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Cricket's superstars head the bill for Johnnie Walker Super Series

Rahul Dravid, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Jaques Kallis, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam ul Haq head the list of 39 of international cricket's biggest names announced today in the initial squads for the ICC World XI tea

Jon Long
09-May-2005
Rahul Dravid, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Jaques Kallis, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam ul Haq head the list of 39 of international cricket's biggest names announced today in the initial squads for the ICC World XI teams to take on the all-conquering Australian Test and ODI sides in the Johnnie Walker Super Series in Australia in October this year.
Also in the squads are the young England one-day batting sensation, Kevin Pietersen, the promising New Zealand wicketkeeper, Brendon McCullum and evergreen England bowler, Darren Gough.
Pakistan's outstanding tour of India has helped nine of its players gain selection across both squads, while England, India and South Africa all have seven players in the squads, Sri Lanka has four, West Indies has three and New Zealand, two. No players were selected from Bangladesh, Zimbabwe or Kenya.
Announcing the squads at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai today, chairman of the Johnnie Walker Super Series selection panel, and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, said that the sides boasted some of the most talented players in the world.
"The Johnnie Walker Super Series squads are packed with fantastically talented players from around the world who will pose a serious challenge to Australia's supremacy in both forms of the game," he said.
"It was incredibly difficult to confine our selections to just 30 players for each squad, but in the end and after much agonising and debate, the panel is confident that these are the best combinations of players for the challenge ahead."
The players chosen for the ICC World XI Test and ODI squads, by country, are:
Country
Test & ODI squad
Test squad
ODI squad
England
Andrew Flintoff Steve Harmison Darren Gough
Andrew Strauss Kevin Pietersen
Michael Vaughan Marcus Trescothick
India
Rahul Dravid Anil Kumble
Irfan Pathan VVS Laxman
Virender Sehwag
Harbhajan Singh
Sachin Tendulkar
New Zealand
Brendon McCullum
Daniel Vettori
Pakistan
Shoaib Akhtar Danish Kaneria Shahid Afridi
Inzamam ul Haq Younis Khan Shoaib Malik
Naved ul Hasan Abdul Razzaq
Yousuf Youhana
South Africa
Mark Boucher Andre Nel
Herschelle Gibbs Graeme Smith
Jacques Kallis
Makhaya Ntini
Shaun Pollock
Sri Lanka
Muttiah Muralitharan Sanath Jayasuriya
Kumar Sangakkara
Chaminda Vaas
West Indies
Brian Lara Chris Gayle
Ramnaresh Sarwan
England captain, Michael Vaughan, was pleased to be named in the 30-man Test squad and said the up-coming Ashes campaign would be the perfect opportunity for the seven England players to push their claims for a place in the final squads.
"There is a great opportunity for all seven England players to have a good summer against Australia and get into the final squads," said Vaughan.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that the selectors had used their experience wisely in choosing an outstanding group of players for the initial squads.
"The panel has picked a group of players which offers proven match-winning combinations in all areas of the game. There is awesome depth to the batting strength of these squads, with players like Dravid, Lara, Laxman, Sehwag, Tendulkar and Vaughan all averaging over 50 in Tests against Australia. There are genuine all-rounders for the differing demands of Test and ODI cricket and bowling which combines new ball penetration and superb spin and seam options," said Mr Speed.
"It is also particularly exciting to see the names of a number of younger and emerging players recognised by the selectors. Players like Kevin Pietersen, Brendon McCullum, Andre Nel, Naved ul Hasan, Shahid Afridi and Irfan Pathan have forced their way into the Johnnie Walker Super Series squads on the strength of outstanding performances over recent months."
In making their initial choices, the Johnnie Walker Super Series selection panel of Sunil Gavaskar, Mike Atherton, Sir Richard Hadlee, Clive Lloyd, Jonty Rhodes and Aravinda de Silva took a range of key factors into account comprising:
  • players' overall career records in both Test and ODI cricket
  • their form in both Test and ODI cricket over the past 12 months
  • their overall playing records against Australia and their performances against the world champion team in Australia
  • players' positions in the LG ICC Rankings for both Test and ODI cricket
  • the distinctive characteristics of the venues in Melbourne and Sydney which will host the games
Mr Gavaskar explained that in making their choices the selectors had looked for qualities and character beyond statistical achievement.
"While statistics were a significant form guide, we placed more importance on our knowledge of the players, their ability to perform on the biggest stage and their character in taking on such hardened opponents as Australia," he said.
"We want the best flair and talent in the world, but we also need players with the qualities to dig deep when the going is tough and take advantage of any weaknesses or errors in the Australians' game," he added.
Johnnie Walker Marketing Manager for Australia, James Slack, said that he is delighted that such an immensely talented and diverse squad has been selected for the Johnnie Walker Super Series.
"The journey of many of these players, from such culturally diverse backgrounds, to be selected for the initial ICC World XI squads to take on the world's best is truly inspiring," said Mr Slack.
"Johnnie Walker as a brand is all about reflecting the values of a pioneering spirit, hard work, perseverance, and ultimately success. With the calibre of this initial squad we can be sure that the Johnnie Walker Super Series will be the greatest celebration of cricket Australia has seen for many years - bring on October."
Johnnie Walker Super Series selector Mike Atherton said that with England due to play seven Tests and two ODI series during the summer, its selected players, as well as others not named in these first squads, have an excellent opportunity to press their claims.
"England's scheduling will help because anyone who does well in the early Tests and one-day games is bound to be mentioned when the squads of 20 players are picked. We're looking for players who can perform on the big occasion and under real pressure so the games against Australia will provide the perfect setting for guys to rise to the occasion," said the former England captain.
Of the 39 players selected, 21 are named in both the Test and ODI squads, nine are included in the Test squad alone and there are nine players nominated as ODI specialists.
The ICC World XI teams will take on Australia in a three-match ODI series in Melbourne on 5, 7 and 9 October, and a six-day Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (14 to 19 October), in the inaugural Johnnie Walker ICC Super Series.
The two squads announced today will be trimmed to just 20 names in early July before the final squads to take on Australia are announced in August.
Combined prize money and match payments for the One Day series will be US$ 1.254 million, while the total money available for the Super Test will be US$ 1.390 million. The matches will be accorded official Test and ODI status.
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 ODI series since 2002.