A dream can be defined as a Reverie, Hallucination, Delusion and State of Trance. Probably it was in this frame of mind when so much is happening in Indian Cricket and just before the Super Series, my subconscious came up with my own dream team. A team that would play, who else, but, the Australians.
Test Team
The Australian Test XI led by the legendary Sir Don Bradman, would battle it out with a World XI helmed by the gutsy Clive Lloyd. My dream test team would comprise players whom I saw play from the 1980’s. I am sure this would be a match to cherish.
Venue: Lords
Toss: Won by Sir Bradman – Elected to bat
Result – Draw
Sunil Gavaskar
Gordon Greenidge
Vivian Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Clive Lloyd (Captain)
Jeff Dujon (Wicket-Keeper)
Imran Khan (Vice Captain)
Ian Botham
Richard Hadlee
Waseem Akram
Muttiah Muralitharan
Allan Lamb (12th Man)
Syed Kirmani (Bench)
Kapil Dev (Bench)
Martin Crowe (Bench)
Jonty Rhodes (Bench)
Gary Sobers (Coach)
My prediction is that this match would end in a pulsating draw, the excitement lasting upto the mandatory overs on the final day.
One Day Team
Now my dream one day team would consist of players who came into their own in the 90s and some in the 80s also. The Australian One Day team would be led by Steve Waugh. Stephen Flemming would do the honors for the World X1
Venue: Eden Gardens
Toss: Won by Stephen Flemming – Elected to bat
Result – Tie
Sachin Tendulkar
Sanath Jayasuriya
Brain Lara
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Vice Captain)
Stephen Flemming (Captain)
Andrew Flintoff
Dave Houghton (Wicket-Keeper)
Chris Cairns
Waseem Akram
Allan Donald
Muttiah Muralitharan
Rahul Dravid (12th Man)
Waqar Younis (Bench)
Courtney Walsh (Bench)
Anil Kumble (Bench)
Chaminda Vaas (Bench)
Coach: Vivian Richards
What a match. A tie was the only way to end this gem of a match. Yawn! Going to bed to dream some more.