Top performers bid to catch selectors' attention

Rahul Dravid © Getty Images

Powerful individual performances around the world have seen players stake 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, chairman of the selection panel, said: "Although the selectors will look at players' career records and their form over the past year, there's no doubt that eye-catching and match-winning performances are bound to attract our attention."

"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, Tendulkar, Sehwag, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan were outstanding in the recent Indo Pak Test series and so were emerging players like Danish Kaneria, Naved ul Hasan and Shahid Afridi," said Mr Gavaskar.

Elsewhere, high quality centuries from the bats of Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan on their return to the West Indian team against South Africa, have reinforced their case for inclusion.

Former West Indies captain and Johnnie Walker selector Clive Lloyd said that the return of the pair, along with opening batsman Chris Gayle and young all-rounder Dwayne Bravo allowed the selectors to choose from the widest array of talent outside Australia: "As a selection panel it's important to be able to pick from the best players in the game, so it's good to see the West Indies resolving their contractual issues and allowing all players to be available for the national team.

"Lara and Sarwan took the chance to impress, but for South Africa I thought the efforts of Makhaya Ntini in talking 13 wickets in the match were outstanding and Graeme Smith's century and astute captaincy were also top class. Jacques Kallis also deserves a mention for his fine hundred in the first Test match."