IT SEEMS UNDERDOGS WIN
THE credibility of the Johnnie Walker Super Series came under fire after Australia's crushing win over an insipid World XI in the opening one-day match at Telstra Dome last night.Chastened World XI captain Shaun Pollock fielded questions over whether his players were "fair dinkum" after seven of their star-studded top nine batsmen failed to reach double figures in an embarrassing 93-run loss.
The deflating tone of the day was set by the poor crowd of 18,435 that scarcely filled a ground that has a capacity of more than 50,000.
"The guys are hurting, there is no doubt about that," Pollock said.
"It's disappointing, very. We didn't manage to get it right tonight. We are going to have to play like a hell of a team to come back from 1-0 down."
Some of the game's biggest names – Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid – battled on a wicket which offered a fair contest between bat and ball.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the win proved a point for the world champion after its dismal Ashes series.
"That's pretty satisfying," Ponting said. "I have said all along that I still think we are the best cricket team in the world."