Dream Team
Welcome to our new, expanded, illustrated presentation with statistical summaries of the selected players
Derbyshire batsman Billy Godleman picks his Dream XI
1. Andrew Strauss
I opened with Andrew at Middlesex when I was still very young. I’d only been playing academy cricket, so it was incredible to open a first-class game with someone who I had always looked up to. He was very supportive and a great guy to play with.
2. Alastair Cook
Another England captain, but I was a little older when I played with Alastair at Essex so it was a slightly different relationship. I got to know him as a teammate whereas Strauss was more of a mentor. Like Strauss, he sets an incredible example to everyone else though with his dedication and he’s a great guy, too.
3. Ed Smith
Ed was the captain at Middlesex who first gave me my opportunity to play first-class cricket. I used to love watching him bat, he made it look really easy. He’s one of the smartest cricketers I’ve ever met, and I’ve really enjoyed reading his books, particularly Luck. I love cricket, but it’s great to know people who think deeply about things away from the pitch as well.
4. Hashim Amla
I didn’t play a huge amount with Hashim, he was our overseas player for two years at Derbyshire. He’s such a humble and warm guy, he spoke really honestly and articulately about the game and his own experiences. He really helped me in terms of captaincy and learning to be myself. It almost goes without saying that he’s one of the best batsmen in the world as well.
5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Shiv didn’t say too much but when he did, you listened. He was brilliant for us as an overseas player at Derbyshire and made batting look relatively easy.You couldn’t ever bat like him, but the principles he stuck to apply to everyone, particularly playing the ball as late as possible and making sure you score runs when you do play shots.
6. Wayne Madsen
I’ve got to have Wayne in the team, he’s a great leader and also a close friend. He’s the best player of spin I’ve ever seen, he just seems to be able to get the bowler to do something they don’t want to. He’ll play in a way that they change the field and he’ll then take advantage.
7. James Foster
My captain at Essex. I won’t pretend to know too much about the technical aspects of keeping, but James did it all. Of course you notice all the halfchances with stumpings and catches, but, just as importantly, he never seems to make mistakes with the ones you expect to be taken. He’s also a very handy batsman.
8. Chris Woakes
I played quite a lot of age-group cricket with Chris, and have obviously played a fair bit against him since. In English conditions he’s about as good as it gets when there is a bit of swing. He’s so difficult to play whenever you face him, but particularly in those conditions. It’s great to see him perform on the international scene.
9. Murali Kartik
I played with Murali at Middlesex and then he was very successful at Somerset. He just never gave away any runs in the first innings. Then when it would start spinning he would take four or five wickets. He was hugely competitive and a great guy to play with.
10. Steven Finn
He’s a very close friend of mine, and we played a lot of cricket together growing up. He can bowl 90mph and it was great to see him not just be a part of the Middlesex County Championship win but at the centre of it. He’s been through a lot and I’ve had the chance to see more than you do in the media so it’s great for him to have been part of that.
11. Mark Footitt
A teammate of mine at Derbyshire until last season, Mark is a great leftarmer to be able to add to the bowling attack.When I was playing with him he was brilliant for us and always seemed to be able to make a breakthrough. He’s got genuine pace which really helps, and between him, Finn and Woakes, it’s a great selection of quicks!