Flashback: 2005 ICC World XI vs Asia XI

The World Cricket Tsunami Appeal was an effort by the International Cricket Council to raise funds to support the humanitarian relief efforts following the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004.

The tsunami affected several cricketing nations including India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. as were Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives and Indonesia among the other associate and affiliate members of the ICC.

The showpiece of world cricket's efforts was an ODI held between a World XI and an Asia XI. It was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia on 10 January 2005.

Squads

World Cricket Tsunami Appeal squad photo

World XI:

Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Brian Lara (West Indies).

Chris Cairns, Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori (New Zealand).

Adam Gilchrist †, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting* and Shane Warne (Australia).

Darren Gough (England)

They were coached by former Australian captain Steve Waugh.

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Asia XI squad:

Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan).

Alok Kapali (Bangladesh).

Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly*, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar (India).

Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara † and Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka).

They were coached by former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

First Innings

Shane Warne guiding the ball to the leg-side

The World XI batted first after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss. West Indies' Chris Gayle and Australia's Adam Gilchrist opened the batting, but Gayle was dismissed in just the second, with just one run on the board.

New batsman Ponting and his international colleague progressed the score to 50 before Zaheer Kahn claimed his second wicket, getting Gilchrist to an edge behind.

The World XI's middle order was the basis of their innings as both Brian Lara and Chris Cairns scored half-centuries. It was Ponting, however, who stole the show, with 115 from just 102 balls, and when he was dismissed the score was 263-4 with 11 overs remaining.

New Zealanders Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori added lower-order runs as the World XI finished on 344-8. Muttiah Muralitharan impressed with figures of 3-59 from his 10 overs.

Second Innings

Asia XI struggle in the run chase

The Asia XI would have had to break records if they were to successfully reach the target of 346. At the time, only 326 had been successfully chased in One Day Internationals.

They started well, but the World XI made the breakthrough in the tenth over as Cairns dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya with the score at 59-1. Sehwag, however, reached 45 before he was caught by Chris Gayle off the bowling of Shane Warne.

Fellow spinner Daniel Vettori finished with figures of 3-58 which included the wicket of captain Ganguly.

A partnership between Rahul Dravid and Kumar Sangakkara was formed, however Sangakkara edged Darren Gough behind for 24. Dravid was unable to build a partnership with anyone else and was left stranded on 71 not out.

The Asia XI were all out for 232 and lost the match by 112 runs.