In an attempt to immortalize the moment just before the start of the second Test between India and Australia which will also be the 100th Test match to be held at the famous Sydney cricket Ground, three Indian players have been named into the World XI squad. The World XI and an Australian All Time XI squad were also announced to mark this historic occasion for the famous old ground where the first Test match was held in 1882. The Indian players who have made the list include legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, former spinner Anil Kumble and stylish middle order batsman VVS Laxman.
The teams were announced by a panel of experts which included some former cricketers and media personnel who were appointed by the authorities in charge of the ground. India have played 9 Test matches at the famous old ground and managed to win only once way back in 1978 and yet, the trio make India the second best represented Test playing nation in the list which includes 6 players from England namely Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Wally Hammond, Alan Knott, SF Barnes, George Lohmann, and Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Richard Hadlee from the West Indies and New Zealand respectively.
Harold Larwood, another Englishman was named as the 12th man of the World XI and WG Grace was named as the coach of the side. As is the case with many fantasy teams, this selection was also met with a lot of criticism but according to inside sources, the selection was not completely based on the number of runs scored or wickets taken, but was done keeping the romanticism of cricket in mind.
Although that was not officially announced, it is believed that the dream squads were announced quickly in order to negate the rising tensions between the two competing nations ahead of the second Test match.