England v ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate (AM) XI at Dubai Jan 7-9, 2012.

[Hallatia]

this is a three day game between England and a combines Associate and Affiliate XI to be led by the Irish captain William Porterfield in the lead up to the England v Pakistan tour in the UAE. I really love the idea. Aaand, a Scottish media company is streaming the whole thing, they are charging US$9.99 for the whole 3 days, it will be accessible from the icc website www.icc-cricket.com. They don't have the exclusive rights though so other stations could well be showing it.


I am actually most excited about the actual test series that follows, I think it could be the series of the Summer despite it being in the UAE and I give Pakistan a big chance of upsetting England. My huge prediction for the Summer is Pakistan to win the series 2-1. I love the ad I've seen for the series on TEN cricket. Here is the ad. I think I like it because it feeds my excitement for the test series.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

So this is England vs the best players from countries like Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan, Kenya etc? England at full strength will win off the back of their bowling alone.

 

[Hallatia]

yup, I read that there should be lots of interest from Afghanistan, but I can't imagine any Afghan players would be selected. It's only a 3 day game, so we might not get a result, depending on what England want to use the game for. I just think it's great that these players from associate countries get to play a non limited overs game against a full member like England

 

[juro]

Great to see the associate players getting more of a chance to show their skills. It would be interesting to see them play against some of the lower ranked test nations instead of the current number 1 test nation though...

 

[Hallatia]

by the way, squads for both sides:

ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI squad:
KJ Coetzer, GH Dockrell, Hamid Hassan, RM Haq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad†, WTS Porterfield*, WB Rankin, Saqib Ali, PR Stirling, C Viljoen, CG Williams

England XI Squad
JM Anderson, IR Bell, RS Bopara, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, AN Cook, SM Davies, ST Finn, EJG Morgan, MS Panesar, KP Pietersen, MJ Prior†, AJ Strauss*, GP Swann, CT Tremlett, IJL Trott

Bresnan is out though, but I can't remember for how long (obviously won't play this match)

This match starts 5pm Sydney time, 6am GMT

 

[Hallatia]

Coverage of this has been a real let down so far, as has the ICC Associates and Affiliates XI

They are batting first and already 3 down in the tenth over. The final 11 of both sides are as follows.

ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI squad:
WTS Porterfield*, PR Stirling, KJ Coetzer, Saqib Ali, CG Williams, Mohammad Shahzad†, WB Rankin, RM Haq, Hamid Hassan, C Viljoen, Mohammad Nabi.

England XI Squad:
AJ Strauss*, AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, SM Davies†, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, ST Finn, JM Anderson

 

[Hallatia]

England practically full strength, it's no wonder they've got the combined XI 24/3 after the tenth over

all three wickets were bowled Broad, caught Davies

 

[Hallatia]

decent lower order fight and they made 2, Saffa in the team - Christi Viljoen - contributed 98, so it's not just England who know how to use the Saffas (this one plays for Namibia). Boyd Rankin put on 43 and Afghani Mohammad Shahzad (who is also the keeper) got 51. So a solid effort from the middle to lower order to help the team to 281. Broad took 4 wickets in the end, 2 a piece to Anderson, Finn and Swann.

Associates bowling effort has started okay I guess, 4 overs in and England are 16 runs into the chase.

 

[Hallatia]

I didn't actually see the bowling, but I thought I should comment on it anyway. I'll catch some on the second day

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

England are a world 11 themselves

 

[aussies1st]

Not the worst showing by an Associate 11.

 

[yappy]

We would have taken 281 against that England line up most of last summer if it had been offered.

I'm loving the concept though. Would love to see it become a permanent thing that these guys can tour and play the big sides. Maybe even Test status down the track like a Windies or the old World XI. They look like combined the associates would already give the Banglas and Zimbos a run for their money and be competitive against the Kiwis and Windies (yes I remember Hobart). That would really give talented Associate players the incentive to stay with the game and the chance to have test careers without leaving home. Would love to see something like an Australia v Associates World XI test in Ireland or Scotland as a warm up to the Ashes.

 

[Hallatia]

it would also give them incentive to stick with their countries, it's really sad that some Irish players see the only option for them to progress in the game to give their allegiance to England. I would love to see more of these guys in the only real form of game. I really like your World XI idea.

Afghanistan have had a massive rise in the short time that they've been playing cricket. They nearly could have played the last world cup. The way they're going, they could establish themselves as a team. They have a few players in this combined XI and they look decent players too. The big problem with them however, is that they would be another nation that would struggle to host games.

 

[Hallatia]

coverage continues to be pretty ordinary, but the combined 11 bowling efforts have been decent. Afghani player Hamid Hassan has already taken a couple of wickets in this first session. Cook is doing it easily closing in on his half century. The score was 75/2 20 overs in and it's not been a bad match.

 

[Hallatia]

Hamid Hassan just injured himself on the picket fence. The commentary tram aren't very helpful with letting the viewers know what's going on, but this is a bit embarrassing

 

[Hallatia]

Hamid Hassan and Jonathan Trott after Hassan collected Trott's wicket

 

[Hallatia]

A couple of big wickets shortly following lunch to Irish Boyd Rankin. And Eoin Morgan comes out to face a few of his countrymen. Cook is still out there now on 70 and England are 121/4

 

[Hallatia]

Eoin Morgan gone for 1. England 126/5. England may not finish this innings with a lead:crazy:

 

[Hallatia]

Odd thing, Hamid Hassan's injury has rued him out of the remainder of the match, so they have allowed for a little rule bending because England agreed to it. Associates team were allowed to use a substitute to replace him, allowed to bat and bowl. They've brought in Irish George Dockrell

 

[Hallatia]

Christi Viljoen just came into the attack and got rid of Cook on 76 with his first ball. Keeper Shahzad just took his third catch of the match and England are 132/6 and moving toward the tail