1. Virender Sehwag
I played with him in 2014 for the MCC. He was just a freak. He’s not a
guy I could necessarily learn from because he was just so natural.
2. Rob Key
Not much needs to be said! He was great when I came in, I still played
about five years with him and he was captain for most of that time. I’ll never
forget the impact he’s had.
3. Joe Denly
It’s got to be Joe at three. He probably wouldn’t have been in a couple of years ago. He’s had a good career before but he’s been in the form of his life after an excellent season at Kent last time round. He played for England at 23 just before I signed and didn’t quite do as well as he would’ve wanted to. He hasn’t looked back since joining us.
4. Joe Root
Not to be disrespectful – it’s easy to say it now because the England
captain is one of, if not the best in the world – but he was quite normal at
England U19 level. The one thing that struck me with Joe, however, was that he
trained harder than anyone else and he was very competitive. I think that comes
with being a Yorkie!
5. Dawid Malan
I got on the England Lions the same time as him – he was 27, I was 21 or
22 – my gosh, I’ve never seen anyone score so many runs to get an opportunity.
He’s a special batsman in all formats.
6. Ben Foakes
I love Sam Billings but I’m sure I’d argue with him too much if I spent every day with him! I get along with him very well. Ben’s a bit more understated, because at Surrey he comes in at six and gets his not-outs. Excellent with the gloves, too, so Ben would keep wicket.
7. Vernon Philander
He was at Kent in 2013 and at the peak of his powers. He was great,
although he didn’t do that well. He was only here for two four-day games, and
the wickets were so flat. It’s typical – you sign a seam bowler and he gets the
flattest wickets! He was a good man as well.
8. Adam Milne
I get on with him well and admire the way he plays cricket – he goes hard
on the pitch. He is definitely one of the quickest bowlers I’ve faced and he
can really switch it on when he is fit and healthy – there are not many quicker
in the world than him.
9. Kagiso Rabada
He was overseas here in 2016 and still a gun. He probably wasn’t No.1
back then but it was crazy, he was this national icon at 20.
I can still remember driving him to his hotel and thinking, ‘oh my God,
if I crash this car, he’s literally a national hero!’ He was a legend. He’s a
great man, we stay in touch. He was only here for a month unfortunately.
Definitely him and Milne bring the wheels, for sure – they’re both 90mph plus.
10. Matt Henry
Without his wickets last season, it’s interesting to see where we’d be at
Kent. It’d be stupid to say we won’t miss him – 77 wickets at an average of 13
– I don’t know of anyone who’s done as well as that. We all know the guys we’ve
got are very good on their day so we all hope we can step up as a team.
11. Muttiah Muralitharan
He played T20 for the MCC in 2014 and I only met him for one day in Dubai
but he’s exactly what you’d expect. Not much more to be said – a legend in his
own right. It was a pleasure to play with him. That’s a pretty easy one.
