Nick Knight (100 ODIs, 3,637 runs @ 40.41)
Michael Vaughan (86 ODIs, 1,982 runs @ 27.15, 16 wickets @ 40.56)
Kumar Sangakkara (271 ODIs, 8,336 runs @ 36.72)
Andy Flower (wk) (213 ODIs, 6,786 runs @ 35.34, 141 catches and 32 stumpings)
VVS Laxman (86 ODIs, 2,338 runs @ 30.76)
Sir Garfield Sobers (1 ODI, 0 runs @ 0.00, 1 wicket @ 31.00)
Ravi Shastri (150 ODIs, 3,108 runs @ 29.04, 129 wickets @ 36.04)
Shane Warne (c) (194 ODIs, 1,018 runs @ 13.05, 293 wickets @ 25.73)
Makhaya Ntini (173 ODIs, 199 runs @ 8.65, 266 wickets @ 24.65)
Craig McDermott (138 ODIs, 432 runs @ 7.08, 203 wickets @ 24.71)
Ajantha Mendis (36 ODIs, 81 runs @ 8.10, 71 wickets @ 16.36)
12th man: Mushtaq Ahmed (144 ODIs, 399 runs @ 9.50, 161 wickets @ 33.29)
13th man: Sreesanth (46 ODIs, 34 runs @ 4.33, 65 wickets @ 33.75)
Strengths:
- Spin bowling army led by the brilliant Shane Warne and containing the unorthodox Ajantha Mendis - given the majority of the players in the other sides in this draft contain players which have never faced Mendis, he plays ahead of Mushtaq Ahmed. Shastri and Sobers (after a spell of pace bowling) also provide spin options.
- Hardly a flashy but highly effective opening pace duo of Ntini and McDermott, with more than 450 wickets between them.
- Arguably the second best cricketer to ever play the game in the form of Sir Garfield Sobers.
- No trashy player even in the reserves with Mushtaq Ahmed (in particular) and Sreesanth having respectable figures at international level.
- A batting line-up of style and class. Racing to totals well in excess of 300 might be an issue, but the solidarity of the line-up would ensure we're never dismissed for a mediocre score. Players like Flower, Sangakkara and Laxman (and indeed Sobers and Shastri) are particular experts to counter spin-bowling, which would obviously be the home pitch conditions.
- Experience. Warne captains the side though he has plenty of expertise to rely on from Vaughan, Sobers, Sangakkara, et al.
Weaknesses:
- Weak tail with 9-10-11 averaging in single figures.
- The lack of an out-and-out aggressive player to set the tone of the innings at the top of the order in the form of a Sehwag, Jayasuriya, Afridi, etc.
- The gamble of selecting Sobers with just one ODI to his name.
- Besides Sobers and Warne, none of the other players would be realistic candidates for "legend" status in the history of the game.
- Classical players like Vaughan and Laxman more suited to the longer format of the game.
Considering both the strengths and weaknesses, I'm happy with my side given my budget constraints for much of the draft after I overspent during the opening few rounds. I think my team is under-rated and doubt it would be favourite to take out any theoretical competition - though I'm confident it would have the ability to surprise a few teams. If we were to set home conditions, essentially we'd set a minefield for spinners and have close to 40 overs of spin bowling in our 50 overs in the field (perhaps even playing Mushtaq Ahmed ahead of Shastri or McDermott/Ntini) - scores of 150 might not entertain the fans but it'd be a winning strategy IMO with our batsmen well equipped to handle the conditions).
