{{Short description|Cricket series held in Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox cricket tournament main | name = ICC Super Series | image = Icc superseries.png | imagesize = 220px | caption = The official logo of the ''Johnnie Walker Super Series'' | administrator = [[International Cricket Council|ICC]] | cricket format = [[Test cricket|Test]] and [[One Day Internationals|ODI]] | tournament format = Series | first = 2005 | last = 2005 | participants = 2 | champions = {{cr|AUS}} (both Test and ODI) | most successful = {{cr|AUS}} 2 titles (Test and ODI) | most runs = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Adam Gilchrist]] (275) | most wickets = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Stuart MacGill]] (9) }} The '''ICC Super Series 2005''' was a cricket series held in Australia during October 2005, organised by the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC). It was played between [[Australian national cricket team|Australia]] (the world's top-ranked side at the time) and a World XI team of players selected from other countries. The series consisted of three [[One Day International]]s and one [[Test cricket|Test match]]. Australia won all 4 of them.
The matches attracted small crowds and were not competitive, in part because the ICC World XI had only one warm-up game to gel as a team. The Super Series concept had been controversial from its first proposal. The ICC's intention was to showcase the world's best players and provide a close contest with Australia, who had dominated international cricket for several years. However, many fans and experts dismissed the Super Series as a gimmick, comparing it unfavourably with the [[2005 Ashes Series]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4349434.stm |title=Super Series snore? |access-date=19 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823192850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4349434.stm |archive-date=23 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><br />The ICC had intended to hold a Super Series every four years, but the concept was not repeated.
==Background== In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Australian cricket side had become completely dominant in world cricket, and had a reputation of being unbeatable. In this climate, the concept of gathering the world's best players into one team to challenge them was born, and the ICC Super Series was developed.
==Fixtures== *'''Warm-up match:''' [[Junction Oval]], [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]] **ICC World XI vs. [[Victorian Bushrangers|Victoria]] – 2 October *'''[[One Day International]]s:''' [[Telstra Dome]], [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]] **'''Game 1''' – 5 October **'''Game 2''' – 7 October **'''Game 3''' – 9 October *'''Super [[Test cricket|Test]]:''' [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales|NSW]] **14 to 19 October
==Teams==
===Team Selectors - Australia===
The Australian squads were announced on 20 September, and the axe fell on the lacklustre performers on the team during [[The 2005 Ashes|the recent Ashes series]]. [[Damien Martyn]] was dropped from the Test side in favour of [[Brad Hodge]] but retained his one-day spot. [[Stuart MacGill]] and [[Shane Watson]], who toured England but did not play in any of the Ashes Tests, were included in the lineup. [[Jason Gillespie]] and [[Michael Kasprowicz]] were not included in the Test squad or the ODI squad, while [[James Hopes]] received a surprise call-up for the ODI side following his 146 in a [[first class cricket|first-class]] game for [[Australia A cricket team|Australia A]] on their [[Australia A cricket team in Pakistan in 2005-06|tour of Pakistan in September 2005]].
===Team Selectors - ICC World XI=== The World XI selectors named a shortlist, from which the 11 Test players were named. The selection panel comprised:<ref>''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Wisden]]'' 2006, p. 1156.</ref>
*[[Sunil Gavaskar]] of [[Indian cricket team|India]] (chairman) *[[Mike Atherton]] of [[English cricket team|England]] *[[Sir Richard Hadlee]] of [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] *[[Clive Lloyd|Sir Clive Lloyd]] of the [[West Indian cricket team|West Indies]] *[[Jonty Rhodes]] of [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] *[[Aravinda de Silva]] of [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]]
The shortlist they named was: [[Andrew Flintoff]] (England), [[Steve Harmison]] (England), [[Michael Vaughan]] (England), [[Rahul Dravid]] (India), [[Virender Sehwag]] (India), [[Sachin Tendulkar]] (India), [[Anil Kumble]] (India), [[Brendon McCullum]] (New Zealand), [[Daniel Vettori]] (New Zealand), [[Shoaib Akhtar]] (Pakistan), [[Inzamam-ul-Haq]] (Pakistan), [[Younis Khan]] (Pakistan), [[Mark Boucher]] (South Africa), [[Jacques Kallis]] (South Africa), [[Makhaya Ntini]] (South Africa), [[Shaun Pollock]] (South Africa), [[Graeme Smith]] (South Africa), [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] (Sri Lanka), [[Brian Lara]] (West Indies), [[Shivnarine Chanderpaul]] (West Indies)
The ICC World squads were announced on 23 August 2005, with additions on 23 September due to injuries to two players. Of the players in the final squads, five were from [[South Africa cricket team|South Africa]], three each were from [[England cricket team|England]] and [[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]], two each were from [[India cricket team|India]], [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lanka]] and [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]], and one was from [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]]. [[Zimbabwean cricket team|Zimbabwe]] and [[Bangladeshi cricket team|Bangladesh]] were unrepresented.
After first being reduced to 13, who travelled to Australia, the final 11 players to take the field were selected by the Chairman of Selectors, [[Sunil Gavaskar]] in consultation with the appointed team director, the coach and captain of the team, who will be appointed by the selection panel. The colour of the ICC World XI's uniform was predominantly blue and black. The coach of the team was India's former coach [[John Wright (cricketer, born 1954)|John Wright]].
===Squads for the Six Day Test Match === {{anchor|Test}} {|align="center" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="3" | {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia ! colspan="3" |ICC World XI |- ! Player's Name ! National Cricket Team ! Team Role ! Player's Name ! National Cricket Team ! Team Role |- || [[Ricky Ponting]] <small>(c)</small> || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Graeme Smith]] <small>(c)</small> || {{cr|RSA}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Adam Gilchrist]] <small>(vc)</small> || {{cr|AUS}} || [[wicket-keeper|WK]], [[batsman|LHB]] || [[Mark Boucher]]{{efn|name=Boucher}} || {{cr|RSA}} || [[wicket-keeper|WK]], [[batsman|RHB]] |- || [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[slow left arm|SLA]] || [[Rahul Dravid]] <small>(vc)</small> || {{cr|IND}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Matthew Hayden]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Shoaib Akhtar]] || {{cr|PAK}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] |- || [[Brad Hodge]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] || [[Andrew Flintoff]] || {{cr|ENG}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] |- || [[Simon Katich]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[Left-arm unorthodox spin|SLC]] || [[Steve Harmison]] || {{cr|ENG}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] |- || [[Justin Langer]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Inzamam-ul-Haq]]{{efn|name=Inzamam}} || {{cr|PAK}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[slow left arm|SLA]] |- || [[Brett Lee]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] || [[Jacques Kallis]] || {{cr|RSA}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] |- || [[Stuart MacGill]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[leg break|LB]] || [[Brian Lara]] || {{cr|WIN}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[leg break|LBG]] |- || [[Glenn McGrath]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] || {{cr|SRI}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Shane Warne]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[leg break|LB]] || [[Shaun Pollock]] || {{cr|RSA}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] |- || [[Shane Watson]] || {{cr|AUS}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Virender Sehwag]] || {{cr|IND}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || || || || [[Daniel Vettori]] || {{cr|NZL}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[slow left arm|SLA]] |}
<small>Statistics are correct as of 19 October 2005, after the only Test match played to date by the World XI</small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/caps.html?country=140;class=1 |title=Players / World XI / Test caps |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825194206/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/caps.html?country=140;class=1 |archive-date=25 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting.html?class=1;id=140;type=team |title=World XI Test Batting Averages |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224223713/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting.html?class=1;id=140;type=team |archive-date=24 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/bowling.html?class=1;id=140;type=team |title=World XI Test Bowling Averages |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221053612/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/bowling.html?class=1;id=140;type=team |archive-date=21 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" |- ! colspan=4 |ICC World XI Test cricketers ! colspan=7 | [[Batting (cricket)|Batting]] ! colspan=6 | [[Bowling (cricket)|Bowling]] ! colspan=2 | [[Fielding (cricket)|Fielding]] |- ! [[Cap (sport)|Cap]] ! Name ! Career ! Mat ! [[Innings|Inn]] ! [[Not out|NO]] ! [[Run (cricket)|Runs]] ! HS ! [[Batting average (cricket)|Avg]] ! 100 ! 50 ! [[Cricket ball|Balls]] ! Mdn ! [[Run (cricket)|Runs]] ! [[Wicket|Wkt]] ! Best ! [[Bowling average|Avg]] ! [[Caught (cricket)|Ca]] ! [[Stump (cricket)|St]] |- | 1 || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Mark Boucher]] ([[wicket-keeper]]) || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 17 || 17 || 8.50 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 2 || – |- || 2 || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Rahul Dravid]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 23 || 23 || 11.50 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 1 || – |- || 3 || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andrew Flintoff]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 50 || 35 || 20.50 || – || – || 204 || 5 || 107 || 7 || 4/59 || 15.29 || – || – |- || 4 || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Harmison]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 1 || 1 || 0.50 || – || – || 183 || 5 || 101 || 4 || 3/41 || 25.25 || – || – |- || 5 || {{flagicon|PAK}} [[Inzamam-ul-Haq]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 1 || 1 || 0.50 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – |- || 6 || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Jacques Kallis]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 83 || 44 || 83.00 || – || – || 60 || 2 || 58 || 1 || 1/3 || 58.00 || 4 || – |- || 7 || {{flagicon|WIN}} [[Brian Lara]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 41 || 36 || 25.00 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – |- || 8 || {{flagicon|SRI}} [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 2 || 2 || 1.00 || – || – || 324 || 7 || 157 || 5 || 3/55 || 31.40 || 2 || – |- || 9 || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Virender Sehwag]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 83 || 76 || 41.50 || – || 1 || – || – || – || – || – || – || 1 || – |- || 10 || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Graeme Smith]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || – || 12 || 12 || 6.00 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 3 || – |- || 11 || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Daniel Vettori]] || 2005 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 8 || 8* || 8.00 || – || – || 162 || 3 || 111 || 1 || 1/73 || 111.00 || – || – |}
===Squads for the Three One-day Internationals=== {| align="center" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="3" | {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia ! colspan="3" |ICC World XI |- ! Player's Name ! National cricket team ! Team Role ! Player's Name ! National cricket team ! Team Role |- || [[Ricky Ponting]] <small>(c)</small> || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Shaun Pollock]] <small>(c)</small> || {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] |[[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] |- || [[Adam Gilchrist]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[wicket-keeper|WK]], [[batsman|LHB]] || [[Kumar Sangakkara]] || {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]] || [[wicket-keeper|WK]], [[batsman|LHB]] |- || [[Nathan Bracken]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|LFM]] || [[Shahid Afridi]] || {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistani cricket team|Pakistan]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[leg break|LBG]] |- || [[Stuart Clark]]{{efn|name=ClarkWhite}} || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Shoaib Akhtar]] || {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistani cricket team|Pakistan]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] |- || [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[slow left arm|SLA]] || [[Rahul Dravid]]{{efn|name=DravidGayle}} || {{flagicon|India}} [[Indian cricket team|India]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[James Hopes]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Andrew Flintoff]] || {{flagicon|England}} [[English cricket team|England]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] |- || [[Mike Hussey]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|LHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Chris Gayle]]{{efn|name=DravidGayle}} || {{cr|West Indies}} || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Simon Katich]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|LHB]], [[Left-arm unorthodox spin|SLC]] || [[Jacques Kallis]] || {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] |- || [[Brett Lee]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] || [[Brian Lara]] || {{cr|West Indies}} || [[batsman|LHB]], [[leg break|LBG]] |- || [[Damien Martyn]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RM]] || [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] || {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Glenn McGrath]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Makhaya Ntini]] || {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RF]] |- || [[Andrew Symonds]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] || [[Kevin Pietersen]] || {{flagicon|England}} [[English cricket team|England]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Shane Watson]] || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Virender Sehwag]] || {{flagicon|India}} [[Indian cricket team|India]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[off break|OB]] |- || [[Cameron White]]{{efn|name=ClarkWhite}} || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] || [[batsman|RHB]], [[leg break|LB]] || [[Daniel Vettori]] || {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] || [[batsman|LHB]], [[slow left arm|SLA]] |}
== Status of the matches == [[File:ChrisGayle Cropped.jpg|thumb|Chris Gayle in an ODI match]] The [[International Cricket Council]] declared that the matches would count as official One Day Internationals and Test matches. Some previous matches, such as the [[Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970|series between England and the Rest of the World in 1970]], were initially regarded as Test matches, perhaps in the interests of attracting a sponsor, but later stripped of Test status by the ICC.<ref>{{cite web|title=The uncapped one cap wonder |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-uncapped-one-test-wonder-259050 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> At first it was unclear whether the Super Series matches would be recognised as official internationals, but following the decision to recognise the [[World Cricket Tsunami Appeal]] match as an official ODI, the ICC decided to award official status to the Super Series matches too. Apart from fixtures in which Caribbean islands and territories of the former [[British Empire]] compete together as the [[West Indies cricket|West Indies]], this was the first official Test match not between two countries. This decision proved controversial among players and writers alike. {{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
Cricket historians have generally opposed the decision because of inconsistency in that the 1970 Rest of the World series in England is not accorded Test status, although those matches were advertised as Test matches at the time. Officially, however, Test status seems unlikely to be withdrawn from the 2005 Super Test in part because of the effect on noted cricket records; for instance without the wickets taken in this match, [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] would fall slightly short of 800 career test wickets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muthiah Muralidaran |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/muthiah-muralidaran-49636 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}} </ref> Statisticians such as [[Bill Frindall]] have said that they will not recognise the ruling and will exclude the matches from their records. Although it has been said that this "raises the possibility of two competing sets of cricket statistics being in circulation", that has always been a reality because there has never been a standard for match status and statisticians have always used their own match lists. {{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
Many current and former Test cricketers also joined in the debate. For example, former Australian captain [[Allan Border]] said: "I firmly believe that this status should be restricted to matches between national sides. Test cricket is an institution that has been built up over a period of 128 years, and it should not be tampered with". (Although arguably this overlooks the anomaly related to the West Indies, as well as the fact that Australia and South Africa both competed in what are now deemed test matches in the nineteenth century prior to formal political unification.) Conversely, [[Tony Greig]], who played for the [[Rest of the World cricket team in Australia in 1971–72|Rest of the World against Australia in 1971–1972]], said "My understanding of the status of first-class and Test cricket is related to the standard of the players. These are all Test cricketers... [The 1971–72 matches] were played like Tests and were deadly serious. "
The matches themselves were characterised by poor crowds (half empty grounds) and lacklustre performances by the World XI. Former England batsman [[Geoffrey Boycott]] described the series as a "bunfight" and said that there was "nothing that resembled cricket" in it. {{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} The authoritative publication [[The Wisden Cricketer]] summed up the Test match as follows: " [it] was a terrible game of cricket. It had a small crowd, little meaning and was forgotten quickly." The World XI players seemed to be there more for fun than anything else. Andrew Flintoff came up with some refreshingly honest statements amidst all the bullish officials: "I've got the Super Series in two weeks' time. I can't think of anything worse," he said, adding on arrival; "I'm only here for the food."<ref>{{cite web | title = Cricinfo XI: The devil is in the detail | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/288887.html | access-date = 13 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101127163023/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/288887.html | archive-date = 27 November 2010 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
Captain Graeme Smith admitted to frustration in the aftermath of the series, saying he found it hard to deal with the fact that there weren't any repercussions to 'losing so badly'<ref>{{cite web | title = Smith admits to Super Series frustration | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/222710.html | access-date = 13 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110413201529/http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/222710.html | archive-date = 13 April 2011 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
==Match reports==
===Warm-up: Victoria v ICC World XI (2 October)=== {{Limited overs matches | date = 2 October 2005 | time = | daynight = | team1 =[[List of ICC World ODI XI cricketers|ICC World XI]] | team2 = {{cr-Aus|VIC}}
| score1 = 281/8 (50 overs) | runs1 = [[Rahul Dravid]] ([[India national cricket team|IND]]) 66 (80) | wickets1 = [[Shane Harwood]] 4/37 (10 overs)
| score2 = 269/9 (50 overs) | runs2 = [[Brad Hodge]] 92 (116) | wickets2 = [[Shoaib Akhtar]] ([[Pakistan national cricket team|PAK]]) 2/29 (10 overs)
| result = ICC World XI won by 12 runs | report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/83/83773.html Scorecard] | venue = [[Junction Oval]], [[Melbourne]] | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] (Pak) and [[Rudi Koertzen]] (SA) | motm = None | toss = No coin toss. Both sides agreed to ICC World XI batting first. | rain = | notes = 13 per side (11 to bat and field) }}
In a practice match preceding the first One Day International, a fifty over game was arranged against a strong Victorian side. The game was thirteen-a-side, but with only eleven players allowed to bat and eleven to field. [[Andrew Flintoff]] was allowed to rest, with the other World XI players all playing. By agreement the World XI batted first, but they fared badly as they collapsed from 63 for no loss to 131 for 6, with [[Shane Harwood]] taking 4 for 37. [[Rahul Dravid]]'s knock of 66 off 80 balls and [[Shaun Pollock]]'s cameo of 54 not out off only 38 balls rescued the innings, which finished on a competitive 281 for 8. Victoria came close in reply, with [[Brad Hodge]] top-scoring with 92 before succumbing to [[Muttiah Muralitharan]].
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/220688.html Scorecard]
===First ODI: Australia v ICC World XI (5 October)===
{{Limited overs matches | date = 5 October 2005 | time = | daynight = Y | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}} | team2 =[[List of ICC World ODI XI cricketers|ICC World XI]]
| score1 = 255/8 (50 overs) | runs1 = [[Simon Katich]] 58 (78) | wickets1 = [[Daniel Vettori]] ([[New Zealand cricket team|NZ]]) 4/33 (10 overs)
| score2 = 162 (41.3 overs) | runs2 = [[Kumar Sangakkara]] ([[Sri Lankan cricket team|SL]]) 64 (94) | wickets2 = [[Shane Watson]] 3/43 (10 overs)
| result = Australia won by 93 runs | report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/83/83781.html Scorecard] | venue = [[Telstra Dome]], [[Melbourne]] | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] (Pak) and [[Simon Taufel]] (Aus) | motm = [[Shane Watson]] (Aus) | toss = Australia won the toss and elected to bat. | rain = | notes = [[Cameron White]] (Aus) made his ODI debut. }}
[[Australian cricket team|Australia]] won the toss and captain [[Ricky Ponting]] elected to bat first. They got off to a good start, with [[Adam Gilchrist|Gilchrist]] and [[Simon Katich|Katich]] putting on 80 [[run (cricket)|runs]] in only 14 [[over (cricket)|overs]] before Gilchrist was bowled by [[Jacques Kallis|Kallis]]. Katich and Ponting put on 48 in the next eight overs, and at 1 for 128 after 22.1 overs, Australia looked to be heading for a big score. But after that wickets fell regularly, with the spinners [[Muttiah Muralitharan|Muralitharan]] and [[Daniel Vettori|Vettori]] working their way steadily through the middle order to restrict Australia to 8 for 255 at the end of their 50 overs.
The ICC World XI never looked like challenging this total. They lost five of their top six batsmen – [[Virender Sehwag|Sehwag]], [[Jacques Kallis|Kallis]], [[Brian Lara|Lara]], [[Rahul Dravid|Dravid]] and [[Kevin Pietersen|Pietersen]] – for single figures, to collapse to 5 for 82 inside 22 overs. Only [[Kumar Sangakkara|Sangakkara]]'s [[innings]] gave any hope, but when he was out for 64 to leave the ICC World XI on 6 for 101, needing 7 runs an over off the last 22 overs, the game was over. Australia eventually wrapped up the ICC World XI's innings for 162 to record a comprehensive 93-run victory.
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/220935.html Scorecard]
===Second ODI: Australia v ICC World XI (7 October)===
{{Limited overs matches | date = 7 October 2005 | time = | daynight = Y | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}} | team2 =[[List of ICC World ODI XI cricketers|ICC World XI]]
| score1 = 328/4 (50 overs) | runs1 = [[Adam Gilchrist]] 103 (79) | wickets1 = [[Virender Sehwag]] ([[Indian cricket team|IND]]) 1/20 (3 overs)
| score2 = 273 (45.3 overs) | runs2 = [[Kumar Sangakkara]] ([[Sri Lankan cricket team|SL]]) 61 (44) | wickets2 = [[Nathan Bracken]] 3/43 (7.3 overs)
| result = Australia won by 55 runs | report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/83/83790.html Scorecard] | venue = [[Telstra Dome]], [[Melbourne]] | umpires = [[Rudi Koertzen]] (SA) and [[Darrell Hair]] (Aus) | motm = [[Adam Gilchrist]] (Aus) | toss = Australia won the toss and elected to bat. | rain = | notes = [[Stuart Clark]] (Aus) made his ODI debut. }}
[[Australian cricket team|Australia]] won the toss and captain [[Ricky Ponting]] elected to bat first. They got off to a good start, with [[Adam Gilchrist|Gilchrist]] and [[Simon Katich|Katich]] quickly putting on 110 [[run (cricket)|runs]] before Katich was bowled by a doosra from [[Muttiah Muralitharan|Muralitharan]]. Gilchrist and Ponting put on 63, with Gilchrist reaching his century off 73 balls, before missing a straight Sehwag delivery. Martyn and Ponting consolidated in a 103-run stand, working singles around. On 276, Ponting failed to beat Flintoff to the stumps at the other end and Martyn was bowled next ball, giving the World XI a sniff. However, [[Andrew Symonds]] and [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] pushed the Australian total comfortably past 300, with 4 for 328 at the end of their 50 overs. Every bowler was taken to, except for [[Muttiah Muralitharan|Muralitharan]], who finished with 1 for 43 off 10 overs.
The ICC World XI initially looked like challenging this total. [[Chris Gayle]] blasted a 48-ball half-century as the World XI reached 125 off only 16.1 overs. From then on however, they consistently lost wickets, due to insipid running between the wickets and a few soft dismissals, with [[Brian Lara|Lara]] again hitting [[Nathan Bracken]] straight to Symonds at cover. The ICC World XI ended up being dismissed for 273, handing another victory to Australia.
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/221083.html Scorecard]
===Third ODI: Australia v ICC World XI (9 October)===
{{Limited overs matches | date = 9 October 2005 | time = | daynight = Y | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}} | team2 =[[List of ICC World ODI XI cricketers|ICC World XI]]
| score1 = 293/5 (50 overs) | runs1 = [[Mike Hussey]] 75[[not out|*]] (74) | wickets1 = [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] ([[Sri Lankan cricket team|SL]]) 2/38 (10 overs)
| score2 = 137 (27.5 overs) | runs2 = [[Virender Sehwag]] ([[Indian cricket team|IND]]) 37 (40) | wickets2 = [[Brett Lee]] 4/30 (9 overs)
| result = Australia won by 156 runs | report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/83/83800.html Scorecard] | venue = [[Telstra Dome]], [[Melbourne]] | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] (Pak) and [[Darrell Hair]] (Aus) | motm = [[Shane Watson]] (Aus) | toss = Australia won the toss and elected to bat. | rain = | notes = }}
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/221337.html Scorecard]
===Super Test: Australia v ICC World XI=== {{Test match | date = 14–17 October 2005 (6–day match) | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}} | team2 =[[List of ICC World ODI XI cricketers|ICC World XI]]
| score-team1-inns1 = 345 (90 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 = [[Matthew Hayden]] 111 (180) | wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Andrew Flintoff]] 4/59 (18 overs)
| score-team2-inns1 = 190 (47.1 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 = [[Virender Sehwag]] 76 (82) | wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Stuart MacGill]] 4/39 (9.1 overs)
| score-team1-inns2 = 199 (65.3 overs) | runs-team1-inns2 = [[Matthew Hayden]] 77 (120) | wickets-team1-inns2 = [[Steve Harmison]] 3/41 (12.3 overs)
| score-team2-inns2 = 144 (50 overs) | runs-team2-inns2 = [[Jacques Kallis]] 39[[not out|*]] (86) | wickets-team2-inns2 = [[Stuart MacGill]] 5/43 (15 overs)
| result = Australia won by 210 runs | report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/83/83839.html Scorecard] | venue = [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales|NSW]] | umpires = [[Rudi Koertzen]] (SA) and [[Simon Taufel]] (Aus) | motm = [[Matthew Hayden]] (Aus) | toss = Australia won the toss and elected to bat. | rain = The match was scheduled for six days but was completed in four days. | notes = }}
==Future== The original aim was that the Super Series would be played every four years. However, immediately after the completion of the first Test match, [[Malcolm Speed]], the ICC Chief Executive, removed it from the regular ICC schedule, noting that it may be played in the future when there is a clear world champion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/superseries/content/story/222321.html |title=Super Series' future uncertain |first=Peter |last=English |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=25 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011192803/http://www.espncricinfo.com/superseries/content/story/222321.html |archive-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== *[[Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970]] *[[Rest of the World cricket team in Australia in 1971–72]] *[[Test cricket]] *[[List of World XI ODI cricketers]] *[[List of World XI Twenty20 International cricketers|List of World XI T20I cricketers]]
==Notes== {{notelist|refs= {{efn|name=Boucher|[[Ireland cricket team|Ireland's]] [[Niall O'Brien (cricketer)|Niall O'Brien]] was called up to replace [[South African cricket team|South Africa's]] Mark Boucher, who had visa issues, however he was able to play.}} {{efn|name=Inzamam|Inzamam-ul-Haq replaced [[Indian cricket team|India's]] [[Sachin Tendulkar]], who was originally in the Test squad, but withdrew following an injury.}} {{efn|name=ClarkWhite|[[Brad Hogg]] (who was originally called up for ODIs only) and [[Shaun Tait]] (called up for both Tests and ODIs) both withdrew from the Australian squad due to injuries. No replacement was named in the Test squad, but [[Stuart Clark]] and [[Cameron White]] were called up for the ODIs.}} {{efn|name=DravidGayle|Dravid and Gayle replaced Tendulkar and [[South African cricket team|South Africa's]] [[Herschelle Gibbs]], who were both originally in the ODI squad, but withdrew due to injuries.}} }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== *[http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/SUPERS/ News about the ICC Super Series] from [[Cricinfo]] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050408042113/http://acscricket.com/Articles/2/2349.html Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians Representation to the ICC] *[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/superseries/content/story/220686.html Cricinfo bulletin on Victoria v World XI] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060321184424/http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/events/superseries/test_players.html World XI Test squad] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050908171129/http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/events/superseries/selection_process.html Selection process]
{{International cricket in 2005-06}} {{Australian cricket competitions in 2005-06}} {{International cricket tours of Australia}} {{International cricketers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ICC Super Series}} [[Category:2005 in Australian cricket]] [[Category:2005–06 Australian cricket season|Super]] [[Category:International cricket competitions in 2005]] [[Category:Multi-national cricket tours of Australia]]