Australia vs. World XI series

[Rob]

What would your World XI be for this series?

First of all, I just want to say that I don't approve of this series, it is just a pointless money spinner and it is putting players at risk of injury for no real reason.

Personally, with this series taking place just before a big tour of the subcontinent for England, I don't want any England player to play. If Flintoff was to get injured for example when batting against Brett Lee, then that would be Englands chances absolutely down the drain. I don't fancy the risk.

As for it being the World XI against the number one team, well if Australia's performances in the last two matches of this Ashes series continues then they would be flattering themselves to be known as World number 1.

Anyway, seeing as despire my fears England players will be playing anyway, here is what my XI would be:

Test Team

1) Tendulkar
2) Vaughan (capt.)
3) Dravid
4) Inzamam
5) Kallis
6) Lara
7) Sangakarra (w.k)
8) Flintoff
9) Shoaib
10) Ntini
11) Murali

That would be my team. It will be hard not to waste some top quality players in the batting order. The bowling for me has got to be all out pace with Murali, the Aussies have proved in this Ashes series that they are not very good against relentless pace.

Vaughan for me is the best captain in the world and has a batting record against Australia that pretty much no one can better.

I have not included Sehwag because he is always rubbish in moneyspinning matches like these, tries to just slog it about and gets out. I have put Kallis and Lara at 5 and 6 because both are capable of smashing the ball all over the place.

ODI Team

1) Tendulkar
2) Graeme Smith (capt.)
3) Lara
4) Kallis
5) Pietersen
6) Flintoff
7) Sangakarra (w.k.)
8) Pollock
9) Vaas
10) Shoaib
11) Murali

Vaughan cannot possibly be in the one day team, his one day batting is complete crap. Pietersen and Flintoff is a dream ODI middle order. The bowling attack is strong, with Pollock and Vaas economical along with the pace of Shoaib and Flintoff.

Same reason as before for not including Sehwag.

[Tigers_eye]

Shoaib in test is like a tossup! One day he shows up the other day he can be very ordinary. I would want to have Vass/Bond/S Jones (Aus has problem facing him) in the test squad instead of Shoaib. other than that the lineup looks great.

[be_friend_13]

hey rob its lik u tryin 2 b fair to the subcontinent playas!
me being an indian dont want tendulkar 2 play n e match coz i want him to earn dat position wid his current form!!
howeva including sangakkara would not b gud in both form,it must b boucher in tests!
i'd want flintoff 2 b in the test team 2 n i know dats gonna strenghten the squad!
dravid must not b in n e odi team n da reason is da same i want him 2 play aggresively!(i dont want n e 1 to criticize the indian playas in later stage)
inzamam must b replaced by jayawardene or atapattu!
coz inzamam is not tough on his feets n wont do gud to this super team!
i'd lik 2 see stephen fleming captaining the odi's n shane bond on da side!
i want more playas 4rm Nz n eng in da squad!(coz they r the only teams dat hav played aus well alon wid india but no indian playa deserves the spot coz of their form)

[be_friend_13]

i hope the sub continent fans would agree!
coz its da fact we cant play well on da aus soil as eng n Nz n Sa does!
it certainly wont b an insult 2 subcontinent!

[Rob]

Oh yea I forgot about Shane Bond, he has an excellent record against Australia.

I will have him in the team instead of Shoaib, because come to think of it, Shoaib will surely find something to strain?!

[Spitfire_x86]

My Test XI

Sehwag
Graeme Smith (c)
Dravid
Lara
Tendulkar
Kallis
Sangakara (wk)
Flintoff
Bond
Harmison
Murali


My ODI XI

Tendulkar
Graeme Smith (c)
Kallis
Lara
Inzamam
Pietersen
Sangakara (wk)
Flintoff
Pollock
Bond
Murali


PS: I'm also against arranging this test series, and these matches should never get official Test/ODI recognition.

[ajithlalm]

Set max Sony television is showing the match

[jabbar]

What about the strain and risk on Australian players? Do you think they would be happy if they saw their ageing pacers break down in a zero care factor match? I would say the Australian coaching staff would want to minimise playing time for ol' timers like McGrath and Warne (not to mention the batman like Langer and Hayden) who are on their last legs....

[Fazal]

Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq said Wednesday he was hurt by the "unjust" decision to leave him out of the World XI Test and one-day Super Series teams to face Australia in October. -- Daily Star.

Bhaizan Boddo Legeche? :P

[Rubayed]

It was unfair to leave Inzamam out of the team. It is only natural to feel dissapointed caz he really deserve to be in the team.

[IanW]

I've got a better idea.

Given how Australia is bowling these days, can we just borrow Masrafee for the super-series ?

Sure, he might have to bowl as Ali Waterhouse from Bankstown (sponsored by Fine Cotton Products), but at least he'll get a run ... please ?

Ian Whitchurch

[roaring tigerz]

Teste XI
Virender Sehwag
Graeme Smith
Rahul Dravid
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
Kumara Sangakkara
Andrew Flintoff
Stephen Harmison
Chaminda Vaas
Shane Bond
Mutthia Muralitharan

ODI XI

Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Inzamamul Haq
Kumara Sangakkara
Kevin Pieterson
Andrew Flintoff
Shaun Pollock
Chaminda Vaas
Shoaib Akhtar
Muthia Muralitharan

Edited on, August 26, 2005, 7:15 AM GMT, by roaring tigerz.

[Tigers_eye]

The more I see Tresco the more I get impressed. He deserves a spot. May be takes Shewag's place. on Rob's may be Tendu moves down Inzi gets the axe.

[Padosan]

No Inzi ?? ridiculous.