Graeme Swann lone spinner in Matt Prior's all time XI

Former English cricketer Matt Prior announced his all-time XI, which was published by the Lord’s Cricket Ground’s official Twitter handle on Tuesday. The team consists of 4 English cricketers, 3 South Africans, 2 Australians and 1 player each from India and Sri Lanka.

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh will lead the side. Current England Test skipper Alastair Cook along with the South African Hashim Amla will start of the proceeding with the bat. Australian batting legend Ricky Ponting will have his pads on for the iconic no.3 slot.

AB de Villiers, who is considered to be one of the modern day greats is at no.4. “Absolutely incredible player in all conditions against all times of playing and is a guy who can take the game away from the opposition,” Prior commented about the South African skipper.

Apart from the runs, the mentality that Steve Waugh brought into the game made him special for Matt Prior. Quite surprisingly, the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar who played for India in the opening slot and at no.4 slot mostly in Test matches is at no.6 in Prior’s XI.

Also read – Kumar Sangakkara reveals why he left out Sachin from his all time XI

Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara takes the gloves for the side. The pace bowling unit comprises of two of the greatest English bowlers of the current generation – Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Along with them the South African paceman, Dale Steyn is the third seamer.

It was quite a surprise when he chooses Graeme Swann to be the only spinner in his all-time XI as most of the others had gone with either Muttiah Muralitharan or Shane Warne or a combination of both.

Matt Prior’s all-time XI:

Alastair Cook, Hashim Amla, Ricky Ponting, AB de Villiers, Steve Waugh (C), Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Dale Steyn, James Anderson.

Also Watch: Graeme Swann bowls the ball of the decade