Cricket’s all-time XI includes Virat Kohli and Andrew Flintoff but no place for Kevin Pietersen

Jimmy Anderson both played with and against some of the greatest cricketers to ever grace the game. Therefore, picking an all-time XI was never going to be easy. Anderson has faced an array of world-class talentGetty The greatest seam bowler of all time sat down with former teammate Steve Harmison for the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel to discuss the best players he’s ever faced. The 42-year-old was then asked to compose an XI, having to pick between two players for each position. As a result, some legends of the modern game have missed out, showing the level of talent on display in this team. England’s Kevin Pietersen is widely acknowledged as one of the most naturally gifted batters ever, yet he isn’t in the side. Australia duo Steve Smith and David Warner are also excluded from the XI. So, without further ado, here is Anderson’s all-time XI. Opening batters [No.1] – Sir Alastair Cook Sir Alastair Cook was a run machine, racking up 12,472 in 161 Test matches, making him England’s all-time leading run-scorer. That record has now gone to someone else on the list (more on him later), but Cook remains an England icon. He and Anderson played with each other for over ten years, and they both contributed to Ashes victories, including a rare one in Australia. Anderson said: “I’ll go Cook on the volume of runs, and he’s one of my best mates. “Since his debut in 2006, we played together, and he was captain for a bit. An amazing player.” Anderson and Cook shared some incredible moments together in an England shirtGetty Opening batters [No.2] – Virender Sehwag Virender Sehwag enjoyed 12 years as a Test cricketer and is the only man to record two triple centuries. He ended his career with an average of close to 50 and is the third-fastest player to reach 7,000 Test runs. The fact he ended on 8,586 shows that the latter part of his career wasn’t quite as good as it could have been. Still, he was an incredible player and someone who Anderson has a lot of respect for. He said: “Sehwag had that ability to take a game away from you. “He could win a game in a session. He wanted to hit every ball for six and was really exciting to watch, but obviously, extremely difficult to bowl at.” Sehwag was an extremely destructive batter on his dayGetty Middle order [No.3] – Virat Kohli Virat Kohli is one of India’s greatest-ever batters, which makes him one of the best to grace the game. During his 20s, he was an unstoppable force racking up over 20 Test centuries. He has only managed three since 2021, but this is still a player who has achieved great things. Kohli is also the third-most followed sportsman on Instagram, showing his popularity. Anderson said: “Kohli is just phenomenal, a matchwinner – he’s got everything.” Anderson might have huge admiration for Kohli, but that didn’t stop him getting the Indian superstar outGetty Middle order [No.4] – Joe Root Joe Root is now England’s all-time top run scorer, surpassing Cook in 2024, and he is not done yet. The Yorkshireman has got better with age. While the other star batters of his generation [Kohli, Smith and Kane Williamson] have declined, Root has shown no signs of that. He currently has 36 centuries to his name and has delivered in all conditions. Playing under Stokes and Brendon McCullum‘s leadership has also helped, with the burden of captaincy taken away. Anderson said: “I think Harry Brook could become England’s greatest-ever batter, but I think Joe Root is England’s greatest-ever batter. “He’s done it in all conditions. The volume of runs, the way he does it, the way he has developed his game – I think he’s just outstanding.” Again, Root and Anderson shared some special moments on the cricket field Joe Root’s statistics speak for themselves Middle order [No.5] – Sachin Tendulkar If you go by runs scored, Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest Test batter in history. He leads the way at the top of the runs list with an incredible 15,921 from 200 Test matches. He also leads the way for most Test 100s with 51, and no one has played more matches either. Anderson said: “Sachin is the one people put up there as the greatest-ever. “He is seen as a god in India, so to have that amount of pressure every time you play; he dealt with that amazingly well.” Tendulkar is an Indian legend Middle order [No.6] – Andrew Flintoff Andrew Flintoff was a cricketer who provided sublime moments for England with bat and ball. During the 2005 Ashes – widely seen as the greatest ever Test series – the all-rounder produced some devastating bowling spells and crucial innings. This included one iconic over at Edgbaston, where he picked up Justin Langer and Ricky Pointing’s wickets. Flintoff was a born entertainer and always delivered for his country when they needed him. Anderson said: “Freddie had that something special about him. “He could cha

Jan 22, 2025 - 11:20

Cricket’s all-time XI includes Virat Kohli and Andrew Flintoff but no place for Kevin Pietersen

Jimmy Anderson both played with and against some of the greatest cricketers to ever grace the game.

Therefore, picking an all-time XI was never going to be easy.

Anderson has faced an array of world-class talent

The greatest seam bowler of all time sat down with former teammate Steve Harmison for the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel to discuss the best players he’s ever faced.

The 42-year-old was then asked to compose an XI, having to pick between two players for each position.

As a result, some legends of the modern game have missed out, showing the level of talent on display in this team.

England’s Kevin Pietersen is widely acknowledged as one of the most naturally gifted batters ever, yet he isn’t in the side.

Australia duo Steve Smith and David Warner are also excluded from the XI.

So, without further ado, here is Anderson’s all-time XI.

Opening batters [No.1] – Sir Alastair Cook

Sir Alastair Cook was a run machine, racking up 12,472 in 161 Test matches, making him England’s all-time leading run-scorer.

That record has now gone to someone else on the list (more on him later), but Cook remains an England icon.

He and Anderson played with each other for over ten years, and they both contributed to Ashes victories, including a rare one in Australia.

Anderson said: “I’ll go Cook on the volume of runs, and he’s one of my best mates.

“Since his debut in 2006, we played together, and he was captain for a bit. An amazing player.”

Anderson and Cook shared some incredible moments together in an England shirt

Opening batters [No.2] – Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag enjoyed 12 years as a Test cricketer and is the only man to record two triple centuries.

He ended his career with an average of close to 50 and is the third-fastest player to reach 7,000 Test runs.

The fact he ended on 8,586 shows that the latter part of his career wasn’t quite as good as it could have been.

Still, he was an incredible player and someone who Anderson has a lot of respect for.

He said: “Sehwag had that ability to take a game away from you.

“He could win a game in a session. He wanted to hit every ball for six and was really exciting to watch, but obviously, extremely difficult to bowl at.”

Sehwag was an extremely destructive batter on his day

Middle order [No.3] – Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is one of India’s greatest-ever batters, which makes him one of the best to grace the game.

During his 20s, he was an unstoppable force racking up over 20 Test centuries.

He has only managed three since 2021, but this is still a player who has achieved great things.

Kohli is also the third-most followed sportsman on Instagram, showing his popularity.

Anderson said: “Kohli is just phenomenal, a matchwinner – he’s got everything.”

Anderson might have huge admiration for Kohli, but that didn’t stop him getting the Indian superstar out

Middle order [No.4] – Joe Root

Joe Root is now England’s all-time top run scorer, surpassing Cook in 2024, and he is not done yet.

The Yorkshireman has got better with age. While the other star batters of his generation [Kohli, Smith and Kane Williamson] have declined, Root has shown no signs of that.

He currently has 36 centuries to his name and has delivered in all conditions.

Playing under Stokes and Brendon McCullum‘s leadership has also helped, with the burden of captaincy taken away.

Anderson said: “I think Harry Brook could become England’s greatest-ever batter, but I think Joe Root is England’s greatest-ever batter.

“He’s done it in all conditions. The volume of runs, the way he does it, the way he has developed his game – I think he’s just outstanding.”

Again, Root and Anderson shared some special moments on the cricket field

Joe Root’s statistics speak for themselves

Middle order [No.5] – Sachin Tendulkar

If you go by runs scored, Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest Test batter in history.

He leads the way at the top of the runs list with an incredible 15,921 from 200 Test matches.

He also leads the way for most Test 100s with 51, and no one has played more matches either.

Anderson said: “Sachin is the one people put up there as the greatest-ever.

“He is seen as a god in India, so to have that amount of pressure every time you play; he dealt with that amazingly well.”

Middle order [No.6] – Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff was a cricketer who provided sublime moments for England with bat and ball.

During the 2005 Ashes – widely seen as the greatest ever Test series – the all-rounder produced some devastating bowling spells and crucial innings.

This included one iconic over at Edgbaston, where he picked up Justin Langer and Ricky Pointing’s wickets.

Flintoff was a born entertainer and always delivered for his country when they needed him.

Anderson said: “Freddie had that something special about him.

“He could change games with bat, ball and in the field. He was similar to Ben Stokes – he could just pull something out of the bag when the team needed it.”

Flintoff provided some exceptional sporting moments

Wicket-keeper – Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is one of the lesser experienced players on this team, but the 27-year-old’s ability to destroy any bowling attack in the world makes him stand out.

The Indian wicket-keeper has played 43 Tests for his country and averages 42.11, scoring six centuries.

He is just coming back from a horrific broken leg after a car crash, but Pant still has plenty of time to get back to his best.

Anderson said: “Pant is one of the best keeper-batters in the world.

“He’s inventive with his shot-making. He has a really strong game for most situations.”

Bowlers [Spinner] – Shane Warne

Anderson has played with and against some incredible spinners, but the standout was Shane Warne.

The Australian took 708 Test wickets across his career and produced the so-called ‘Ball of the Century’.

Warney was also a larger-than-life character away from the field and was extremely popular.

He sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 52.

Anderson said: “One of the greatest characters to ever play the game.

“Warney had that charisma and was someone you wanted to go and watch.”

Warne was one of cricket’s greatest players

Bowlers [Seam bowler one] – Stuart Broad

Anderson and Stuart Broad formed the deadliest partnership in England’s history.

When bowling together, they took over 1,000 wickets and helped their country to incredible wins.

However, while Anderson was more consistent, Broad could provide devastating spells that destroyed teams.

His 8/15 at Trent Bridge will remain one of the greatest bowling returns in history.

Anderson said: “He did it consistently over a long period of time.”

Broad and Anderson’s partnership might never be topped by any other

Bowlers [Seam bowler two] – Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath was a master at hitting the same line and length over and over again.

That consistency made him a nightmare for batters to face and saw him pick up 563 Test wickets.

This makes him Australia’s greatest seam bowler, and it’s hard to see how anyone in the Baggy Green could catch him.

Anderson said: “Having grown up watching him and then playing against him, there is no one better.

“He was metronomic in his accuracy and moved the ball. He bowled well in every country.”

McGrath is one of the best fast bowlers we’ve ever seen

Bowlers [Seam bowler three] – Dale Steyn

Steyn is South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker with 439 in just 93 games.

He also sits in the current top ten, but the scary thing is, he probably underachieved what he was actually capable of.

Injuries impacted Steyn big time, forcing him to retire from Test cricket early.

But on his day, he could bowl at over 90mph, swing it and play in all conditions.

Anderson said: “Steyn is the best bowler of this generation.

“He had everything – speed, could swing it and accurate.

“He was just a nightmare to play against, and he had that anger in his eyes that made you feel like he wanted to kill you when you were batting against him.

“Of the period I played, he was the best bowler I came up against.”