Published: Jul 14, 2016, 12:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 14, 2016, 12:11 PM (IST)
England’s new medium pacer — Jake Ball is all set for Test debut today. He will play his first Test at the home of cricket in Lord’s, against the visiting Pakistan side. Earlier, Ball was called part of England squad against Sri Lanka in the two-Test series. Also Read: No Indian cricketer in Ryan Sidebottom’s All Time XI
After making headlines back in May for his selection in the England Test side against Sri Lanka, in which he didn’t get the chance to make his appearance, Ball picked his All-Time-XI, which comprises many greats of the game. Ball’s All-Time-XI was revealed with a video posted by Lord’s Cricket Ground’s official Youtube account and as always the selection was based on the fact that the player should have played with or against the cricketer or influenced him.
Matthew Hayden and Sachin Tendulkar are selected to open for this time. Surely, that is quite an opening pair. The middle-order consists former Australian captain Ricky Ponting at No. 3, AB de Villiers at four and Joe Root at No. 5. Also Read: AB de Villiers picked ahead of MS Dhoni in Jonny Bairstow’s All-Time XI
The only all-rounder in the team is former South African cricketer Jacques Kallis, who is also considered to be one of the greatest all-rounder of the game, irrespective of the format, followed by English wicketkeeper Chris Read. In the list of legends and modern greats, Read’s name is a surprise.
The bowling department consists of greatest leggie of all time — Shane Warne, with two pacers Glenn McGrath, Dale Steyn and the game’s most successful bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan. The bowling department is like Ball’s batting department with a good blend of leg-spinner, off-spinner, and two different types of pacers. Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni don’t find place in Kumar Sangakkara’s All-Time XI
Jake Ball’s All Time-XI: Matthew Hayden, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, AB de Villiers, Joe Root, Jacques Kallis, Chris Read (wk), Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Check out the video, where Jake Ball reasons it out:
