Home > Cricket > Ashraful, Jayasuriya, Tendulkar, Akhtar: A united sub-continent front can tame the Aussies

Ashraful, Jayasuriya, Tendulkar, Akhtar: A united sub-continent front can tame the Aussies

If India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are ever going to compete against Australia on a level playing field, they need to form a united attack. What would your combined team be?

by Partha Rajagopal on 21 November 2007

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Kumar Sangakkara: Subcontinental class (Gettyimages.com)

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Test matches against Australia have become boring due to the one-sided dominance of Ricky Ponting's world champions. One cannot blame the Aussies for being the best in the game. Heavyweight boxers do not need to battle it out with featherweight contenders - but right now, like it or not, that seems to be the case in cricket.

So I put on my thinking cap and came up with a sub-continent team that could make a series against Australia more exciting. The West Indies have many nations combined into one team, so why not the sub-continent? This team can definitely take on Ponting and Co on a level playing field.

I welcome other readers to join the debate by creating their own teams. This is my selection, based on current form and career performance:

'The West Indies have many nations combined into one team, so why not the sub-continent?'

Mohammad Ashraful (Bangladesh), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Rahul Dravid (India), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Younis Khan (Pakistan), Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Mohammad Asif (Pakistan), Zaheer Khan (India), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka). Reserves: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India), Umar Gul (Pakistan), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Harbhajan Singh (India), Marvin Attapattu (Sri Lanka).

I dream about a five-Test series in Lahore, Mumbai, Colombo, Dacca and Calcutta - and it would be an evenly-matched series, too. And how about another five-match series to follow in Australia?

Comments (6)

by Budhaditya Roy on November 21, 2007

Hi Partha... Chief, I'd have to disagree again. A few years back the Rest of the World team took on the Aussies and got a fierce hammering. Players from all countries make it a collection of brilliant individuals, but not a team. Also, I dunno if you have taken into account the record against Australia for the players you have chosen in your squad. If one looks at the record against the Aussies very few of the aforesaid have good records against Aus, as compared to their career stats in tests.

by Partha Rajagopal on November 21, 2007

Hi Budha, Though you have disagreed with my team selection, it would be interesting to see what your selection would be. The world XI failed because it was put together hurriedly and there was no time to set up the unit. Players were too busy. If a sub-continent team has to be formed, it will need a prep time of about 3 months where the players get to train together and bond. Amongst the players I selected, I see only Ashraful, Gul as players not having exposure to Australia. The others have performed. Their individual records against Australia are reasonably good.

by Budhaditya Roy on November 23, 2007

Hi Partha.. I am not as courageous as you are, buddy :). No collection of individuals can beat a team, in my opinion. As far as most players in your list go, their performances against Australia are poor in tests as compared to their overall performance. It was surprising to see VVS not in it.

by Thomas Josey on November 24, 2007

Hi brilliant guy........hats off to your wonderful ideas. But iam afraid whether they are a bit too impossible. Like Budhaditya Iam also of the same opinion that players of different countries especially the sub continent ones wil never gel well however time they are given. Nationality is a huge factor although all the four belongs to the same continent.

by Nalin T. on November 26, 2007

Well give this a try.

by rohit on November 27, 2007

wow, what hyping. it seems the writer forgot the last time indians played down under, there are innumerable occasions that the indian team in itself has tamed this bunch full of jokers who know nothing apart from hyping and creating a brand which on the field sells because the opposite team is dead even before the first match starts. we will see what happens this time around.