Barry Richards

Without question my all-time favourite is Barry Richards - if I was half as good as him I would have been alright!

Right-handed batsman South Africa First-class career 1964-1983 28,358 runs @ 54.74

I got to play against him, and in terms of style and technique he was the best opening bat there was.

He played four Tests, all against Australia, scored two centuries and aveged more than 70.

Those are phenomenal figures and if he had had the chance to play more Test cricket he would have been one of the legends of the game.

Sachin Tendulkar

There are one or two players in the Australian side at the moment who need to be respected, but there's only one outstanding talent out there.

Right-handed batsman India 105 Tests (1989-present day) 8,811 runs @ 57.59

Sachin Tendulkar is the best around at the moment - an absolutely fantastic player and comfortably the best in the business with the bat.

There are actually very few players who really stand out in the present game.

Admittedly Steve Waugh is one that requires the respect that the Australian team deserve at present, but Sachin, in terms of true talent, is head and shoulders above anyone else.