Your squads for possible charity match

[vvvrulz]

My original thread was based on a rumor unfortunately, it is indeed an ICC XI versus an Asia XI. One must consider this is indeed a charity match, and the inclusion of superstars will certainly draw in the numbers. I'm not so keen on an XI which is selected based on having the best eleven to win the match. Its more of a spectacle IMO. A few refinements to my squad:

ICC XI

Gilchrist (vc)(w)
Fleming (c)
Gayle
Lara
Symonds
Sarwan
Cairns
Vettori
Gillespie
Lee
McGrath

Asia XI

Sehwag
Tendulkar
Jayasuriya
Youhana
Dravid
Sangakkara
Yuvraj
Pathan
Akhtar
Vaas
Harbhajan

[Beny]

The team has been named for the ROW.


England and SA of course are unavalible for the first match at the MCG but will be included in the second match (TBA).

I saw the team on the cricket show but It's not on the internet yet but a bit like this.

Adam Gillchrist
Mathew Hayden
Ricky Ponting (c)
Chris Gayle
Brian Lara
Stephen Flemming
Adam Gillchrist
Dwayne Bravo
Danial Vittori
Jason Gillespie
Glenn McGrath

Manager: Stephen Waugh

The selectors were Steve Waugh and Sir Richard Haddle.

[Beny]

The match will be played on the 10th of January and the Asian squad is yet to be chosen.

[Paoli]

Rest of the World and Asia will contest this Tsunami fundraiser game.

REST OF WORLD XI

Gilchrist
Gibbs
Ponting
Lara
Fleming (vc)
Flintoff
Kallis
Streak (c)
Gillespie
Vettori
McGrath

ASIA XI

Sehwag
Salman
Dravid
Tendulkar (vc)
Sangakkara
Jayasuria (c)
Razzaq/Youhana
Vaas
Kumble
Akhtar
Muralitharan

The ROW XI seems straightforward apart from Gibbs, who is an excellent aggressive player. Fleming may be a somewhat controversial selection---however his form of late has ensured his spot ahead of Marcus Trescothick, and Heath Streak, who I've named as captain because I'd love to see how it'd be for him to captain a side full of such champions where he doesn't have as bigger workload as he did with the amateurs.

Asia XI, Salman is the only selection who could come under scrutiny but in the BCCI Platinum Jubilee Match he made an exhillarating 100. If the pitch is a batting wicket, Youhana would play, but if it is like most wickets, Razzaq would play as a 3rd seamer

[Paoli]

Sorry Beny, I didn't see you'd already written it. Those were just my fantasy cricket squad if you like.

By the way, is Gilchrist accounting for 2 ROW spots? You may have to clear that up!!! And Dwayne Bravo should be removed for Heath Streak

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Asia XI, Salman is the only selection who could come under scrutiny

Nope: only 5 of your XI are unquestionable: SRT, Jayasuria, Sangakkara, Vaas and Muralitheran. All have long and distinguished records as top ODI performers and are curently near the top of the ratings.

Youhana's also highly rated at present.. but no so sensationally highly that he should be an automatic pick: like Dravid, he's up against the likes of Atapattu and Inzi. Equally, whilst I'd agree that Razzaq's a possibile as an all-rounder.. he's not much more likely than Shoaib Malik.

You said yourself that Butt was an odd choice.. but Sehwag's equally odd: he's not in the top 25 ODI cricketers right now.. and 11 other Asian qualified batsmen are. Equally.. Dravid's never been a great ODI specialist.. and and there are 5 higher rated ODI specialists.

On the bowling front, Kumble's unjustifiable. Murali is automatic.. and Harbhajan is clearly next in line. Let's face it: Kumble's barely scraping into the world's top 50 as a ODI bowler right now! I can see a stronger case for Akhtar.. but even here: Vaas and Zoysa are higher rated ODI bowlers.. and Pathan's got at least as good a shout for that position.

I am not suggesting that your XI looks completely dodgy.. merely that you could make at least as good a case for a team that read:

1. Jayasuria
2. Tendulkar
3. Sangakkara
4. Atapattu
5. Inzi
6. Dravid / Youhana / Razzaq
7. Malik
8. Vaas
9. Harbhajan
10. Zoysa / Pathan
11. Muralitheran

ps. re: RoW team - Flintoff's not eligible.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Beny

The team has been named for the ROW.

Hmm. TWO Adam Gilchrist's in the team is going to let the cat out fo the bag

Bravo's a lucky man to even enter the running here: I like the look of him and think he's one for the future.. but stil curious. Equally, Sarwan must be feeling pretty peeved that despite comprehensively outshining his captain in the ODI ratings he's still overlooked.

Maybe's he's the missing man: him or Symonds at a guess.

[Paoli]

Rach i see your point...Yours is a good team...LoL this aint the first time we've had disputes but we will work out our cricketing differences!!!!

The first of your selections that I dispute is Zoysa...I saw him briefly in VB Series 02-03 and in Aus vs SL, SL tour 04. In those particular tournaments he was sending down absolute trash, the way he was at the start of his career. Tell me, has he improved drastically in the past 12 months.

Kumble, I believe, deserves a go on the basis that he had a great series vs. Aus in 03-04. Kumble is far and away Asia's best wrist spinner, and the third best spinner in the world (behind the top two wicket takers of course). Harbhajan's performances outside of India are a shadow of what they are in India.

Sehwag and Dravid---VS: Has the ability to score big runs and batter bowlers confidence by taking them to the cleaners very early on. RD: Beats Inzi and Attapattu because Inzy's average aint good enough, and Attapattu is too slow a run gatherer in my mind.

Akhtar is in my mind, the best bowler outside of Australia---yes, he even beats Harmison in my mind, because he has only proven himself against NZ and WI. Akhtar troubles Australia every time the two play, 2 1/2 years ago he took 5-25 in a game at the Gabba against Aus and is the only troubling bowler for Pak in the current series.

In conclusion, just spare a thought for the tsunami victims---the toll is expected to reach 200,000 at the end of counting and this game is for them. So we're having fun naming our teams---but remember guys, there are MUCH MUCH more important things in this world than cricket

Stef

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by Cricinfo

ICC names team for tsunami relief match

Waugh to manage ICC XI in fund-raiser

January 2, 2005

Steve Waugh has been named manager and coach of the ICC team that will play against an Asian XI to generate funds for the victims of the tragedy that hit South Asia recently. The ICC team boasts stars like Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara and Adam Gilchrist.

The team is set to take on the Asian XI, to be named soon, for two limited-overs matches, the first of which will be played in Melbourne on January 10. Shane Warne, who retired from one-day internationals a while ago, will also play in the match.

ICC team (from)
1 Ricky Ponting (Aust), 2 Matthew Hayden (Aust), 3 Adam Gilchrist (Aust), 4 Stephen Fleming (NZ), 5 Brian Lara (WI), 6 Chris Gayle (WI), 7 Chris Cairns (NZ), 8 Shane Warne (Aust), 9 Glenn McGrath (Aust), 10 Dwayne Bravo (WI), 11 Darren Gough (Eng), 12 Daniel Vettori (NZ)

Coach/manager: Steve Waugh (Aust).

© Cricinfo

Heath Streak, personal favourite, should've gained entry. Bravo in a World XI? What a joke---Gough, crowd puller---Lara, totally justifiable---showman, runscorer, and keeps Windies Cricket in the paper

[Beny]

Opps. Well. Close anyway.

nice to see Warne make a one day comeback.