[babytiger2001]

For the Tsunami Appeal effort, on Monday (tomorrow) Melbourne time.

The squads:

Asia XI:
Sourav Ganguly (Ind, capt),
Virender Sehwag (Ind),
Rahul Dravid (Ind),
Anil Kumble (Ind),
Zaheer Khan (Ind),
Sanath Jayasuriya (SL),
Marvan Atapattu (SL),
Chaminda Vaas (SL),
Kumar Sangakkara (SL),
Muttiah Muralitharan (SL),
Shoaib Akhtar (Pak),
Yousuf Youhana (Pak),
Alok Kapali (Ban)

World XI:
Ricky Ponting (Aus),
Adam Gilchrist (Aus),
Matthew Hayden (Aus),
Stephen Fleming (NZ),
Brian Lara (WI),
Chris Gayle (WI),
Chris Cairns (NZ),
Shane Warne (Aus),
Glenn McGrath (Aus)
Dwayne Bravo (WI),
Darren Gough (Eng),
Daniel Vettori (NZ)

And I'll be there working, pulling beers for a portion of the sell-out crowd at the MCG.

Some related links from The Age:

Info

Going to bat for others

Shaken Lankans keen to rebuild

Nature's gall leaves ground in ruins

A century of cricket history washed away

And from the Herald Sun:
Old foes unite for the future About Australia's Shane Warne and England's Darren Gough


United: Shane Warne with Sri Lankan children Gabriel Satiasseelan, 4, his sister Genevieve, 12, and England fast bowler Darren Gough.
Picture: Alex Coppel (Herald Sun)

[cleazer]

This match will be shown in the US, according to dishnetwork's schedule.
Dirt cheap too.

[babytiger2001]

Originally Posted by cleazer

This match will be shown in the US, according to dishnetwork's schedule.
Dirt cheap too.

No kidding. Good on them.

Details, please? Channel info?

Not that I can see it here (after all, I'll be busy working), but for the benefit of others...

[babytiger2001]

Nice article on the BBC's site... and some good quotes from Shane Warne and other stars included.

Stars turn out for tsunami match -- The BBC

Sachin Tendulkar: "It's our responsibility to get together and help the needy and also the people who've lost their dear ones - our thoughts are with them."

Ricky Ponting: "The idea is to put on the best possible show that we can and make it the best spectacle for cricket fans all around the world."

From the tail end of the article: More than 80,000 people are expected to watch the day-night match, which will be broadcast in 122 countries to an estimated audience of one billion.

[babytiger2001]

Bumping, with today's news update ahead of the charity match (before I have to go up the highway for it, leaving to drive to the MCG in about an hour from now)...

Bowling up a winner -- The Herald Sun

Two teams, one cause -- The Herald Sun

100 million set to view match -- The Herald Sun

The match: All you need to know -- The Herald Sun

United stand -- The Herald Sun

Shane (Warne), Murali come to aid of Kiwis -- The Herald Sun

(Steve) Waugh wants regular charity matches -- The Herald Sun

This is not just cricket -- foxsports.news.com.au

Stars gather for historic clash -- The Age

All-star match more than a game -- The Age

Shy Bangladeshi ready to take on greats -- The Age

Kiwis welcome chance to catch up with recent guests -- The Age

Players eager to help -- sportal.com.au

[ScouseCat]

The ICC World XI are batting first and West Indian Chris Gayle was the first man out, caught behind by Sangakara off Zaheer Khan for 1. Aussie pair Gilchrist and Ponting are at the crease at the moment.

The World XI batting line up is:

Chris Gayle
Adam Gilchrist
Ricky Ponting
Stephen Fleming
Brian Lara
Matthew Hayden
Chris Cairns
Shane Warne
Daniel Vettori
Darren Gough
Glenn McGrath

I wish I was there rather then stuck at work.

[ScouseCat]

The ICC World XI are 2 for 114 after 20 overs. Gilchrist was the 2nd man out, dismissed for 24. Ponting and Lara are at the crease at the moment.

[ScouseCat]

Ponting made 115, Cairns a smashing 69 and Lara 52 as the ICC World XI approach 350 with a couple of overs to go. Glenn McGrath came in at number 6 and was dismissed for a golden duck!

[ScouseCat]

The ICC World XI finished on 8 for 344 after their 50 overs, a really good total.

The Asian XI will need to come out with all guns blazing to get close to that score, and with Sehwag and Jayasuriya to open the innings, their could be some fireworks tonight under the MCG lights!

[babytiger2001]

The final numbers are in, as I got home from the MCG a little while ago...

The Asia XI side could only muster 232 runs in its 50 overs, falling short by 112 runs after the World XI went 8/344 in the daytime session.

But of course, the real winners were the charities involved, as over $15 million (AUD) was raised (albeit unoffically) on behalf of the Tsunami appeal.

Quite a spectacle at the MCG today. Glad I was called in for this one.

Scorecard -- cricket.com.au

Ponting top of the world -- foxsports.news.com.au

Cricket appeal tops $14m -- The Age

As for what happened in the match, Ricky Ponting's 115 was outstanding, especially considering that this happened in what amounts to an all-star game, playing with and against the very best global cricket has to offer. Ponting's no stranger to centuries, whether they be in tests or in ODI's, but this one might be his best ton within the last few years.

Shane Warne entertained the crowd with taking a few wickets as well as a few moments of clowning and athleticism alike, and the retired Steve Waugh brought the crowd to its feet, preventing a Rahul Dravid drive from reaching the boundary in his stint as a substitute fielder, in a cameo role.

Fun stuff at the MCG today.