Chris Nash – Sussex
He was probably the most exciting opening batsman I ever played with. He’s incredibly consistent in all forms of the game and a really good leader on the pitch and in the dressing room. When him and Luke Wright were around in the changing room you knew you were in trouble – they were always up to something.
Ed Joyce – Sussex
Ed is one of the best players to watch because he’s incredibly talented and is capable of doing things when you least expect him to. He sets himself extremely high standards and always keeps to them even though he has the captaincy to think about as well. He was always a solid character and a big thinker about the game.
Mark Ramprakash – Surrey
Mark’s record speaks for itself. I remember when we were playing together at the Oval against Northamptonshire once. We arrived at the ground and straight away he said to me ‘this is the sort of wicket a batter should get 200 runs on’. Then he went and did it, easy as that – I don’t think I ever got 200 runs in my career!
Jason Roy – Surrey
He was the most naturally talented player I played with by a long way. He just has great energy out on the pitch and in the dressing room. He’s not only a fantastic batsman, he’s also a great fielder as well. I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that in his younger days he was a bit of a bat thrower. I really enjoyed playing with him, he’s a top guy.
Luke Wright – Sussex
He always finds a way to deliver for his team no matter what sort of pressure he is under. He was probably the most selfless bloke I ever played with because he always put the team first. Deserves everything he’s achieved in the game because he has single-handedly pulled Sussex through at times.
Steven Davies – Surrey
An incredibly elegant player in the mould of Ed Joyce – both of them have that something special when you watch them play. He just makes everything look unbelievably easy and I always felt very confident when I knew he was opening the batting. Very consistent.
Ben Brown – Sussex
Ben would be my wicket-keeper because he’s a real fighter. He’s one of those players you’d want in battle because he always puts in performances when you need them most. He deals with pressure well and is a good bloke to have in the team to lift everyone else’s game.
Chris Jordan – Sussex
I played with Chris for two years at Sussex and he was always incredibly poised with a bat. He was also one of the best bowlers I’ve seen and has done quite well for England when he’s had the chance to prove himself.
Tom Smith – Gloucestershire
Tom would be my spinner. I played with him at Sussex when he was younger and he really impressed me. He used to think about the game all the time, he was constantly trying to work out the next move. He’d always get stuck in and seems to be doing well at Gloucestershire.
Steve Magoffin – Sussex
His control and ability to hit form at the right time was unbelievable when we were at Sussex. His performances were on another level because he knows his own strengths and delivers day in, day out. Even if he had a bit of an injury or had been out there for ages and his body was hurting, he’d get stuck in there and stay consistent while we needed him to.
Jade Dernbach – Surrey
He is able to bowl well at unbelievable speed and can show quality in all the different forms of the game. When I captained Surrey I’d put him in a lot – he was always someone I could depend on. I do have one memory of when he was bowling for us against Glouc-estershire and one of our fielders dropped a catch. Jade lay down in the middle of the game and starting drumming on the wicket like a seven year old. The closest thing I can compare it to is a salmon playing the drums!
This article was published in The Cricket Paper, May 29 2015
