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Sydney
14 - 17 October 2005 (six-day Test)
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.� The World XI made a good start, bowling Langer (0) in the first over.� Australia then settled and batted though to just before lunch when Ponting (46) was caught at 2 for 73.� By lunch, Australia was 2 for 82 with the match evenly balanced.� Australia started to take the advantage after batting through the first hour after lunch without loss.� However, the World XI hit back in the second hour, catching Clarke (39) and the running out Katich (0) in the space of nine runs to have Australia 4 for 163.� Australia then went to tea at 4 fro 209, with the World XI holding a marginal advantage.� Hayden posted his 22nd Test century after tea before being bowled for 111 runs at 5 for 260.� The World XI later trapped Watson (24) in front at 6 for 323, shortly before bad light stopped play.� At stumps, Australia was 6 for 331, with the World XI holding a slight advantage, but needing to dismiss the dangerous Gilchrist (94*) early on the second morning in order to cement that advantage.
The World XI made the best possible start to the second day after dismissing Gilchrist (94) with the second ball of the day.� The World XI then dismissed Warne (5), Lee (1) and McGrath (0) in the space of 12 balls to have Australia all out for 345 runs.� Flintoff was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 59 off 18 overs.� The World XI then began their reply and took the total to 27 before Smith (12), Dravid (0) and Lara (5) in the space of 16 runs.� By lunch, the World XI was precariously placed at 3 for 53.� During the first hour of the afternoon session, the World XI steadied the innings and took the total to 134 before a reflex catch at short leg by Katich saw Sehwag (76) out.� That dismissal triggered a collapse, with Inzamam-ul-Haq (1), Kallis (44) and Boucher (0) falling in the space of 16 runs before the World XI went to tea tottering at 7 for 157.� Australia quickly dismissed Flintoff (35), Harmison (1) and Muralitharan (2) after tea, to have the World XI all out for 190 runs.� MacGill was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 39 off 9.1 overs.� Australia began adding to their 155 run first innings lead, but lost Langer (22) at 1 for 30 before ending the day very strongly placed at 1 for 66 with an overall lead of 221 runs.
Australia continued strongly on the third morning and batted until almost lunch before Hayden (77) was bowled by Harmison at 2 for 152.� The World XI then dismissed Clarke (5) before Australia went to lunch at 3 for 164.� The World XI fought back strongly during the afternoon session.� Flintoff had Ponting (54) caught in the over after lunch and then Muralitharan bamboozled Katich (2) and Gilchrist (1).� Flintoff then had Warne (7) and Watson (10) caught and Australia?s advantage was slipping quickly with the score 8 for 192.� When bad light forced an early tea, Australia was 8 for 194, with an overall lead of 349 runs.� Play eventually resumed and the World XI dismissed McGrath (2) and Lee (3) to have Australia all out for 199 runs, having lost their last nine wickets for 47 runs.� Harmison, Flintoff and Muralitharan shared the bowling honours with three wickets each.� The World XI began their chase for 355 runs and victory badly, losing Smith (0) in the first over and then Sehwag (7) at 2 for 18.� Shortly afterwards, play was again stopped for bad light with the score 2 for 25, and given the batting talent and three remaining days available, certainly within the World XI's capacity.
Play was delayed by 15 minutes due to rain on the fourth day.� When play began, the World XI took their total to 56 before Dravid (23) was caught.� After the addition of another 13 runs, both Lara (36) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (0) were dismissed in consecutive overs as the World XI crashed to 5 for 70.� Kallis and Flintoff then combined to bat through to lunch, when the score was 5 for 113, still 240 runs short of the victory target.� However, the dismissal of Flintoff (15) soon after play resumed by MacGill triggered a collapse, with Warne dismissing Boucher (17) before MacGill then dismissed Vettori (0), Harmison (0) and Muralitharan (0).� The World XI was all out for a miserable 144 runs from 50 overs, handing the Australians victory by 210 runs.
NOTE: The Test will not be rated at this time as it is not possible to accurately rate the World XI unless the concept is repeated on a regular basis. The TCRS will review this decision (retrospectively) should the ICC repeat the concept on a regular basis - a move that we would support on an annual or two-yearly basis.
