World XI Squads Named

[vvvrulz]

I think Astle is a little overrated to be honest. A real hit or miss sort of player.

[ahsan32]

I agree but he is excellent when he gets going

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by News wires

Sept 21 (Reuters) India's Sachin Tendulkar opted out of next month's challenge series between Australia and a World XI due to an elbow injury and was replaced by Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. Inzamam, who has played 101 tests and 347 one-day internationals, confirmed his availability to replace Tendulkar on Wednesday. "I have just been told by the board to give my confirmation for the Super Series," Inzamam said. "I am available to play because it is a big honour to play alongside the world's best

Wouldn't it be somewhat ironic if after all this hullabaloo he does not do anything of note in the Test and the three ODIs

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Wouldn't it be somewhat ironic if after all this hullabaloo he does not do anything of note in the Test and the three ODIs

LOL. I'd rather see him kick ass though. Oh.. vying for man of the series with Murali would be lovely: really wind up the Aussies :-)

[Maranello]

True, that would be very satisfying indeed. Murali certainly does deserve to take 10 wickets in the Test; the lad's suffered enough at the hand of the Aussies.

I presume the Test team would line up something like this (there is a 13 man squad):

1. Graeme Smith (capt)
2. Virender Sehwag
3. Rahul Dravid (vc)
4. Brian Lara
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq
6. Jacques Kallis
7. Andrew Flintoff
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Mark Boucher +
10. Steve Harmison
11. Muttiah Muralitharan

12th man: Daniel Vettori.

This does leave Shoaib out of the final side, as I would prefer Harmison - Shoaib may have the better career record, but Harmison has the match fitness to last six days and decent form of late against the Aussies. If Shoaib is selected, it would place a lot of burden on the other bowlers, whose worlkload may suddenly increase!

Another way in which Shoaib could play is if the World XI opts for five bowlers, but that would be overkill; in a match lasting six days, the team batting first must bat at least two days, and you need six proper batsmen plus Flintoff and Pollock as the all-rounders to do that. The side suggested above has four proper bowlers, and a very balanced attack in Harmison, Pollock, Flintoff and Murali. In addition, Smith, Kallis and Sehwag provide useful part-time options if the Aussies bat for >150 overs.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'd like to think that side could turn over the aussies - unless harmison is stareing misty eyed at a picture of st James park, freddie isnt still bladdered form the week before, kallis doesnt get stuck in the dressing room trying to cover his ever-decreasing hairline and lara is alowed to play by his sponsors. Oh lets hope smith doesnt start fighting with who evers left !

In that line up though I'd rather have Shoahib than harmison.

[Paoli]

Glenn McGrath said yesterday it'd be a challenge because once they've got Kallis, they have to get Lara, then Tendulkar, then Dravid. At least the workload has been reduced significantly for the Australians. Inzamam has shown a weakness against the Australians in the past; a flaw likely to be uncovered in Sydney.

[Crunchy]

12 man squad announced for 1st one day game

Team: Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock (captain), Daniel Vettori, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi.

[Maranello]

Wonder who the super-sub will be, my guess is on a specialist batsman or bowler, for instance Pietersen if they opt for a batsman and Vettori or even Murali if they opt for a bowler.

[Rachael]

I'm assuming the supersub will be Shahid Afridi.. firstly because he'd be my pick for that role... but also because everyone's listed in what looks like a sensible batting order... and he's 12th on the list.

Think about it: if Australia are bowling first he can try and make do without Afridi... and substitute him in for Dravid or Pietersen when Australia bowl... and if Australia are batting first then Pollock can hope to make do without Afridi and then bring him in for a bowler (say Akhtar or Muralitharan) when the second innings starts.

Makes perfect sense, especially as there's always the option of a desperate substitution if things are going terribly: if (say) Akhtar pulls up injured (or is chucking down) when bowling he's got a bowler on standby..... similarly he's got a bowler on standby if (say) Pietersen pulls up injured (or just doesn't seem to be finding any form).