My Dream XI: Stephen Eskinazi – Middlesex wicketkeeper-batsman

1. Sam Robson

He’s been a bit of a role model of mine at the club. We bat
in a similar way; he’s been a prolific run-scorer for us for a long time and
worked extremely hard to get his Test call-up. For me, opening the batting in
English conditions, especially at the moment, I don’t think there are too many
players that are as comfortable as him.

2. Chris Rogers

Bucky and Robbo at the top of the order. Incredible again. A
lot of these will be Australian, but it’s the people that I’ve ended up playing
with here that have had that strong link to Australian players, so that was
awesome.

3. Nick Compton

I think his first-class record speaks for itself. It’s been
absolutely incredible to have guys like that at the club for a young player who
plays in a similar vein. Big hundreds; Test match hundreds; back-to-back Test
match hundreds, so that’s awesome.

4. Brendon McCullum

A bit high in the order, but a very steady player. It’s been
incredible to have someone like him as a young player. At Middlesex we’re
blessed with having overseas players who want to play here, and every now and
then we get thrown someone like that to share a dressing room with and it’s
absolutely amazing.

5. Adam Voges

Unbelievable. Growing up in Perth, to be able to watch him
bat as a young kid and then essentially share a dressing room and bat with him
a lot in 2017 was a bit of a dream come true for me. For him to go and play
international cricket the way he did – averaging 58 or whatever it was – was
absolutely amazing. Even though he’s rated so highly, I still think that he’s
not someone who’s seen as a true great, but to do what he did in such a short
space of time at such an age is incredible.

6. Hilton Cartwright

Quite obviously a Test player. He’s had a tough time of it
over the last few months, but he’s a class cricketer. To have him coming in and
bowling some seamers – especially in English conditions – I think he’s a good
addition to my side.

7. Stephen Eskinazi

If this is my Dream Team I’ve got to be in it, purely to get
to play alongside all of these guys at once, so I’ll be behind the stumps. It’s
been a pleasure to partner some of these boys at the crease and to keep for the
others; I’d fancy this team against just about anyone!

8. Ashton Agar

Again, a multi-dimensional cricketer. Unbelievable in the
field and a great fellow as well – a good mate of mine. I think we haven’t seen
the best of him on the international stage yet, so I’m looking forward to
seeing him get a bit more of an opportunity.

9. Toby Roland-Jones

A big six-foot-three seamer who has been successful in his
short spell in international cricket before injury cruelly robbed him. It’s
been unbelievable to be able to stand at slip with him and Steve Finn.

10. Tim Southee

Tim Southee is one of the best swing bowlers in the world at
the moment. With Trent Boult they have a pretty formidable partnership for the
Black Caps. It might’ve only been T20 cricket, but it was a pretty unbelievable
effort to have him here in 2017.

11. Steven Finn

Murts (Tim Murtagh) is extremely stiff to miss out on this,
as he’s incredible and he’s showing everyone how successful he can be in international
cricket to me. But I’ve got have the big man Finny in my side.