Calcutta: The iconic Sachin Tendulkar is the lone Indian to be selected in Brendon McCullum's list of all-time cricketing XI led by West Indies great Viv Richards.

McCullum opted for Chris Gayle and Sachin as openers, with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting coming in at No. 3 in the line-up, which also consists of three other Australians in Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Mitchell Johnson.

The 34-year-old former New Zealand captain, who retired from all forms of international cricket last February, named three West Indians - Richards, Brian Lara and Gayle, two New Zealanders - Tim Southee and Trent Boult - and South Africa's Jacques Kallis in his list.

"I wanted someone destructive at the top of the order. Chris Gayle - there ain't much better than that," McCullum was quoted as saying by lords.org.

"Obviously, Sachin can bat for days. Ponting is another man with phenomenal statistics.

"He takes the game on and even if you lose two early wickets, he's still going to come on and play his shots and be aggressive," said McCullum, who broke the record for the fastest Test century in his final match, versus Australia.

In the middle order, McCullum went for Lara at No. 4 followed by Richards. "Lara can hopefully take the game away in a session. Sir Viv Richards comes in next and captains the side as well, with his charm, his swagger and his ability to hit the ball out of the park."

One of the most successful all-rounders in the history of cricket, Kallis was given the No. 6 spot to bat with stumper Gilchrist coming next.

"At No. 6, I've gone for the greatest all-rounder in my opinion of all time, Kallis is a bit lower in the batting order than he's used to, but I'm sure he'll find his way, for he's an adaptable man," McCullum said.

"Gilchrist as wicketkeeper at seven, on the back of that top six, I think he can come in and ice it off pretty quickly," McCullum added.

In his list, McCullum selected Aussie duo of leg-spin legend Warne and pacer Johnson along with the pace combo of Boult and Southee in his bowling department. "Then I've gone for two New Zealanders. That's purely because when I was captain of New Zealand, I said I'd never change Boult and Southee for the world.

"I saw them change us from an average Test team to a much harder to beat Test team, because of their ability to get 20 wickets," he added.