WORCESTERSHIRE’S ‘Mr Consistent’ Jack Shantry has been rewarded for his impressive t20 performances over the years.
The 2013 Friends Life t20 campaign marks a decade of the shortest form of the game and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced a best XI of players to have appeared in the tournament — as voted for by cricket fans.
Despite some hot competition for a place in the select XI, Shantry’s ability to always bowl economically as well as regularly taking wickets — whether that’s early on in the powerplay or during the difficult death overs at the end — has seen him secure a spot.
On his inclusion in the best XI, the left-arm seamer tweeted: “Honoured to be selected in the #FLt20 team of the decade. Thank you to everyone who voted. #COYP”
The chosen XI sees explosive Twenty20 specialists such as David Miller and Luke Wright line up alongside some of county cricket’s most established names of the last decade including Dominic Cork, Marcus Trescothick and James Tredwell.
Somerset captain Trescothick, a Twenty20 Cup winner in 2005, is joined at the top of the batting order by Warwickshire and England’s Jonathan Trott, Northamptonshire’s David Sales and Yorkshire’s South African overseas batsman David Miller.
Kent’s stalwart all-rounder Darren Stevens is the fans’ overwhelming choice for the first all-rounder slot, followed by one of the undoubted stars of the Twenty20 format, Sussex and England’s Wright.
Former England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones, part of Kent’s victorious 2007 side, is voted into the XI, holding off the likes of Leicestershire’s Paul Nixon and Essex’s James Foster.
The bowling attack is led by Cork, who represented Derbyshire and Lancashire in the competition, before captaining Hampshire to victory in the 2010 final.
England spinner Tredwell makes it a trio of Kent players, while two seamers complete the XI — Somerset’s Alfonso Thomas and Worcestershire’s Shantry.
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