Tendulkar voted 21st century's best Test player

Melbourne, June 25 (IANS) Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has been voted the "best Test player" of the 21st century in an online poll conducted by Cricket Australia.

Tendulkar amassed the highest number of votes breezing past Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, who had to settle for the second spot, reports cricket.com.au.

"After 10 days of counting down and no end of deliberations, cricket.com.au released its final countdown of the 100 best Test players since 2000 a couple of days ago. Readers debated the top 10, just as you did players 11 through 100, but we also provided an opportunity for you to decide your No.1 Test player of the century," the website stated. 

Currently working as an advisor to the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Tendulkar earned 23 percent of the votes followed by Sangakkara with 14 percent and former Australian hard-hitting wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist with 13 percent.

The 42-year-old who retired in 2013 is, however, the only Indian on the top 10 list which includes two Sri Lankan, three South African and four Australian cricketers.

"Tendulkar, the Little Master who remains an iconic figure in the sport, was a runaway winner, while batting giants Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis were separated on countback, with the Australian just edging out his Protean counterpart," the website said.

The top 10 list:

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) 23 percent
2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 14 percent
3. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) 13 percent
4. Ricky Ponting (Australia) 11 percent
5. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) 11 percent
6. AB de Villiers (South Africa) 10 percent
7. Shane Warne (Australia) 9 percent
8. Glenn McGrath (Australia) 5 percent
9. Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) 3 percent
10. Dale Steyn (South Africa) 1 percent