Australia to host Rest of World XI in 2005

The ICC said three limited-overs matches would be held indoors at Docklands Stadium on October 5, 7 and 9 followed by a six-day Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from October 13-18.

Australia has been picked to host a series between the world's top-ranked team and a Rest of the World XI next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday.

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The ICC said three limited-overs matches would be held indoors at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on October 5, 7 and 9 followed by a six-day Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from October 13-18.

Australia beat rival bids from India and South Africa to stage the series which the ICC hopes will become a regular feature on the playing calendar.

Australia last played host to a World XI in 1971-72 but ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said he hoped the series would now be held every four years.

"Cricket enjoys a tradition of national teams playing Rest of the World sides and these matches have provided terrific cricket," Speed said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, in recent years ... these types of games have drifted off the schedule."

Australia's team are number one in the world in both forms of the game but will only play in the matches if they retain their place at the head of the official rankings when the top nation is decided on April 1 next year.

BEST PLAYERS

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said he was confident his team would keep their place at the top of the rankings and had received assurances from other countries that their best players would be available.

"All of the countries are fully behind this event and they acknowledged the fact that they need to make sure their players are available," he said.

The Rest of the World team, which could include the likes of Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, India batsman Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies captain Brian Lara, will also be chosen next year.

Australia batsman Matthew Hayden told reporters in Darwin that he was excited by the prospect of playing the world's best but was disappointed the ICC had decided not to recognise the match as a fully-fledged test.

The ICC has decided instead to play the match over six days to try to ensure a result.

"Everyone wants to see that competition happen, a great World XI versus the number one side," Hayden said.

"I'm really looking forward to it ... there will be nowhere to hide.

"I would prefer to see it as test-match status, or certainly over five days. If you can't get a result in five days, I think it's pointless."