James Taylor picks Virat Kohli to lead his all-time XI

Former England batsman, James Taylor has become the newest addition to the list of players to come up with their All-Time XI team. His team is an interesting mix of legends like Sachin Tendulkar and also, some not-so-known players. Also, Taylor chose current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli to head his team.

Having been a right-hand batsman in his playing career, Taylor has played county matches for Leicestershire as well as Nottinghamshire. He also played a full part in England’s 2015-16 Test series win in South Africa. However, the 26-year-old was forced to retire from the game, after being diagnosed with a serious but rare heart condition known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

Taylor’s top-order is a congregation of legends

In a video by Lord’s Cricket Ground’s official YouTube channel, Taylor talked through his all-time XI, naming Sachin Tendulkar and Alastair Cook as the opening pair. Interestingly, he considers Tendulkar to be his idol and inspiration. He also expressed his belief of Cook to have the potential to take over the Master Blaster’s tally in Tests.

Up next, Taylor lined up Virat and AB de Villiers at slots 3 and 4. This is hardly a surprise, considering both of them are viewed as modern-day legends and are at the crescendo of their form. Taylor also gave the baton of captaining his team to Kohli.

James Taylor has some interesting names for the middle-order

At number 5, Taylor names HD Ackerman. Ackerman, having played only 4 Tests for South Africa, had shown his ability to dominate a bowling attack early on in his career. According to Taylor, he learned a lot from Ackerman while playing for Leicestershire with him.

Next up, as an all-rounder, Ben Stokes of England was named in the all-time XI.  He is the most prolific all-rounder in the game today, with a strike rate of 63.82 and a bowling average of 34.46 in the 32 Tests that he’s played till date. Taylor feels that Stokes will end up as one of the greatest all-rounders in the game.

The 7th place is taken by English wicketkeeper Paul Nixon, from whom Taylor learnt a lot about the game. Next up, Taylor throws in another interesting name in his squad by picking Claude Henderson. The left-arm spinner has represented England in only 7 Tests and 4 ODIs between 2001 and 2002.

Bowling department of Taylor’s squad

The bowling department of the team is star-studded, with the spin-master Shane Warne at number 9. Warne is followed by the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar. Taylor also expressed his regret for not having the opportunity of facing Akhtar.

He finished up his team with Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, who is currently the 3rd ranked bowler in ICC ODI rankings.

James Taylor XI:

Sachin Tendulkar, Alastair Cook, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, HD Ackerman, Ben Stokes, Paul Nixon (wk), Claude Henderson, Shane Warne, Shoaib Akhtar, Mitchell Starc.