MELBOURNE, Australia, 7 October 2005 — West Indian Chris Gayle will replace Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi in the ICC World XI line-up for the second One-Day International against Australia at Docklands Stadium today.
A team spokesman said yesterday Gayle was part of a 12-man team from which a super-sub will be confirmed before the toss.
Australia also have made one change to their team for the second one-dayer, bringing in Stuart Clark for Glenn McGrath.
Cricket Australia said New South Wales paceman Clark will make his debut, becoming the 153rd player to represent Australia in the One-Day International arena. CA said McGrath will be rested after pulling up with tightness in the legs following Wednesday’s 93-run win over the world all-stars.
New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori has said the World XI must put in an improved showing against Australia in the second one-day match to keep interest in the series alive.
Although widely predicted to beat an Australian team that was heavily criticized after losing the Ashes to England last month, the World XI crumbled to a 93-run loss in the first one-dayer on Wednesday.
“We realize how important it is that we put up a much improved showing in the next game,” left arm spinner Vettori told reporters yesterday. “For it to be a success people want to see a 2-1 result whichever way it goes and a close fought test match for it to have some meaning.
“That’s what we’re certainly here for and we’re going to try and turn that around as quickly as possible.” The first match at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium was poorly attended and large blocks of seats available for sale to the general public were conspicuously empty. The official attendance was 18,435.
World XI (from) - Shaun Pollock (captain), Brian Lara, Shoaib Akhtar, Rahul Dravid, Andrew Flintoff, Chris Gayle, Jacques Kallis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Virender Sehwag, Daniel Vettori. (Super-sub to be named).
Australia - Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark. (Super-sub to be named).
