Galaxy of stars named in ICC World XI teams

Andrew Flintoff, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar, Muttiah Muralitharan, Steve Harmison and Shoaib Akhtar were named today among a galaxy of international stars who will lead the ICC World XI challenge against Australia in October’s Johnnie Walker Super Series.

South Africa’s Graeme Smith will lead the ICC World XI Test side while his compatriot Shaun Pollock will skipper the One Day International team. Their aim will be to emulate the performance of West Indies captain Richie Richardson in 1992-93, the last skipper to leave Australia victorious in both Test and ODI encounters.

Rahul Dravid will be Smith’s vice captain in the Test squad and Sachin Tendulkar will be Pollock’s deputy in the ODI squad.

The final squads also include outstanding players of the calibre of Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen, Daniel Vettori, Kumar Sangakkara and Mark Boucher, representing the cream of the rest of the world’s talent.

Sunil Gavaskar, the record-breaking former India captain who chaired the Johnnie Walker selection panel, said that the ICC World XI sides would put Australia under severe pressure to maintain its dominant home record: “This is the first time for decades that the greatest players from the rest of the world have combined their talents, and I expect them to put Australia under real pressure.

“Australia will be looking to regroup after the intensity of the Ashes series in England, but I don’t think the cricket will be any easier for them against these World XI sides. England has shown up fault lines in Australia’s performances and I know John Wright, Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock will be eager to capitalise on that,” said Mr Gavaskar.

The 13 players named for the ICC World XI Super Test side and 14 for the One Day International squad are:

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that the Johnnie Walker selectors had picked two squads of superb players who would test Australia to the limit: “There are no weak links in either of these squads; everywhere you look there is an outstanding player whose talent enriches the game. I firmly believe that Sunil and his co-selectors have chosen wisely in making their choices and have given Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock an enviable number of options to cover all match circumstances. Personally, I can’t wait for the series to begin.”

Former India coach John Wright will coach the ICC World XI teams, with Goolam Rajah of South Africa acting as team manager and England’s Kirk Russell taking on the role of team physiotherapist.

Johnnie Walker Marketing Manager (Australia), James Slack said that the level of interest in the series had been extraordinary and that sports lovers throughout Australia would be thrilled at the prospect of watching the world’s best in action.

“Johnnie Walker represents the values of perseverance, excellence and personal pride and the final ICC World XI squad, comprising of the world’s finest cricketers from so many diverse backgrounds, could not embody our message any better. The Johnnie Walker Super Series will certainly represent the continuation of many remarkable journeys for some of the greatest cricket players in the world,” Slack said.

The series schedule includes a three match ODI series at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome on 5, 7 and 9 October and a six day Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 14-19 October.

South Africa has six players across both squads, England and India three, Sri Lanka and Pakistan two, West Indies and New Zealand has one each.

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