Aus V Rest of the world.

[Nick]

The thread starter says based on form, so there is no question Strauss would get in easily ahead of Gibbs who has had one good match out of his last 5. Lara can captain. It's about time he had a decent side.

Strauss
Sehwag
Dravid
Lara (c)
Kallis
Flintoff
Sangakkara (wk)
Pollock
Akhtar
Ntini
Muralitharan

[Seamer]

Fair comment Nick. On form Strauss deserves the nod. It is a good team but it is one spinner too short. The S.C.G where this game is being played is a spinners wicket. Stats from the most recent test:
Pak 1st Inn
Bowling O M R W
McGrath 16.4 5 50 4
Gillespie 14 3 47 0 (3nb)
Watson 10 3 28 0
Warne 24 4 84 1
MacGill 22 4 87 5 (1w
Aus 1st Inn
Bowling O M R W
Shoaib Akhtar 15 2 69 0 (3nb)
Naved-ul-Hasan 26 3 107 3 (11nb)
Mohammad Asif 16 3 72 0 (4nb)
Danish Kaneria 49.3 7 188 7 (1w)
Shahid Afridi 27 3 113 0 (2nb
Pak 2nd Inn
Bowling O M R W
McGrath 16 2 53 0
Gillespie 13.2 2 39 1 (1nb)
Warne 26 2 111 4
MacGill 25 3 83 3
Watson 9 2 32 1 (1nb
Aus 2nd Inn
Bowling O M R W
Naved-ul-Hasan 3 0 28 0
Mohammad Asif 2 0 16 0 (1nb)
Danish Kaneria 2.3 0 16 1
Shahid Afridi 2 0 2 0
21 out of 31 wicket were to spinners. Aus will go in with Warne and McGill. If the world go in with only 1 spinner history says they will lose

[Paoli]

I have a list of 22 preliminaries. 8 batsmen, 4 all rounders, 3 wicketkeepers and 7 bowlers. Pass on your thoughts and anyone who should be added. This is my opinion anyway.

BATSMEN
Sachin Tendulkar: Enough Said
Brian Lara: Ditto
Rahul Dravid: Brilliant form of late speaks for itself.
Stephen Fleming: Batting has come on in leaps and bounds and is now the rock of New Zealand. Could go close
Virender Sehwag: Proven performer against Aussies and made the first 300 by an Indian ever against Pakistan earlier this year. Opening the order.
Andrew Strauss: In absolutely terrific form and averages almost 60 in tests. Is a huge chance but Ashes will tell the tale.
Michael Vaughan: Proven performer vs. Australia, made almost 700 runs against us in the last Ashes. In not good form but a good Ashes will see him in the squad.
Herschelle Gibbs: In decent form. Can improve and will go close come crunch time.

ALL ROUNDERS
Jacques Kallis: Will go. In superb batting form and No.1 in PwC ratings. Bowling has regained touch and you never know what his bowling could do.
Andrew Flintoff: Will go as No.2 all rounder. Is bowling very well and his batting is explosive and has regained touch. A chance to knock off JK provided his Ashes is very good with both bat and ball.
Dwayne Bravo: Quite young but has the makings of a very good all round cricketer. Needs to mature and doubt him to take over Freddie or JK but may be in next SuperSeries squad.
Heath Streak: You may say Shaun Pollock deserves to be in the all rounders but is much more of a bowler IMHO. Dubious one. Hasn't played international cricket in 9 months because of board dispute. Needs to be back for series vs. South Africa and then if his form permits will be a serious chance.

WICKETKEEPERS:

Kumar Sangakkara: Clear leader. Will go. Batting exceptional, keeping immaculate.
Tatenda Taibu: Clear second runner. By far the most established. May go if Sanga gets injured.
Mark Boucher: Just back but may be favoured to Taibu.

BOWLERS:

Shaun Pollock: Enough said.
Shoaib Akhtar: Troubles Australia to the maximum. Takes wickets and scares the bejesus out of our batsmen. Needs to take early wickets or else he is stuffed and cannot bounce back.
Stephen Harmison: Disappointing series vs. South Africa after brilliant 11 tests vs. WI and NZ. Good Ashes key.
Shane Bond: Proven wicket-taker vs. Australia. Ponting's bogeyman. Will go if fit and will trouble.
Muttiah Muralitharan: Enough said.
Makhaya Ntini: Good wicket taker. Bowls some unplayable ones. Fair choice.
Anil Kumble: Second best spinner outside of Australia.

[dagonz]

Just wondering if any of the sides above would change if you could pick the aussies that aren't selected in the team to take on the rest of the world? Brett Lee?? ..... Macgill??

[Nick]

Good point Seamer, I'd overlooked the fact it's at the SCG. I would be inclined to bring in Kumble for one of the fast bowling rabbits Ntini or Akhtar. A close call, but Ntini's away form isn't so good so he's carrying the drinks.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Nick

Good point Seamer, I'd overlooked the fact it's at the SCG. I would be inclined to bring in Kumble for one of the fast bowling rabbits Ntini or Akhtar. A close call, but Ntini's away form isn't so good so he's carrying the drinks.

Nick, i don,t know if i would trust Ahktar to last the match. He is unfit and breaks down too often. Ntini will bowl and bowl and bowl. Having said that, Shoaib could just as easily get 6-15 off 8 overs and not need to bowl much at all. Yes you are probably right, Shoaib is more likely to do the damage to Australia