Mushtaq Ahmed picks his all-time Test XI, Sachin Tendulkar the lone Indian

Former Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has announced his all-time Test XI which was published by the Lord’s cricket ground’s official twitter handle on Saturday. His all time XI comprises of 4 Australians, 3 South Africans and 1 player each from India, Pakistan, West Indies and England.

Mushtaq chose to open the batting with Alastair Cook and Hashim Amla. “I pick Alastair Cook as an opener. I choose him because he is a good Test cricketer, has good patience and has got 10,000 runs in his Test career. And I have got Hashim Amla (to partner Cook). He is a brilliant player”quoted Mushtaq.

“At number 3 is Ricky Ponting. He is very brave. He took fast bowlers on. He is also a great leader. Sachin Tendulkar (at number 4). We all know he is the best so far. He has the best record. He is the kind of guy who you have to pick at No. 4. You can rely on him. He can score lots of runs for you,” he added.

The leggie added AB de Villiers at No.5 adding that the South African is a brilliant cricketer who can take the game away from any opposition. At No.6 comes in the best all-rounder of his generation Jacques Kallis, who has a brilliant record in Test cricket and can also handle the role of a 4th bowler.

At 7 is Adam Gilchrist, who was capable of causing immense damage to any opposition and had one of the safest pair of hands behind the wickets. The bowling unit is led by Wasim Akram followed by Malcolm Marshall , Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

“At 8 is Wasim Akram. He is deceptive, fast, bowls yorkers, can reverse swing and he is different. And he can also bat. He has a great record in Test cricket. Malcolm Marshall comes in at No. 9. He was a great bowler and he was also smart. He was fast and got different variations.”

“One of the best leg-spinners ever – Shane Warne comes at No.10. He is a match-winner”. Last but not the least comes in Glenn McGrath.“You can rely on him with both new and old balls. He can take the game away from the opposition. He is a brilliant fast bowler to have in the side,” he concluded.

Mushtaq Ahmed’s all-time Test XI: Alastair Cook, Hashim Amla, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist, Wasim Akram, Malcolm Marshall, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath.