World XI Squads Named

[Paoli]

Graeme Smith will captain the World XI Test side while Shaun Pollock was chosen to guide the one-day team after the final squads for the Super Series against Australia were named. Rahul Dravid is Smith's vice-captain and Sachin Tendulkar will be Pollock's deputy. Andrew Flintoff, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Steve Harmison and Shoaib Akhtar were also picked for the matches in October.

Full Squads:

ODI: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar (vc), Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, Kevin Pietersen, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Makhaya Ntini, Muttiah Muralitharan, Daniel Vettori.

Test: Graeme Smith (capt), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid (vc), Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Steve Harmison, Shoaib Akhtar, Muttiah Muralitharan, Daniel Vettori.

Full story

An absolute joke that Mark Boucher was named as the keeper. I'd pick Sangakkara, Taibu, McCullum and possibly even Kamran Akmal before I even contemplated Bouch; actually, I'd favour AB de Villiers over him. I think Bouch can count himself a lucky man that the selectors went for the keeper who many Aussies thought 4-5 years ago was challenging Gilly for the mantle of best keeper-batsman in the world. Seems as if that notion has stuck.

I now should applaud a couple of moves, and they are the selections of Akhtar and Harmison. Have them on at both ends, that'll challenge the Aussies. Dan Vettori will most likely sit out the Supertest, but is a good addition in the ODI team.

The likely test team is: Smith, Sehwag, Dravid, Lara, Tendulkar, Kallis/Flintoff (Huge Call), Boucher, Pollock, Harmison, Akhtar, Muralitharan. That is my opinion anyway.

A few bad calls; as you always expect with rep sides unfortunately, but on the whole a series to look forward to.

[DaveGillespie]

Slightly perplexed by both Bouchers selection and Kumbles omission. Boucher is indeed a laughable keeper, making the likes of Pathan, Jones and McCullum look competent. Kumble definitely should be there ahead of Vettori, I get the feeling that they had to include at least one player from each of the major Test nations. A bit miffed also that England have the second fewest number of players in the squad whilst being the Number 2 side in the world, but this is probably more a reflection of England's team performances over the past 18 months as opposed to individual performances for the likes of SA and India.

From an England point of view I hope Harmison plays to bowl himself into form, but as he would most likely travel directly to Pakistan after the test this could lead to more homesickness whingeing on his part. Hope Freddie doesn't play as his style of bowling doesn't really need much bowling to come into form and I would rather not see him flogged into the ground in some meaningless cash cow of a game.

[greg]

I hope that Flintoff misses out in the Test along with Harmison.Think Pietersen and Flintoff will both play in ODI.Don't want any England players involved and am not interested in this series.

[Paoli]

Well, I don't think the coach, John Wright, would give a damn about who's got to go where. He'll play the best side possible on the day. And, I hope Flintoff and Harmison play to give us a fair gauge of how Australia is against the very best ( minus Mark Boucher) in the world.

Plus, obviously from an Aussies point of view don't give a rats about how they do in Pakistan; so he may as well play here for my benefit.

[vvvrulz]

Where on earth is Chaminda Vaas?

And Mark Boucher??

Apart from that I generally have no issues with the squads.

[Ninjaman]

No Vaas
No Inzamam
No Sangakkara
No laughing matter

[Zainub]

A blatantly preposterous work of selection. So senseless as to be laughable.

[greg]

No doubt Shoaib Ahktar will drop out as he doesn't fancy it when he plays against decent opposition.

[Maranello]

Well he does have a very good record against Australia, in Australia and abroad, so he might actually fancy it.

[Zainub]

I wouldn't go to that extent. He just doesn't fancy playing if he is anything but 100% alright. You also ignore the fact that Shoaib has quite a decent record against Australia, clearly suggesting he does not mind playing agains the best. Furthermore his place in the Pakistan team is not confirmed at the moment, so I am sure he will be absolutely rearing to play in this World XI and come up with a performance which makes it impossible for the national selectors to ignore him.