Former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel picks Virat Kohli in his all-time XI

Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel, who hung his boots from international cricket after the Test series against Australia last year, picked his all-time eleven. He picked the most successful skipper from his country Graeme Smith as the captain of the team. Back in 2003, Smith became the youngest Proteas captain at the age of 22 after taking over from Shaun Pollock. He went on to score over 17,000 runs in his international career.

For Morne, David Warner would be Smith’s opening partner. The 32-year-old southpaw is currently playing the 2019 World Cup and has already scored a century versus Pakistan. With over 12,000 runs for the Australian team, there’s no doubt on what value he adds to the team. At number three, he picked Hashim Amla, who has 18,000 plus runs with 55 centuries and 79 fifties for South Africa.

Only one Indian in Morne’s lineup

Jacques Kallis is arguably one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game. With over 25,000 runs and 550 wickets, he carved his name among the legends of the game. Morne also picked Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, in the middle order. The swashbuckling Kevin Pietersen, the former England captain, also found a place in Morkel’s XI. AB de Villiers is the other specialist batter to be included in the team.

ABD bid adieu to international cricket last year. Morkel went for the Proteas pace duo of Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada as two specialist fast bowlers. While the former missed out the World Cup due to a shoulder injury, Rabada is plying his trade in the tournament. Pat Cummins has been amongst the most successful bowlers this year, and it wasn’t a surprise that he found a place in Morkel’s eleven.

Cummins has also been excellent in the ongoing World Cup and he has performed exceptionally even in Test cricket. Daniel Vettori, former New Zealander, is the lone specialist spinner in this side. Vettori picked over 700 wickets for the Black Caps and was no mug with the bat in hand, having scored nearly 7,000 international runs.

Also read- World Cup 2019: 5 cricketers who look older than their real age

Here is Morne Morkel’s all-time XI:

Graeme Smith (C), David Warner, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Virat Kohli, Kevin Pietersen, AB de Villiers, Daniel Vettori, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn

???? #ProteaFire legend, @mornemorkel65, selects his All Time XI!

What do you make of the side he’s selected based on players he’s played with, against or inspired by? ???? pic.twitter.com/S6M1HdD3Sr

— Lord’s Cricket Ground ???? (@HomeOfCricket) June 19, 2019