Choosing the all-time best XI is a tough job, as it requires a lot of calculation and one has to ensure that the team is balanced. Former South Africa speedster Morne Morkel has picked up his all-time XI and he has come up with the most balanced team. And not so surprisingly, Morne’s all-time XI has been dominated by the South African players.
Well, an interview of Marna Morkel has resurfaced, where he had picked his all-time XI, which features a whopping six South Africans. He had named his all-time XI on the Lord’s Cricket Ground YouTube channel but he had to pick individuals he played alongside or against during his stellar career.
Morne picked Graeme Smith as the opener and captain of his dream XI. Explaining the reason, Morkel said: “he is the best captain that I personally have played under”. Smith, who is hailed as one of the most decorated captains in the history of Test cricket, has played 117 Tests, 197 ODIs and 33 T20I for South Africa before he retired in March 2014.
Alongwith Graeme, Morkel picked Australia’s star batter David Warner to open the innings in his playing XI.
Morkel picked a formidable middle-order batting the world could ever see. Hashim Amla and former Proteas all-rounder Jacques Kallis were picked to bat at No. 3 and 4. Lauding Kallis, Morkel said: “He’s going to be the guy that’s going to break the bowling attack mentally, bat his time, and also he has the danger with the ball (in hand).”
Following Kallis, Morkel picked India’s run-machine, Virat Kohli to bat at number 5. Virat Kohli is hailed as the modern legend of the game. At number six, Morkel picked former England skipper Kevin Pietersen. Former South Africa skipper and all-time great AB de Villiers was picked for the middle-order and for keeping the wickets of Morkel’s side.
In the bowling department of his dream XI, Morkel picked one spinner and three pacers. While Daniel Vettori was the only spinner in his team, on the other hand, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, and Dale Steyn were the three pacers in his playing XI.
Morne Morkel’s all-time XI:
Graeme Smith (captain – South Africa), David Warner (Australia), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Virat Kohli (India), Kevin Pietersen (England), AB de Villiers (wicketkeeper – South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Pat Cummins (Australia), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Dale Steyn (South Africa).
