West Indies All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall named his all-time T20 XI. It is special that six West Indies players are included in it. It also featured two Australian players, as well as one each from New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Destructive Chris Gayle opened the innings in his all-time XI alongside devastating batsman Johnson Charles. He mentioned that Gayle and Charles are both equally destructive batsmen who put the bowlers under pressure, so they are chosen as openers.
“Starting with the batting line-up, I would go with Chris Gayle at the top. He’s a very destructive batsman. He puts bowlers under pressure. Secondly, I would go with Johnson Charles Similar to Chris Gayle in his own way, he’s a very destructive batsman he will put bowlers under pressure as well.”
For his No. 3 and No. 4 positions, Cornwall chose a pair of batsmen who are at the highest level of technical present New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Australia’s Steven Smith.
“Batting at No.3, I would go with Kane Williamson. He’s a very technical batsman. he takes his time and go about his business. Batting at no. 4, I will go with Steve Smith. Similar to Kane, but he is more aggressive in his own way.”
He chose two all-rounders from the West Indies for No. 5 and 6. Accordingly, former limited-overs captain Kieron Pollard, who is known for hitting the ball hard, as well as all-rounder Andre Russell to finish Cornwall’s innings.
“Batting at no.5, I will go with Kieron Pollard, he’s a very hard-hitting batsman, No.6 I would go with Andre Russell, he will finish my innings for me and the team.”
He chose Darren Sammy, who gave West Indies the T20 World Cup double in 2012 and 2016, as his No. 07 player and captain.
“As my captain batting at no.7 Darren Sammy he is the captain, I think he is a very good leader.”
Rahkeem’s bowling force consisted of two regular spinners and two genuine fast bowlers. His spinners were Afghanistan’s number one leg-spinner Rashid Khan and West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine. Both of his pacers were left-arm pacers, one being Pakistan’s passionate fast bowler Wahab Riaz and Australia’s Mitchell Starc.
“No.8, my spinner would be Rashid Khan. He is very good at spin bowling. At no.9 I would go Mitchell Starc from Australia, he’s a very good fast bowler. No.10, I would go with Wahab Riaz. He is also a very good bowler in T20 cricket and no.11, Sunil Narine, the mystery spinner always gives batsmen a lot of trouble an around the world “
Accordingly, West Indies all-rounder Rakim Cornwall named his all-time Twenty20 XI as follows,
Chris Gayle(WI)
Johnson Charles(WI)
Kane Williamson(NZ)
Steve Smith(Aus)
Kieron Pollard(WI)
Andre Russell(WI)
Darren Sammy(WI)
Rashid Khan(Afg)
Mitchell Starc(Aus)
Wahab Riaz(Pak)
Sunil Narine(WI)
Very good