In a splendid show of solidarity some of the world`s TOP cricketers are involved in two one-day matches, the first being played on the 10th January at the MCG in Australia. The crowds are expected to be sell out, and this is one match I`d really love to be there to watch.

Geoff

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Yes, what a great idea!..I have just been watching the 'Rest of the world' bat. A fast paced innings. It is now the 'Asia' side's turn.

It is so heartenning to see such generosity from the players, the organisers, the public and the businesses. I wish all the earthlings would realise that we are all really one people on this Earth....and need to live peacefully with friendship, love, kindness ......helping each other to have the basic needs of food, shelter, education, clothes, good water, drainage, heath and employment.........

Who really needs wars, hatred, selfishness and narrow mindedness?

I would like to see such matches played (with teams comprising a mixture of the very best international players of each game as done in this Cricket match) by every major sport each year.....hockey, basketball, soccer, netrball, baseball....etc and the money donated each year to improve the lot of the poor and downtrodden fellow humans right around the world, irrespective of cast, color, or creed.

I am so very happy to watch this cricket game, because apart from the fantastic opportunity to watch the very best of players, it shows the goodness of our human spirit.

Thanks for posting this, Geoff.

And so eloquently put, Jojo. :-)

I`m watching the match live on TV at the moment, and the official attendance has just come up at 70,101 which must be very close to capacity. No doubt one of our Aussie cricketing fans can tell me if I`m wrong on the capacity figure. The MCG does look absolutely full though.

Qantas, the Australian airline has flown players in for these matches from around the world- a very generous gesture.

It`ll be very interesting to see what the final total of donations is if they are released after the 2 matches.

Geoff

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Just a quick update on the match being played today. The target was $10 million (which I assume is $Aus, not sure), but already the amount has passed that figure.

Toyota, for instance, offered $50,000 for every 6 scored, and so far there have been seven 6`s scored, that`s $350,000. Also the players` signed shirts are now being auctioned on eBay which is raising a lot of money. I think the final total will be quite huge.

Geoff

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Congratulations after Darren Gough's catch to dismiss Sourav GangulyGetty Images / Cricket Australia10 January, 2005


ICC World X1 prevails in charity spectacular

A Ricky Ponting century and the bowling of Shane Warne and Daniel Vettori helped the ICC World XI to a comfortable 112-run win over the Asian XI in the tsunami relief match at MCG.

In front of 70,101 fans, the ICC World XI won the toss and batted, with man of the match Ponting pacing the innings beautifully, scoring 115 from only 102 deliveries as the team finished at 8-344 from its 50 overs, the highest one-day score at the ground.

Then under lights, it was the turn of Warne, playing his first one-day international in almost two years, and Vettori, to exert their influence on the game.

The Australian leg-spinner picked up 2-27 from seven controlled overs, while his Kiwi team mate ripped through the tail to finish the night with 3-58 off 10 overs.

The Asian XI got off to a good start, putting on 59 runs for the opening wicket in 10 overs but wasn't able to carry that through the remainder of its innings.

From 4-156 in the 29th over, the Asian XI collapsed during the middle stages to be all out for 232 in the 40th, losing its last six wickets for the addition of only 76 runs.

Warne thrilled his home fans with the wickets of Sehwag, caught at mid-on in his first over, and Yousuf Youhana for four in his fifth.

Vettori removed Asian XI skipper Sourav Ganguly for 22 before returning later to take the wickets of Abdul Razzaq and Chaminda Vaas.

Only the Indian pair of Rahul Dravid, who was not out 75 off 70 deliveries at the end, and opener Virender Sehwag, with 45 from 39 balls, were able to come to terms with the strong World XI bowling.

Sri Lankan off-spinner and number 11 batsman Muttiah Muralitharan was last man dismissed, run out courtesy of Vettori's direct hit.

While the result might not have pleased those watching in South Asia, where the Boxing Day tsunami struck, the on-field exploits of the two teams did manage to raise significant funds for World Vision's aid effort in the region.

The 576 runs scored represents a $576,000 donation to the aid organisation from the '3-Mobile' company, while the seven sixes equates to $350,000 from Toyota.

When added to the other fund-raising initiatives surrounding the event, the match raised $14,645,123.85.

Ponting batted from the second to the 39th over, hitting eight fours and three sixes, two of which came in consecutive balls immediately before his dismissal by Anil Kumble.

In addition to Ponting's exploits, the crowd was also treated to some outstanding batting from Chris Cairns, who was at his big-hitting best with six fours and two sixes in his 47-ball knock of 69.

Brian Lara was also good with a slightly more sedate 52, scored off 77 deliveries.

Mulitharan was best with the ball for the Asian XI, picking up 3-59 from 10 overs, while paceman Zaheer Kahn took 2-46 off eight. Also, leg-spinner Kumble picked up 2-73.

After going wicketless from his initial six-over spell, Muralitharan came back in the 39th over to capture the wickets of Cairns, Matthew Hayden (2) and Glenn McGrath, who was promoted to number six, for a first ball duck.

for more info, scorecard etc,...go to
http://www.cricket.com.au/portal/site/cricketaustralia/

I`ve done a quick search on eBay for those cricketers` shirts but can`t find them. I`d like to know what they went for.

Geoff

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Hey, upto how much would you bid for my signed underpants?

Geoff, check this link for Tsunami/cricket memorablia



http://search.ebay.com.au/tsunami_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40

Hey geoff, place your bid fast on the following item...now!...Only 7 hours left!..Don't miss out!

Signed Shane Warne Tsunami Cricket Shirt Match-worn, official Cricket Australia release

AU $143,100.002257h 37m

Looks like I`m going to have to pass on those, jojo.


Those bids are astronomical, even the lowest bids on some of the shirts are currently standing at around $3,500.

The coin above is the one they used to toss at the beginning of the match of course.

Geoff

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Dunno, jojo, why not try them on eBay?

Geoff

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Yes, it could be an HYIP....(High Yield Investment Pants)

Hey, come on Geoff!...It will cost you only ONE lousy dollar to increase the bid!!

Anyway, I think it is a bit too late for it now:
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Signed Shane Warne Tsunami cricket Shirt



Item number: 5154950279.If you are shahan 147, click the continue button to pay now.
Winning bid: AU $ 147,700
227 bids
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You by chance don't go by the handle 'shahan147', do you?

If it is not geoff, then could the real bidder post here please...

`Caught me out`- Pardon the pun!

Geoff