Cricket: World stars rally to give fans a treat

New Zealand Cricket's reputation for landing on its feet grew yesterday when it confirmed what should prove to be the country's most fascinating one-day series in a decade.

Not since the 1995 Centenary Series involving Australia, South Africa and India have New Zealand cricket supporters had such a delicious prospect as the upcoming three one-dayers against a World XI.

After exhaustive work from NZC and the game's international union, FICA, the star-studded World XI will play New Zealand in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton on January 22, 24 and 26.

And to make yesterday more of a red-letter day for NZC, chief executive Martin Snedden also said that Sri Lanka would be returning to New Zealand in April to play the two postponed test matches.

That news, with confirmation of the World XI and Snedden's optimism that the four postponed one-dayers against Sri Lanka would be played early next summer, means New Zealand could recoup all its missed playing opportunities by the end of the year.

By far the most exciting development was the confirmation of the World XI squad, and the prospect that cricket's two most successful bowlers, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, may operate in tandem.

As predicted, Warne will captain a World XI squad made up of seven of his Australian team-mates, four Sri Lankans, two Zimbabwe rebels, two England players and a South African.

Apart from the Warne-Murali pairing, interest is also certain to surround the inclusion of Zimbabweans Andy Flower and Heath Streak, fired by their national administration last year after they made allegations of racism.

But the only surprise in the squad was former England ODI batsman Nick Knight, who was apparently a late addition.

Snedden said that, considering the disruption NZC faced when the Sri Lankans abandoned their tour because of the Boxing Day tsunami and consequent flooding in their homeland, yesterday's developments were a good result for his organisation and the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association.

"Not only is the World XI series an exciting concept for all cricket followers, but the news that the Sri Lankans will return in April, and maybe next December as well, is a great boost to our operation," he said.

A virtual miracle in administrative terms, the new series would probably have struggled had it not been for the goodwill of the international cricket fraternity, he said.

"The response to our plight was staggeringly positive, from the players and the player associations to the different national boards and the International Cricket Council.

"Cricket Australia, in particular, were outstanding with their assistance, helping logistically and re-arranging their own domestic competition - and all in the week leading up to that fantastic spectacle at Melbourne."

NZ Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills described the exercise as an administrative triumph and said he was delighted that his organisation was able to publicly demonstrate its positive intentions.

Mills was at the centre of the players' strike uproar two years.

"I think we've definitely seen a strengthening of the relationship between the players' associations and their respective national boards," he said.

"This is just one of the many positive things the players' association do, but unfortunately most happen out of the public eye and go unnoticed."

Mills said his group was also excited about the role FICA might continue to play in organising and selecting World XI teams, whether it be for disaster relief, disrupted tours or promoting the game for developing nations. "I think FICA has recognised that it could have quite an influential part to play on that front."

The World XI

* Game one: Shane Warne (Australia, capt), Andy Flower (Zimbabwe), Ian Harvey (Australia), Graeme Hick (England), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Lance Klusener (South Africa), Nick Knight (England), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Heath Streak (Zimbabwe), Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Jonty Rhodes (South Africa, player/coach).

* Game two: Warne (capt), Andy Bichel (Australia), Matthew Elliott (Australia), Flower, Harvey, Hick, Jayasuriya, Klusener, Knight, Muralitharan, Sangakkara, Streak, Vaas, Rhodes.

* Game three: Warne (capt), Michael Bevan (Australia), Bichel, Elliott, Flower, Harvey, Hick, Jayasuriya, Justin Langer (Australia), Muralitharan, Sangakkara, Streak, Vaas, Rhodes.