Bedser describes it as a ''great honour'' while Kanhai says it is ''the icing on the cake'' of his career

Photos of the presentation available from Getty Images

Two of the greats of the game, Rohan Kanhai and Alec Bedser, were formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the tea interval on day two of the first Test between England and the West Indies at Lord's, London on Thursday.

The Hall of Fame, run in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), recognises some of the truly great players from cricket's long and illustrious history.

Kanhai's 17-year Test career for the West Indies divned from 1957 to 1974 and in that time he scored 6,227 runs in 79 matches at an average of 47.53. He scored 28 fifties and 15 centuries, including a magnificent 256 against India at Calcutta in 1958.

The Guyanan, who was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1964, also had a highly successful county career in England for Warwickshire, where he scored 1,000 runs or more in a season no fewer than 10 times, including 1,894 runs at an average of 57.39 in 1970.

Today, Kanhai returns to Lord's, a venue that has been a happy hunting ground for him. In 1975 he played a pivotal role in ensuring the West Indies won the very first Cricket World Cup when it beat Australia at the Lord's final by 17 runs. On that day, Kanhai hit 55 out of a crucial 149-run partnership with Clive Lloyd after the West Indies had stumbled to 50-3.

At 90 years of age, Bedser is the oldest surviving member of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame having played his first first-class match in 1939. He is a true Surrey and England legend having played for his beloved county right up to 1960 after some 485 matches.

His tally of 51 Test matches for England would surely have been more but for the outbreak of World War II but once peace was restored in 1945, Bedser made up for lost time and quickly became a pillar of England's bowling attack.

Bedser made his Test debut at Lord's in 1946 and immediately made a big impression taking 11-145 in the match against India, the first of five times he would take 10 wickets or more in a Test.

In all, he took 236 Test wickets at an average of 24.89 with his right-arm medium-fast bowling. Developing a classical and economical action off a relatively short run, Bedser's accuracy and nagging length was too good for many of the best batsmen who were unable to keep out his in-swingers and leg-cutters.

After retirement, Bedser went on to become a distinguished and respected administrator for both Surrey and England. In 1996 he was knighted for his services to cricket.

Kanhai and Bedser were presented with their ICC Hall of Fame caps by ICC President David Morgan in the presence of the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke, West Indies Cricket Board chairman Dr Julian Hunte and the secretary and chief executive of the Marylebone Cricket Club, Keith Bradshaw.

A delighted Bedser said: "It is a great honour to be included in such a presentation from the ICC, particularly as it?s a worldwide accolade. It is also very pleasing to be, alongside Rohan, one of the first 55 cricketers inducted into the Hall of Fame."

Kanhai added: "I am honoured to be part of the Cricket Hall of Fame and especially so in this centenary year of the ICC.

"To be honoured at Lord's, of all places, and at the same time as Sir Alec, one of the legends of the game, makes this a very special occasion for me.

"Throughout my cricket career, I played against some great teams and great players and have some treasured memories. Being a part of this elite group is very rewarding and the icing on the cake."

ICC President David Morgan said: "In a team full of wonderful players, Kanhai was right up there with the best of the great West Indies cricketers. He was a genuine stylist and he thrilled crowds all over the world, not least here in England, both when he toured with the West Indies and when he played for Warwickshire.

"My abiding memory of Rohan is his partnership with Clive during that 1975 World Cup final, which sent West Indians into ecstasy, whether they were here supporting their team at Lord's or tuning in from back home in the Caribbean.

"Sir Alec is one of England's greatest cricketers of any era. Apart from his 238 wickets in just 51 matches he also took 100 wickets in a season 11 times, which is an amazing achievement and a mark of how prolific he was.

"Regardless of his exploits on the field, I believe he could well have qualified for a major award on the basis of his post-playing career alone. He served as a selector for England for a record 23 years and for more than a decade of that he was chairman.

"I valued his friendship and counsel enormously during my time as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board and now as president of the ICC. It is wonderfully encouraging to hear a man of his experience and knowledge speak so positively about the modern game.

"I want to congratulate Sir Alec and Rohan for this great achievement and thank them for all the pleasure they have given generations of cricket fans down through the years," said Mr Morgan.

Other ICC Cricket Hall of Famers to have received their caps so far in 2009 are legendary New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee ex-Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, 11 former West Indies players or their family members or representatives - batting greats Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards, champion all-rounder Garfield Sobers, the three Ws Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell, opener Gordon Greenidge, fast bowlers Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Andy Roberts, and star off-spinner Lance Gibbs - also ex-South Africa batsmen Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock - and former Pakistan stalwarts Javed Miandad, Hanif Mohammad and Imran Khan.

Further cap presentations will be made during the course of the year and a limited number of inductees, in addition to the 55 already chosen, will be named during 2009.

Photos of the presentation are available from Getty Images.

*ICC Cricket Hall of Fame - initial inductees (55):

Sydney Barnes, Bishan Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O?Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell.

About the ICC centenary year

ICC President David Morgan and Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat officially launched the ICC centenary year in Sydney, Australia on 2 January by announcing the formation of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, in association with FICA.

The ICC's centenary year of 2009 will be a global celebration with events taking place around the world to reflect all that is great about the game.

On the field these events include the ICC Women's World Cup (won by England), the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, the ICC World Twenty20 event for men and women and the ICC Champions Trophy.

And off the field there will be the opening of the ICC Global Cricket Academy and the inauguration of the ICC's new headquarters, both of which are in Dubai, and an ICC cricket history conference at St Antony's College, Oxford in the United Kingdom in July.

The ICC will also be celebrating the contribution of volunteers across the world through the award of 1,000 centenary medals and will announce new developments to its social responsibility partnership on HIV/AIDS.

During the course of 2009, each of the ICC's 104 Members will be hosting activities inspired by the special spirit of cricket as part of the global Catch the Spirit centenary celebration.

To promote this theme and the launch of the ICC?s centenary year website, www.catchthespirit.com, stars of the international game have named their "Catch the Spirit" moments which best encapsulate the spirit of cricket.

Among those stars that can be seen on the website, Yuvraj Singh of India speaks of his experiences in Pakistan - India matches and South Africa's Jacques Kallis reflects on his side's famous chase of 438 to beat Australia in an ODI in Johannesburg.