Flashback: 2005 Australia vs World XI

As an ICC World XI toured Pakistan recently, it is interesting to look back to their 2005 tour of India. The ICC Super Series took place in October, and included three ODIs and a Super Test to close the tour.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Australia were a dominant force in world cricket. It was decided that the world's best players would be included in a team to challenge them.

Five were from South Africa, three each were from England and Pakistan, two each were from India, Sri Lanka and The West Indies, and one was from New Zealand. The roster included the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara.

1st ODI

After a warm-up match victory against state team Victoria, the World XI took to the field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for an ODI against Australia.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat. The started well as openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich formed an 80-run partnership in just 14 overs.

The captain Ricky Ponting, and Katich progressed the score to 128-1 in the twenty-third over before further wickets fell at regular intervals. Spin bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori took six wickets combined to restrict Australia to 255-8.

In reply, the World XI struggled, losing five of their top six batsmen for single figures to stumble to 82-5. Kumar Sangakkara made 65 but Australia eventually bowled out the World XI for just 162 runs to win by 93 runs.

A largely uneventful opening game was without major individual contributions. It was, however, a sign of things to come for the World XI side.