The ICC Hall of Fame has welcomed in three new members in their most recent ceremony, with Sri Lankan batting great Mahela Jayawardena and South African pace bowler Shaun Pollock joining England women’s cricket star Janette Brittin’s posthumous inclusion into the select group.

There have now been 106 players inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 2009, and this trio of talents amassed an astounding 284 test matches between them, as well as 814 ODIs, and one imagines the talent on show would have made them the envy of those considering their IPL bet tips, with Jayawardena having been particularly effective in the short-form of the game.

The three players were inducted by Sir Clive Lloyd, a fellow Hall of Famer, prior to the T20 World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia, and it was an emotional ceremony for many.

Pollock, who was the first player to achieve the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in both the Test and ODI arenas, becomes the sixth South African to make the grade and was pleased to be in such vaunted company, commenting;

“I would like to thank the ICC for this recognition of my career. It’s an amazing honor to be included in the Hall of Fame alongside the very illustrious company that has already been inducted. It’s a real cherry on the top or maybe even a bookend of what has been a thoroughly enjoyable cricketing experience, and I’d like to thank my teammates who played such a massive part along the journey.”

Jayawardena, whose tally of 11,824 test runs puts him in the ninth spot in the all-time highest scorers, was glad to become the third Sri Lankan to be inducted and the 2014 T20 World Cup winner stated of his inclusion;

“I am thrilled to have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. It’s a very special honor to follow in the footsteps of legends Sanga and Murali from Sri Lanka and so many other great cricketers of the past.”

“I am very grateful for the recognition and would like to enjoy and share the moment with all those that have helped me on my journey, including my family, friends, coaches, team-mates and, most importantly, Sri Lanka cricket fans who passionately supported and inspired me during my career.”

It was the inclusion of Janette Brittin that was the most poignant of the induction event, coming four and a half years after her passing in 2017. The England all-rounder is the tenth woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, and her inclusion is down to her outstanding efforts in the game.

Brittin’s test career spanned 19 years, and she was seen as a leading light in the women’s game, averaging 49.61 in test cricket with the bat, making her the most successful England batters, a feat she also holds in the one day game.