With the forecast for a record-breaking rainfall in Sydney this weekend, Cricket Australia has rescheduled the Bushfire charity match from Saturday at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground to Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday as part of the double-header with the Commonwealth Bank Women’s Tri-nation T20I series match between Australia and England.
Following a last-minute rescheduling of the much-awaited game, several players including champion leg-spinner Shane Warne have been ruled out of the game as he had a prior commitment with the Mandela Foundation in Cape Town. Former players like Steven Waugh, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris and Rugby great Brad Filter are also unavailable due to the rescheduling
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Having said that, the fans will still be witnessing some cricket stars as Adam Gilchrist will be replacing Warne as the leader of the side that will face a star-studded Ponting’s XI. West Indian legend Brian Lara will be playing in the power-packed top-order of Ponting’s XI. Apart from Ricky Ponting, the top-order boasts of legendary opening pair of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.
Australia’s women cricketer Elysse Vilani will bat at No.5 followed by teenage sensation Phoebe Litchfield, who grabbed headlines during the WBBL. The fast bowling unit will be spearheaded by the legendary Wasim Akram, Aussie all-rounder Dan Christian while former chinaman Brad Hogg and Australian Rules football great Luke Hodge will round out Ponting’s XI- which will be coached by the legendary Indian cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar.
The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman will open the batting alongside a former teammate, Shane Watson, followed by Brad Hodge and the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh. Former Aussie captain Alex Blackwell will bat at five and will be followed by two-time World Cup winner and swashbuckling all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
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Windies great Courtney Walsh, AFL legend Nick Riewoldt, recently retired fast bowler, Peter Siddle and leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed will round off Gilchrist XI. Tim Paine will be coaching the team. One more name will be added to the Gilchrist XI in the upcoming days.
Squads for the Bushfire Charity game:
Ponting XI: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (c), Elyse Villani, Brian Lara, Phoebe Litchfield, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Lee, Wasim Akram, Dan Christian, Luke Hodge.
Coach: Sachin Tendulkar
Gilchrist XI: Adam Gilchrist (c & wk), Shane Watson, Brad Hodge, Yuvraj Singh, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Courtney Walsh, Nick Riewoldt, Peter Siddle, Fawad Ahmed (one more to be announced).
Coach: Tim Paine
