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Powerful individual
performances around the world have seen several players stake early
claims for inclusion in the initial ICC World XI squads for the
Johnnie Walker ICC Super Series in Australia, according to Indian
cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.
Mr.
Gavaskar, who is chairman of the selection panel, said: “Although the
selectors will look at players’ records over the past year, there’s no
doubt that eye-catching and match–winning performances are bound to
attract our attention before we meet as a panel for the first time.”
“It’s important that all players outside Australia realise they are in
contention for places in the ICC World XI Test and One Day squads that
will be selected for these prestigious games. That applies equally to
established stars and promising young talent. Proven players like
Dravid, Kumble, Sehwag, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan were
outstanding in the recent Indo Pak Test series. And so were emerging
players like Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afridi, and Lakshimipathy Balaji,”
said Mr Gavaskar.
“One of the factors we’ll be looking at is how players have performed
against Australia. So obviously individuals who caught the eye in the
recent series between New Zealand and Australia like Hamish Marshall
with his first Test century, Daniel Vettori, who bowled and batted
well against them, and Nathan Astle with runs in the top order, will
be pushing to stake a claim,” he added.
The six-man selection panel of former greats headed by the ex-India
captain includes Mike Atherton, Richard Hadlee, Clive Lloyd, Jonty
Rhodes and Aravinda de Silva and is due to meet later this month to
select the initial squads of 30 players for the three One Day
Internationals and the six-day Test against world champion Australia.
“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge as well as a real privilege
to pick from the best players outside Australia in selecting the 30
players who we believe will be best equipped to take on this ultimate
cricketing test in both forms of the game,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
Combined prize money and match payments for the three match one-day
series in Melbourne will be US$ 1.254 million, while the total money
available for the six-day Super Test in Sydney will be US$ 1.390
million. A decision reached by the ICC Executive Board at its recent
meeting in New Delhi means the matches will be accorded official Test
and ODI status.
International cricket that will be reviewed by the selectors in the
lead up to their first meeting will include the Indo Pak ODI series,
the West Indies v South Africa Test series in the Caribbean and New
Zealand at home to Sri Lanka.
The challenge
awaiting the selected ICC World XI teams is to succeed where national
sides have mostly failed. Australia has not lost a home Test series
since 1993 and is undefeated in a One Day International series since
2002. |
