Tsunami Benefit Match, Lords, tuesday

[swooperman]

MCC XI: Fleming ©, Gayle, Ganguly, Laxman, Kallis, A Flower, sangakarra (wk), Pollock, Kumble, Singh H, Shoaib Akhtar International XI: Sehwag, Jayasuriya, G Smith, Lara ©, Dravid (wk), Chanderpaul, Cairns, Warne, Vaas, Sami, Ntini All the sounds coming from both camps are that they will play this as hard as they can, & the previous game in March (?) at the MCG backs that up. The organisers are very keen for a decent show as the tickets are £30 a throw. Also some countrymen are facing each other which rarely happens in these days of central contracts, so bragging rights are on offer. Some of the players such as Warne, Singh, Ganguly & Vaas have county games starting the next day but that is the only down side. Taking for granted that they are all busting a gut to do well, the International team have the edge for my money. They have the flair in the batting with Sehwag, Jayasuriya & Lara, & the stability of Smith & Chanderpaul, & their bowling looks good to attack or contain with Cairns, warne & Vaas. The MCC side looks more fragile to me with the explosive but inconsistent Gayle, Ganguly & Laxman, all 3 of which could be gone in an instant, leaving Fleming, Kallis & Flower. Kumble & Singh together will be a handful as normal, & Pollock is Pollock, but IMO Shoaib is a showpony & this lot can play pace & the Internationals look the more hard wearing team. Stan James 5/6 the pair. Dravid 11/2 top International runscorer.

[swooperman]

Re: Tsunami Benefit Match, Lords, tuesday Whether the sounds are right or not, mind you, I'd keep to low stakes....it is after all a benefit match....