Cricket Australia announced the make-up of the greatest ODI dream team the World champions could muster since the introduction of the short form of the game.
SYDNEY: Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced the make-up of the greatest ODI dream team the World champions could muster since the introduction of the short form of the game.
Steve Waugh was named captain of the 12-man team, which includes four members of the squad which will fly to the Caribbean on Wednesday in an attempt to win the World Cup for a third straight time. Ricky Ponting (named vice-captain), Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Glenn McGrath have all been included, plus the injured Brett Lee, who will not travel to the Caribbean. They were named alongside Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Dean Jones, Michael Bevan and Dennis Lillee with Greg Chappell 12th man in a fairly straightforward team.
But record-breaking captain Allan Border, who skippered the country’s first World Cup victory in 1987, was a surprise omission. Border captained Australia a record 178 times and his 273 overall ODI appearances are second only to Steve Waugh (325).
The side was voted on by all 163 players to have represented Australia since one-day cricket’s inception in 1971. Modern day players dominated the votes, with Adam Gilchrist heading the list in front of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. “Some great players have missed out on the side and that’s always going to be the case,” Steve Waugh said.
“Going across different eras, it’s almost impossible to pick the side. I think everyone here feels very privileged to be picked, especially myself being captain. A number of players could have been sitting here in the side... Allan Border, a number of other players...”
Team (in batting order): Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting (vice-capt), Dean Jones, Steve Waugh (capt), Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Greg Chappell (12th man)
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