The former Durham batsman picks the best XI he has played with and against…
Jimmy Maher – retired
Jimmy came over to Durham as an overseas player in 2005 and he was just a fantastic character to have around the team and his record speaks for itself, averaging nearly 40 in first-class cricket with 27 centuries. He played in 26 ODIs for Australia, and it probably would have been more in another era.
Michael Hussey – retired
The determination to keep batting that Mike has is simply amazing, he is an absolute professional and has a great attitude towards the game. He’s always committed and that rubbed off on everyone else in the Durham squad.
Martin Love – retired
Another Queenslander, like Jimmy, who should have played for Australia more than the five Tests he did. He was the opposite of Hussey, though, very laid back with his batting but an equally fantastic performer and great to play with out in the middle. He would never be panicked either.
Brad Hodge – Unattached
Yet another Durham overseas player and we were fortunate that they were always good players. Hodgey was very aggressive like a little powerhouse really and was always looking for a battle which meant he was a great character to have around the dressing room.
Simon Katich – Unattached
An Aussie again but I like how he played the game. He was one of those players, and there are a few, who was always cold in Durham so he always had a long sleeve jumper, but he epitomised Australian commitment. He looked awkward while he was batting, but still managed to churn out the runs game after game.
Paul Collingwood – Durham
Obviously his stats speak for themselves, he’s done fantastic things for club and country and he’s a good guy to have in the dressing room. He just never knows when he’s beaten, he has a sheer determination to win and works so hard on his game all the time.
Phil Mustard – Durham
He’s my wicketkeeper and a good and fun person to have around the squad, he’s very different and comes out with some absolute corkers. For example, he thought a tuna steak was a piece of steak with tuna on top! That’s the kind of weird stuff he comes out with.
Shoaib Akhtar – retired
A mad man really and he does his own thing. He doesn’t need to listen to anyone, if he wants to bowl someone out he does and that’s a great person to have on your side. He didn’t bowl in the nets much, but everyone asked why he ran in so far because he was just as quick off ten paces as when he ran in from the fielding circle – so fast.
Graham Onions – Durham
He’s a great local lad, like Colly, who wears his heart on his sleeve. You know what you are going to get with him, a top bowler who has taken more than 550 first-class wickets for Durham and he’s also a good friend of mine.
Shaun Tait – Glamorgan
During his time at Durham he was so raw and fast. Again, a great lad to have around, and he is a very down-to-earth character. A fantastic person in the changing room and on the field.
Javagal Srinath – retired
I don’t know how many Test wickets he got, probably hundreds, and I was proud to play with him a few times. He was a magician with the ball, he would tell the batsman what he was going to bowl and then bowl it and the batsmen would still nick it. He had that confidence and was a true gent.
And for the 12th man, I’ve got to put myself down… for obvious reasons!
This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper, Friday June 10 2016
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