Some reasoning behind my picks.
The "Mt Rushmore" is not about stats, but about influence. For Australia, Trumper, Bradman and Benaud pick themselves. The final spot was between Border and Warne. Warne pips him just because Border wouldn't want the limelight anyway and Warne is one of those guys who the universe seems to gravitate around. Warne's superstar factor wins it for him.
England get Grace, Jardine and Hobbs, who were instant picks. For the fourth pick I wanted someone who had played in modern times. That really (IMO) made the choice between Anderson and Botham. Botham probably should have got the nod, but Anderson now has the world record for number of wickets from a non-spin bowler. He's the quintessential English bowler and honestly has been responsible for more English wins than any other bowler. I could easily accept someone picking Botham over him though.
South Africa was relatively straight forward. Nourse was their best player for most of their early history. G Pollock was the face of what could have been were it not for apartheid. Kallis was one of the two greatest batting all rounders of all time. The best South African batsman by far for a very long time and a bowler who would make it as a third seamer in most sides around the world. Steyn picks himself.
India was easy too. Mankad is the only player in the game's history to have something named after him. He's also an early Indian superstar with the bat as well. Kapil or Gavaskar was the next choice and Kapil wins out on account of him being the reason India did so well in the 1983 WC, which kicked off India's love affair with the sport. Tendulkar was Tendulkar and can't be left off. Kohli is the new Tendulkar.
Pakistan was harder. Imran, Wasim and Waqar pick themselves. I was torn between Miandad, Misbah and Younis for the final spot. I went with Younis more for the weight of runs and the fact that I didn't want all 4 players to have overlapping records. Misbah was very unlucky given his services to the sport.
The West Indies was the hardest of all. Headley was easy. The "black Bradman", he was the most notable early pioneer of West Indian cricket. Sobers picks himself. Worrell simply has to be there. So that leaves one spot for Marshall and Richards. In the end I didn't feel right about a West Indian Rushmore without a fast bowler on it. So Marshall just pips Richards for the final spot.
Sri Lanka was easy. Murali and Herath are miles ahead of the rest of their bowlers and were by far the MVP in their side during their careers. Sangakkara was their best bat of all time. The final spot was therefore between Ranatunga and de Silva. But I decided that Rantunga gets it, in spite of how much I personally preferred de Silva as a player. Ranatunga was the bloke who stood up for Sri Lanka and gave them their two biggest coming of age moments - walking off when Murali was called for chucking and winning the 1996 WC. He was the leader that made Sri Lanka a cricketing nation.
New Zealand was straightforward. Their two best bowlers. Their two best batsmen. Fleming possibly a shade unlucky given his reputation, but he wasn't that influential really.
