbabwe.

Mahela Jayawardene born on May 27, 1977 in Colombo is the captain of Sri Lanka team. He is a specialist batsman who has a Test average close to 50, and an ODI average in the 30s. In 2006, he was named by the International Cricket Council as the best international captain of the year. He is also known for his fielding skills in the inner ring, he had effected the most number of run-outs in ODI cricket of any fieldsman, with the fifth highest success rate. He made his Test debut in the record breaking Test in 1997 against India at R.P.S., Colombo. His ODI debut was against Zimbabwe at Premadasa in January 1998. They won the match, with Jayawardene hitting the winning run.

Ian Bell born on April 11, 1982 in Coventry, West Midlands is a right handed batsman and right arm medium bowler. He had been earmarked for greatness long before he was drafted onto the England tour of New Zealand in 2001-02, as cover for the injured Mark Butcher. A former England U19 captain, Bell had played just 13 first-class games when called into the England squad, though in 2001 he scored 836 runs for Warwickshire at an average of over 64, including three centuries.

Paul Collingwood born on May 26, 1976 in Shotley Bridge, Durham is vice-captain of Durham County Cricket Club and plays Test and One-day International cricket for England, and on 22 June 2007 appointed to England's one-day captaincy. Paul Collingwood is perhaps the first specialist fielder to earn regular selection for a Test squad. He made England's one-day team in 2001, but four years and numerous tours later, he had played in just three Tests. In Australia in 2002-03 he started the VB Series as 12th man, but was soon spanking a memorable maiden international century against Sri Lanka at Perth - a round 100 that confirmed his place in the 2003 World Cup squad.

Sanath Jayasuriya born on June 30, 1971 in Matara is an allrounder of Sri Lanka team. He is undoubtedly the most successful Sri Lankan cricketer in history and one of the most feared batsmen in the world. He revolutionized one day international batting with his aggressive tactics during the 1996 cricket world cup. The tactic he used was to smash the opening bowlers to all parts of the cricket ground. He is known for both cuts and pulls along with his trademark shot, a shot over point.

He is a very useful all-rounder with a good batting average in both Test cricket and One-day Internationals, and an excellent batting strike rate in One-day Internationals. As a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he has a reasonable bowling average and economy rate.

Shoaib Malik born on February 1, 1982 in Sialkot, Pakistan is a captain of Pakistan Cricket team. He is a right handed batsman and right arm offbreak bowler. He started his career as an off spinner, and is now regarded as a useful batsman with a batting average in the mid 30s in both Test and ODI cricket. He is regarded as a flexible player. He is capable of hitting big shots but is also capable of rotating the strike with good placement. He has a strike rate of 77.23 runs per 100 balls, which compares favourably to players such as Rahul Dravid and Inzamam ul-Haq.

Brendon McCullum born on September 27, 1981 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. He is more specifically a wicket-keeper. He was also captain of the New Zealand under-19 side, and was selected in the 20-man ICC World XI squad for the ICC Super Series in July 2005.