Cricket Round Table: Who Would You Want in Your International Side?

In the first of what will hopefully be many "round table" discussions in the cricket section, we asked several of the top cricket writers:

If you could have any player from another country in your national team, who would it be and why?

This is what they had to say on the matter.

Danny Elliot (England): Australia's Michael Hussey

With England's current middle-order having problems, I think the team needs a player with real "stickability," someone who has a tough mentality, patience and the ability to get big scores when it really matters. I would unashamedly pick Mike Hussey.
 
With a Test average of 71.71, he has shown an incredible level of consistency since breaking into the Australian side. Even though he is 33 I believe he will play Test cricket for a few years to come.
 
I would put him in the order at number three, but would undoubtedly keep Michael Vaughan in the team as well!

Zaakir Hoosen (South Africa): Australia's Michael Clark

That's easy... Michael Clark of Australia would be my choice. Why? He's
everything you would want in a player.

An excellent top order batsman, attacking but also with the ability to play defensive when required.

He is a superb spin bowler and a master fielder with some of the best reflexes in the game. Clark has shown that he has an excellent cricketing brain and great mental attitude.

Steve White (England): South Africa's Graeme Smith

Put aside his abrasive character, for me, there is no better opener in world cricket than Graeme Smith. His style is far from textbook, but he rarely fails with the bat. An average of nearly fifty and 14 centuries in Test cricket prove this.

He plays aggressively, scores quickly, scores heavily and always provides a good base for the rest of the team.

Also, I feel he would be able to form a strong partnership with either Cook or Strauss because of the contrasting styles, much as Strauss and Trescothick were able to play so well together.

Shyam Parthasarathi (India): Australia's Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey might be on the wrong side of thirty, but he is probably one of the most consistent performers in World Cricket at the moment.

A steady batsman and an outstanding fielder, Mike Hussey would be a valuable addition to any team. In terms of personality, he doesn't have a "big head"—he is extremely level headed and can fit into any sort of atmosphere.

India may have a considerable amount of riches when it comes to batsmen in the middle order, but Michael Hussey would be a fantastic addition to the side.

Alex Klymyszyn (England): South Africa's Dale Steyn

If I had to pick one player right now it would be Dale Steyn of South Africa.

While the likes of Mohammed Yousuf and Jacques Kallis are still better players, they are near the end of their careers and Steyn has massive potential. He has ferocious pace, the ability to move the ball late and put fear into opposition batsman.

He ran riot during a brief spell in county cricket at Warwickshire and has all the talent to be a match winner like his mentor, Allan Donald. Steyn is definitely a player I would prefer to have next to me than opposing me from 22 yards.

Anon Payn (India): Australia’s Brett Lee

I’d have to go for Brett Lee. The best fast bowler in the world right now, he has mixed his searing pace with a McGrath-like accuracy that few, if any, have been able to achieve.

Since July 2006, Lee has picked up a sensational 73 wickets in just 26 innings, including two five wicket hauls. All this with an average of 23.84, a breath taking recovery from his current career average of about 29.49, which was much worse prior to this purple patch.

He’s no mug with the bat either, recently missing out on his first first class hundred by a whisker for NSW!

As for me? I would pick Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He never throws his wicket away and can stay at the crease for hours on end. Great displays against the Aussies in the Test series have shown his stubbornness in the middle, and he has more than a few commendable scores to his name against major sides.

A staggering average of 148 in the recent series against England and one of Wisden's cricketers of the year, Shiv would add much needed steel to the England middle order.

Missed out on this week's round table?

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