Book excerpt: In order to identify the 25 greatest cricketers of all time, ESPN assembled a panel of eminent cricket authorities. The result of their deliberations became the basis for ESPN's Legends of Cricket. The panel included Richie Benaud, Dickie Bird, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Ian Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Richard Hadlee. The final 'legends' and the order in which they belong generated considerable debate. Most agree that Sir Donald Bradman is entitled to be No. 1, and Sir Garfield Sobers No. 2, but after that, opinions diverge. Can you compare WG Grace with Sachin Tendulkar? Who was the greatest West Indian fast bowler? Was Ian Botham, Sir Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan or Kapil Dev the best all-rounder of the '80s? Has Dennis Lillee's impact on the game been greater than that of Shane Warne? Greg Chappell is here; how about Steve Waugh and Allan Border? Which South Africans make the top 25? In Legends of Cricket, Geoff Armstrong profiles each of the champions who made the top 25. The profiles feature the opinions of more than 40 current and former Test stars, including 21 Test captains, the world's most famous umpire and a number of high-profile commentators and writers. What do the greats profiled here have in common? They all have powerful personalities, an unerring self-belief, courage and an unshakeable love for the game. Some are more flamboyant and charismatic than others, and not all are natural leaders, but every one has brought something new and extraordinary to cricket. Genuine Legends can do that.