Sachin Tendulkar only Indian in Andrew Strauss' all-time Test XI

“Marcus Trescothick at number 1. He was a huge influence on me, and a brilliant player. He could take the game away from the opposition at any moment. Number 2 has to be Alastair Cook seeing as I opened with him for as long as I did. And, he also happens to be England’s highest run-scorer, I can’t really leave him out.

“At number 3, Justin Langer. As a young kid at Middlesex, he really took me to one side and taught me the difference between cruising at county level and what I needed to do to reach international level. Number 4 is Jacques Kallis. Of all the people I have played against, he was the guy who looked in control of his game most of the time. You needed an absolutely brilliant delivery to get him out, he was an absolute superstar.”

The former English skipper placed Sachin Tendulkar at No 5 and said it was an honour to play alongside him on the same pitch.

Just an unbelievable player who could master any conditions, and it was always an honour and privilege to step on the same pitch as him (Sachin Tendulkar).

Andrew Strauss

“At number 5 it has to be Sachin Tendulkar. Just an unbelievable player who could master any conditions, and it was always an honour and privilege to step on the same pitch as him. At 6, batting slightly out of position, is Brian Lara – my schoolboy hero. I think back to is 375, those 8 hundreds he got in a row when he first came over to England. He was always my hero.

“At number 7, Adam Gilchrist. The keeper by which all other keepers are measured. Unbelievable cricketer. Number 8 has to be Shane Warne. He got me out too many times for me to think about. The primary spin bowler of all time. Number 9, Morne Morkel. Another bowler I had a huge amount of trouble against. There was something about the way he bowled that just exposed a chink in my armour.

“Number 10 has to be Glenn McGrath. An impossible bowler to get on top of, and as an opening batsman probably the greatest challenge there was. And, finally, at 11 is Shoaib Akhtar – the quickest bowler I have faced. Pakistan in 2005, bowling at 95+ mph and swinging into the left-hander. Absolute nightmare. Hated facing him. Has to be in my team."

Andrew Strauss’ all-time Test XI:

1. Marcus Trescothick

2. Alastair Cook

3. Justin Langer

4. Jacques Kallis

5. Sachin Tendulkar

6. Brian Lara

7. Adam Gilchrist

8. Shane Warne

9. Morne Morkel

10. Glenn McGrath

11. Shoaib Akhtar