Dream Team
Former Northants batsman Alec Swann picks his best XI
1. Mike Hussey
I played with ‘Mr Cricket’ at Northants before he earned his international bow – I played a few games opening with Matthew Hayden as well and there’s not a great deal between them. Hayden used to butcher bowlers, whereas Hussey was a bit more of a craftsman, very efficient and prolific.
2. Richard Montgomerie
He was who I first opened with coming through the ranks but I only played a handful of games with him at first-team level. A very under-rated batsman, a good player of quick bowling and as good a short leg fielder as I’ve ever seen.
3. Rob Bailey
Rob was a nice bloke and an excellent player – my dad knew him in his playing days, too. I always enjoyed watching him, but only managed to play a few games with him towards the end of his career. I would’ve liked to play more.
4. Stuart Law
Of all the players I’ve ever played with, Stuart really sticks out from our time at Lancashire. He was great against all bowling in all conditions and all situations. He got his head down and knew what he was doing. He could score quite freely without ever seeming to get tied down.
5. David Sales
Of all the guys I’ve played with, how he never played international cricket is beyond me. There are plenty of lads who have got England caps who are good enough in their own right, but are not fit to lace his shoes. He had a couple of years in the late Nineties where he was churning runs out left, right and centre.
6. Andrew Flintoff
When I was at Lancashire, he was England’s main man, so I didn’t play too many with him. But just having him in the side gave you a lift. It was quite good if you were at the other end batting with him, people never really focused on you at all!
7. David Ripley
It was a toss-up between him and Warren Hegg behind the stumps, both excellent, nuggety keepers and under-rated batsmen who would get runs here and there. But I’ll go for David because I grew up with him as a kid.
8. Glen Chapple
If Sales was the best batsman never to play Tests for England who I’ve played with, Glen is the best bowler. He could swing the ball both ways and bowl quickly when he wanted to. He could run in all day and he was a very skilful practitioner.
9. Peter Martin
He never went for many runs, was quicker than you thought and hit the bat hard. No matter what the conditions were, he was always there or thereabouts. Nobody ever got on top of him – he was a slip fielder’s dream and an excellent bowler.
10. Paul Taylor
He is a left-armer for a start. Left-armers were the bane of my cricketing existence, so I’ve got to have one in there! He’s a good bloke, I always got on well with him, and he was a good bowler. He could run in for ages, never go for many and get people out. And he was an effective batsman for No.10, too.
11. Gary Keedy
I could have chosen my brother Graeme, but he wasn’t at his peak when I played with him! Gary was at his peak though – he took 40-50 wickets a season. He was combative and very accurate, as well as being the keenest nightwatchman I’ve ever seen!