World Eleven for ICC Super series V Australia

[JASON]

ICC has announced a Super series to be held between a World Eleven and the top Test and ODI team, which bar any surprising results over the next year will be Australia. Here is my selection for the Test Team and ODI Team. This is based on current form and obviously may be different at the time of selection in April/May 2005.

Test Team: World Eleven

1. Michael Vaughan
2. Hershelle Gibbs
3. Sachin Tendulkar
4. Brian Lara (Captain)
5. Rahul Dravid
6.Jacques Kallis
7. Kumar Sangakkara (wicket keeper)
8.Shaun Pollock
9. Steve Harmison ( or M.Ntini)
10.Shoaib Akhtar
11.Muttiah Muralitharan

Test Team Coach - John Wright

Reserves: Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, M. Ntini ,Graeme Smith, Graeme Thorpe, VVS Laxman (considering his spectacular form against Australia) .(Considering the game will be played at Sydney at the SCG which is a turner - may consider 2 spinners. If Murali not available, replace with Harbhajan Singh as reserve)

ODI Team : World Eleven
(3 ODI games to be played at the Telstra Dome)

1. Sachin Tendulkar
2. Chris Gayle
3. Stephen Fleming (Captain)
4. Sourav Ganguly
5. Rahul Dravid
6.Jacques Kallis
7. Kumar Sangakkara (wicket keeper)
8. Andrew Flintoff
9. Shaun Pollock
10. Shoaib Akhtar ( or M.Ntini)
11. M. Muralitharan

ODI Team Coach - Dave Whatmore

(again if Murali not available, replace with Kumble. )


Reserves: Steve Harmison, Chaminda Vaas, Anil Kumble, Michael Vaughan, Virendra Shewag .

 

[Tim]

I'd personally have Graeme Smith instead of Gibbs but otherwise i'd probably agree with that team.

 

[Andre]

Reserves: Irfan Pathan

Please tell me you are joking.

Please. Please.

 

[Tim]

Bond might be an outside chance for the ODI team if he makes a successful comeback at the ICC Champions Trophy.

 

[masterblaster]

My test side to face Australia:

1. Michael Vaughan (a fringe selection, due to his good record against Australia)
2. Herschelle Gibbs
3. Rahul Dravid (He must bat at number 3)
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Brian Lara
6. Jacques Kallis/VVS Laxman
7. Kumar Sangakkara
8. Shaun Pollock (captain)
9. Shoaib Akhtar
10. Steve Harmison
11. Muttiah Muralitharan/Anil Kumble (If Murali refuses to come to Australia)


My side is almost identical to yours, however Vaughan hasn't been in the best of form lately, so im tempted to replace him with either Greame Smith or perhaps Mark Richardson. VVS Laxman is at his best agaisnt Australia, somehow you have to include him, but where? If Kallis drops out injured or something like that, Laxman gets the nod for me.

ODI Side:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Chris Gayle
3. Stephen Fleming (Captain)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (even though he should be opening)
5. Rahul Dravid (w/k)
6. Jacques Kallis
7. Andrew Flintoff
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Muttiah Muralitharan/Anil Kumble (if Murali refuses to come to Australia)
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Makhaya Ntini

The bowling of Pollock, Ntini, Akhtar, Murali, Flintoff, Kallis, Gayle, Sehwag and Tendulkar looks awesome to me. There are so many bowling options to chose from.

The batting depth is unbelievably strong, with the powerhouse Gayle and Sehwag at the top, only for the class of Fleming, Tendulkar, Dravid and Lara to shine through.
The rock solid Kallis and the explosive Flintoff make this ODI team extremely tough to beat.

Now before all of you get on my back since I made Dravid keeper, I believe he has done a great job for his country, and for an 'exhibition' type event, he'd be perfect for the job, as there is less pressure on him compared to the pressure he has when keeping for his country. Also it adds a lot of balance to this ODI side.

Harmison misses out in the ODI's due to his poor (yet improving) ODI record. Ntini takes the cake in the One Dayers. If Murali refuses to come to Australia, then Anil Kumble would get the nod for me.

The ODI squad looks extremely strong, and players like Astle, Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Trescothick, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Ramnaresh Sarwan were unlucky to miss out.

 

[JASON]

Bond might be an outside chance for the ODI team if he makes a successful comeback at the ICC Champions Trophy.

Bond if fully fit and playing without injury, would get in as a starter even . But his fitness must be beyond doubt.

 

[Adamc]

My teams:

Test
Gibbs
Dravid (c)
Lara
Tendulkar
Inzamam
Kallis
Sangakkara (wk)
Pollock
Kumble
Shoaib
Harmison

I went for Dravid as captain because I think he is the only person that everyone in that team will like. Couldn't find room for another specialist opener, not enough good ones around.

ODI
Tendulkar
Gayle
Fleming (c)
Lara
Kallis
Flintoff
Sarwan
Sangakkara (wk)
Pollock
Shoaib
Ntini

A bit bat-heavy, but I am sure Flintoff/Kallis/Gayle will make up 20 overs between them pretty easily. No spinners good enough to make a ROWXI that I can think of.

EDIT: I doubt Murali will tour Australia, this year or next, which is why I omitted him from both teams.

 

[meatspx]

Test side:

Graeme Smith (Captain)
Michael Vaughan (Last Ashes in Australia anyone?)
Dravid
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
Sachin Tendulkar
Kumar Sangakkara
Shaun Pollock (Vice-captain)
Shane Bond (If fit)
Muthaliraithianralithianian
Steven Harmisson

Reseves: Shoab Akhtar, Anil Kumble, Herschelle Gibbs, Inzy

ODI side:
Virender Sehwag
Chris Gayle (Picked over Gibbs because of his bowling option)
Stephen Fleming (Captain)
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
Sachin Tendulkar
Freddy Flintoff
Kumar Sangakkara
Shaun Pollock (Vice-captain)
Shane Bond
Muthaliraithianralithianian

Reserves: Herschelle Gibbs, Shoab Akhtar, Kumble, Jacob Oram.

 

[Craig]

VVS Laxman (considering his spectacular form against Australia)

Considering his spectacular form v Australia would make him a certainty for a spot instead of Jacques Kallis who would be the unlucky one to miss out.

I would also swap Gibbs and Vaughan around. When Vaughan gets going he is a joy to watch IMO.

 

[The Argonaut]

My sides will probably be similar to above

Test
Smith, Vaughan, Dravid, Lara (C), Tendulkar, Kallis, Sangakkara, Pollock, Murali, Harmison, Bond

ODI
Gayle, Sehwag, Fleming, Tendulkar, Lara (C), Kallis, Flintoff, Sangakkara, Pollock, Murali, Shoaib

 

[superkingdave]

I think there's a good chance Harmison and Flintoff might be 'rested' or 'injured' - don't know what the ICC will say.

But if they aren't available you can have Clarke and Kabir instead

 

[Mr. P]

Jasons team was good with a couple of minor flaws. Otherwise excellent.

1/ Pathan as a reserve!!!!!???!!!
2/ Def. Smith ahead of Gibbs in Tests.
3/ Bond is at least a reserve.
4/ Ntini should be in at least one of those sides.
5/ IMO Dravid can keep in ODs...

 

[shaka]

Richardson would probably be a likely starter, unless of course he has a horror series against Australia. I feel that Vaughan is not opening these days, and recently has not been solid as an opener.
I agree that Bond would make it if fit, Harmisons performance will confirm his position in the team.

 

[Adamc]

Considering his spectacular form v Australia would make him a certainty for a spot instead of Jacques Kallis who would be the unlucky one to miss out.

I would also swap Gibbs and Vaughan around. When Vaughan gets going he is a joy to watch IMO.

Absolutely no way you could leave Kallis out of any World XI.
What would swapping Gibbs and Vaughan do? It would just mean that one faces the first ball instead of the other.

 

[marc71178]

Bond might be an outside chance for the ODI team if he makes a successful comeback at the ICC Champions Trophy.

He'll be more than an outside chance I'd expect.

But then again, if he's not fit in 12 months time then I'd have thought he'll have retired?

 

[marc71178]

A bit bat-heavy, but I am sure Flintoff/Kallis/Gayle will make up 20 overs between them pretty easily.

Seeing as all 3 are relied upon to bowl their full 10 most matches (well Flintoff and Gayle definitely are), then that's no problem!

 

[Craig]

Absolutely no way you could leave Kallis out of any World XI.
What would swapping Gibbs and Vaughan do? It would just mean that one faces the first ball instead of the other.

Because Vaughan doesn't like facing first.

Ever noticed it when Vaughan always faced 2nd when he opened with Trescothick?

 

[Craig]

5/ IMO Dravid can keep in ODs...

I wouldn't give Dravid the gloves for Holland or Hong Kong let alone for a World XI.

 

[shaka]

Boucher could be included as a keeper/batsman, this would improve the ability of the keeper and can bat relatively quickly which is ideal for odi cricket, the alternative is McCullum who seems to be performing well with the bat over recent matches

 

[Mr. P]

I wouldn't give Dravid the gloves for Holland or Hong Kong let alone for a World XI.

1/ Yes you would.

2/ Giving him the gloves adds batting depth and he ain't half bad anyway.