Alastair Cook to lead James Taylor's World XI

English cricketer James Taylor was forced to end his cricketing career at the age of 26 as he was diagnosed with an incurable heart condition. Taylor has since then enjoyed his stint as a commentator as and when it has been possible for him to make it to the stadium. The former England batsman today named his World XI which features five of his England teammates.

Test skipper Alastair Cook will open the innings and lead the side with the dashing Australian opening batsmen David Warner as his partner. “I’d have Cook as my skipper because few in the international game have experienced the highs and lows as he has,” Taylor said.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is at the iconic No.3 as he said that he had played against him at the Under-19 level and he was streets ahead of everyone else. Along with Williamson, the middle-order comprises of Joe Root and Virat Kohli, who are considered to be future legends.

Undoubtedly one of the best wicketkeeper batsmen of the generation, AB de Villiers takes the gloves. “AB excelled at many sports, including golf, tennis and rugby union — and is one of the best cricketers of the age,” he described the South African skipper.

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He feels that Ben Stokes’ spell of swing bowling against South Africa at Johannesburg earlier this year was one of the best he has seen which helped him make a cut into the line-up. The bowling attack that he has decided to go with is a 3-1 combination, with Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah being the lone spinner. The three men pace bowling unit comprises of Australia’s Mitchell Starc and England’s bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

James Taylor’s World XI: Alastair Cook (C), David Warner, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers (wk), Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Stuart Broad, Yasir Shah, James Anderson

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