Inzy? Prior to scoring a total of one in the test (1 in the first innings), he averaged 65 in his last seven matches…

Yes, Danny V is hot. Gayle and Flemming were in my considerations, in fact, I have since advocated Flemming for the job as One Day captain – an edited version of the following article recently appeared in my beloved Herald.

"THE generally terrible batting displays provided by the World XI in the recent one day series and test match do not constitute an argument against the concept. The concept of the World XI playing the world championship team is sound, but was executed with a degree of incompetence and bad luck.

The world’s best against the world’s best team should provide a wonderful spectacle with a touch of good fortune and if properly managed.

The absence of history’s second greatest batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, was never going to help. Michael Vaughan or VVS Laxman, who has an amazing record against Australia, would have been handy.
Murali copped two stinkers from the third ump in the test, including Daryl Hair letting Hayden off the hook for not offering a shot to a ball that had no chance of missing the stumps.
The management decisions to bat Shahid Afridi at number eight and to drop him from the one day side for the second game were inexplicable.
Since 1996 the Pakistani leg spinner has held the world record for the fastest century, coming from an incredible 37 balls against Sri Lanka. He recently hit a ton off 45 deliveries. On his tour of Australia last summer, he smashed sixes everywhere and led his team to a barnstorming victory over Australia at the WACA, but was scarcely given a chance for the World.

The selectors must have been smoking crack when they dropped keeper Kumar Sangakkara, who scored well in the one-dayers, for Mark Boucher. Apart from his good form in the limited overs games, Sangakkara keeps to key World bowler Muttiah Muralitharan regularly and boasts a test average of 48. Boucher, who rarely keeps to quality spin, if any, was picked ahead of Sangakkara in a team featuring Murali and Daniel Vettori. Boucher averages 30 in tests and scored a total of 17 runs in his two knocks in the Super Test.

Shoaib Akhtar, menacing as he is when on-song, was clearly underdone, having missed plenty of cricket recently. Could Ntini or Harmison taken his place? All-rounder Abdul Razzaq? Brian Lara, great artist with the bat he may be, was equally rusty and could do with some time on an exercise bike by the looks of it.
Shaun Pollock was rubbish with bat, ball and as a captain. Wily Kiwi Stephen Flemming should have led the one-day team.

However, any suggestion that the World players weren’t that interested should be put paid by the bowling heroics in the first one-dayer and in the test.

The World side needs a little more time in the host country before the real deal starts. One game against the Vics doesn’t constitute proper preparation. Forget about the players taking it seriously for a second – next time it should be taken seriously by the ICC.

A match against a PM’s XI, game or two against a state side and a match with Australia-A would have served the players and public better. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has been devastating for Pakistan with the bat in recent times, batted like he had just been rolled out of the plane. It’s no wonder under the circumstances.

This could have been a brilliant showcase for the world’s greatest sport. To ditch the vision because of a few stuff-ups would be short-sighted and unfortunate."

They cut out the line about crack-smoking selectors.

It also isn't very clear that I have a length of christmas tinsel wrapped around my scone.