Cricket: ICC Super Series Test Match Analysis

A test match between the ICC World XI and Australia begins on Friday, in one last effort to create genuine excitement following three one-day internationals in which Australia were entirely dominant.It is always disappointing when an anticipated contest turns out to be undeniably one-sided. The British Lions Tour to New Zealand during the early summer is the best example of this in 2005, but this so-called Super Series is in danger of gaining ground on that debacle.There is no doubting the quality on show, but what has been borne out emphatically so far is the significance of unity in professional sport, and how players consistently fail to reach the heights of their personal abilities if surrounded by others with whom they are unfamiliar.Gimmicks have played a prominent part in the one-day matches, with super subs, indoor arenas and even a third umpire for LBW decisions. For the test match however, the trump card is to make it a six-day event. Whether or not it will make it anywhere near next Thursday however has to be in a great amount of doubt, especially with bright sunshine forecast in Sydney for most of the Test.We can only feel that the importance of familiarity will be enhanced in the longer version of the game, where days are spent observing with team mates from the balcony or on the field, and batting partnerships are required to last fifty overs rather than fifteen minutes. Even this was frequently asking too much of the international stars in the one day games.Language is one obvious barrier, with a mix of four different mother tongues and countless localised accents constituting the World XI. With nothing really at stake for the players who clearly have no heart felt allegiance to the Rest of the World concept, how can they be expected top throw their all to the cause?These are high achieving individuals who will want to do well for themselves, but expect swash buckling cameos from the likes of Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, even Andrew Flintoff, rather than anything approaching dogged determination that is still the staple of innings scores over 400 runs.Australia see this series as an ideal chance to bounce back from the Ashes defeat in the summer, and no side in the world loathes losing like the Aussies. An opportunity to arrest the test match slide of the summer will not be turned down, and playing in front of home fans can only help their prospects further.The hosts remain a formidable team, especially at home and only a well oiled, cohesive and talented outfit could hope to challenge them there. This world XI has only the latter of these three qualities and we would actually be surprised to see them last into five days, let alone six.Playing at the SCG will suit the spinners, and so Muttiah Muralitharan is sure to claim some wickets, but with Shane Warne definite and Stuart Macgill probable to feature, the opponents are easily their match, even in this area of potential competition.Cricket has captured the imagination massively this year, but this series is now a damp squib. The passion is one sided, and so should the result be. They were beaten by a fine England side 2-1 away from home in the summer, and appeared to be improving in the final match.Certainly from a batting perspective, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer played themselves into form in the fifth test at The Oval, whilst Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke were in good touch anyway, and Adam Gilchrist and Stephen Katich were superb in the one day games last week.A weakness with the ball was a major issue in the summer, but with Glenn McGrath fit again, Brett Lee and the peerless Shane Warne the principal bowlers, we feel they match up well to the likes of Stephen Harmison, Shoaib Akhtar and Muttiah Muralitharan.Back the Aussies to romp home at even money