**Official** World XI v Asia XI

[bryce]

i think lara would be more adaptable than fleming, i cannot remember the last time fleming ever batted that low, probaly in his first years as an international cricketer
i'm sure vettori would bat above warne aswell

The Asia team should have some fresh, young players and give them a chance to show their skills. The team should have Michael Vandort (Hard-hitting opening giant from SL), MS Dhoni (wild, relentless attacking Indian batsman who can also keep) and a new tearaway fast bowler from Pakistan.

if they take that approach i'm not sure it would be much of a contest

 

[Richard Rash]

i think lara would be more adaptable than fleming, i cannot remember the last time fleming ever batted that low, probaly in his first years as an international cricketer
i'm sure vettori would bat above warne aswell



if they take that approach i'm not sure it would be much of a contest

Yea Vettori def above Warne in batting order. Asia team should be the cream of the crop otherwise it will be too One sided

 

[Arjun]

if they take that approach i'm not sure it would be much of a contest

This is a one-off match, and they're not likely to be picked for a more serious ODI event, so this may be their only chance. Besides, most benefit matches have very unlikely match-ups: for instance, you have an Indian team from the 80's playing against one of the late 90's in 1998, or the Indian team of 2003 playing against the Sri Lankan team of 1996. IT wouldn't make any difference, given how well all three teams have played recently.

The team will be announced today, but ideally, this should be the Asian XI-

• Sehwag
• Vandort
• Sangakkara
• Inzamam(c)
• Tendulkar/Kaif
• Youhana
• Dhoni
• Kaneria
• Vaas
• Zaheer
• Akhtar
• Malinga

Not too bad.

 

[James90]

Vandort?

 

[Dasa]

I can hardly wait until this match. I'm eager to see Bravo and Gayle live.

 

[kwigibo]

This is a one-off match, and they're not likely to be picked for a more serious ODI event, so this may be their only chance. Besides, most benefit matches have very unlikely match-ups: for instance, you have an Indian team from the 80's playing against one of the late 90's in 1998, or the Indian team of 2003 playing against the Sri Lankan team of 1996. IT wouldn't make any difference, given how well all three teams have played recently.

The team will be announced today, but ideally, this should be the Asian XI-

• Sehwag
• Vandort
• Sangakkara
• Inzamam(c)
• Tendulkar/Kaif
• Youhana
• Dhoni
• Kaneria
• Vaas
• Zaheer
• Akhtar
• Malinga

Not too bad.

Unfortunate that Razzaq is not fit. I think a case could be made for Afridi considering the nature of the match. Afridi and Sehwag opening, both teeing off, could be quite compelling or instantly dissappointing. Of course, McGrath won't be likely to pitch it up to them, but the other opening bowler might.

And I'm worried they're clueless enough to bat Gilchrist at 7 like in the last asia/row game, seeing as they've picked 2/3 other openers. Ideally He should open with Gayle, and Hayden should be taken out back, stripped and hosed with icy water for even agreeing he should be in this team.

 

[Arjun]

Vandort?

Six foot five. Brawny. Opener for Colombo Cricket Club. Hits the ball reall, really hard and it travels a long way. Just clean shots, unlike Sehwag's streaky throws. Very impressive batting average, given most SL batsmen, particularly those in A-teams, are averaging less than 30.

 

[vic_orthdox]

they will not play anyone who has not played international cricket previous to this. hopefully they will send as strong a team as they can muster, to show how seriously they are taking this cause. as a melbournian, i know that i would be less likely to go watch the game if the asian XI were a second string side (but i cant go anyway )

 

[redbaron]

i seriously doubt they'll put up a second string squad though it should go like this imo.

Sehwag
Afridi
Sangakkara(gloves)
Tendulkar
Youhana
Dravid(captain)
Shoaib Malik
Vaas
Zaheer
Murali
Akthar

i reckon afridi is purely there for entertainment factor, malik is a good batter and if he fixes his action by then he should be selected cos he can chip in with overs. other selections are obvious although a problem with dravid batting pretty low, but where else can he go. thats 5 batsmen 2 allrounders and 4 ballers which should balance for the entertainment factor.

 

[Mister Wright]

i seriously doubt they'll put up a second string squad though it should go like this imo.

Sehwag
Afridi
Sangakkara(gloves)
Tendulkar
Youhana
Dravid(captain)
Shoaib Malik
Vaas
Zaheer
Murali
Akthar

i reckon afridi is purely there for entertainment factor, malik is a good batter and if he fixes his action by then he should be selected cos he can chip in with overs. other selections are obvious although a problem with dravid batting pretty low, but where else can he go. thats 5 batsmen 2 allrounders and 4 ballers which should balance for the entertainment factor.

I think they will select a similar squad, except for Jayasuria in for Malik & Pathan for Zaheer.

 

[Richard]

wrong, the more high-profile players that are selected the more people that are going to watch = more funds raised

But what happens in the game doesn't matter - it's not a serious game.
All that matters is producing the cricket that is found entertaining by the majority.

 

[TendulkarFan]

Here you go boys & girls:

Asia team announced:
Sourav Ganguly (Ind, capt)
Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)
Virender Sehwag (Ind)
Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
Marvan Atapattu (SL)
Rahul Dravid (Ind)
Yousuf Youhana (Pak)
Alok Kapali (Bang)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL, wk)
Chaminda Vaas (SL)
Shoaib Akhtar (Pak)
Anil Kumble (Ind)
Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)
Zaheer Khan (Ind)

That's a lot of big names. 3 will have to sit. Big question is: who do you leave out? One of them might end up being poor Kapali. I'd think the other one would be Zaheer. The third one has to be one of the batters - but which one?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Atapattu, one would think, as he's an opener and Sehwag/Jayasuriya are almost given there.

 

[Loony BoB]

If Fleming is playing it rather baffles belief that Ponting could be thought - by anyone - to be a better captain.
No, it doesn't matter to me, but clearly it does to most people, and if there is any seriousness in the game at all to pick Ponting as a captain with Fleming vice totally baffles all cricketing logic.

I would imagine the main two reasons for Ponting being captain are that A) there is an obvious majority of Australians, and they'll want someone with as much knowledge of the team as possible. Ponting may well have also played with these players in county cricket more often than Fleming might have, although I'm not sure on that part. And B), it's being played in Aussie, so the Aussies won't stand for Fleming not being cap'n.

It will be interesting, though. From what I know, Fleming and Ponting get along pretty damn well, so I'm sure they'll work together nicely. Personally, I don't mind too much with regards to Ponting being captain as hopefully Fleming can take a few notes on his style for the up'n'coming series.

 

[PAKMAN]

kumble,alok kapali,and attapattu shud sit out
id liked pathan instead of zaheer khan and afridi in the side too

 

[Loony BoB]

Personally, I think it'd be a shame if the only player from Bangladesh had to sit out. This is also the reason I agree that it shouldn't be given ODI status - it should be more for the world coming together than anything.

 

[PAKMAN]

i thaught afridi was much better choice then alok kapali
but if there should be a player from bangladesh it should be mohammed rafique

 

[Sehwag309]

WTF is ganguly doing there..Dravid can captain, Jaya can captain, Pattu can captain, Youhana can captain

 

[Sehwag309]

kumble,alok kapali,and attapattu shud sit out
id liked pathan instead of zaheer khan and afridi in the side too

..I think they are doing it just for this, as is Shane Warne for ROW XI

 

[roseboy64]

Rafique or Bashar would have been a better choice for Bangladesh rep.