SYDNEY, Aug 23: South Africans Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock have been appointed captains of the World XI Test and one-day squads for October’s super series against Australia but there was no place for England skipper Michael Vaughan.

Smith will lead the 13-man test team that will play the Australians in Sydney from Oct 14-19 while Pollock will be in charge of the 14-member one-day squad in a three-match series in Melbourne on Oct 5, 7 and 9.

Both squads are packed with the biggest names in world cricket including India’s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, West Indian world record holder Brian Lara, Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

“This is the first time for decades that the greatest players from the rest of the world have combined their talents, and I expect them to put Australia under real pressure,” said Sunil Gavaskar, the chairman of the selection panel that chose the squads.

“Australia will be looking to regroup after the intensity of the Ashes series in England, but I don’t think the cricket will be any easier for them against these World XI sides.

“England has shown up fault lines in Australia’s performances and I know (coach) John Wright, Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock will be eager to capitalise on that.”

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the super series was looming as a great challenge for both teams.

“It will be an amazing experience to play against a side of this calibre and I think for those players in the World XI, it will be an equally exciting prospect to play in a team alongside the game’s greats,” Ponting said.

“No doubt the Australian public is talking about the tight Ashes battle that we’re currently in, and hopefully, that can whet people’s appetites for great cricket in October.”

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the series was the biggest cricketing event in Australia since the 1992 World Cup.

“It’s a chance for Australia to welcome the world to our doorstep and show what cricket means to us as a nation,” he said.

“This is the ultimate sporting contest, the best team in the world against a team of the world’s best players.”

Selected for both sides, Flintoff was joined in the Test squad by his compatriot Steve Harmison, while Kevin Pieterson made the one-day squad but no other England players were picked.

Nine players were named in both sides but there were some notable omissions including — Vaughan, Indian spinner Anil Kumble, Pakistan skipper Inzamamul Haq and West Indian opener Chris Gayle, who failed to gain selection in either team.

“There are no weak links in either of these squads; everywhere you look there is an outstanding player whose talent enriches the game,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

“I firmly believe that Sunil and his co-selectors have chosen wisely in making their choices and have given Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock an enviable number of options to cover all match circumstances.”

Former India coach John Wright will coach the ICC World XI teams, with Goolam Rajah of South Africa acting as team manager.

The selection panel also included Mike Atherton, Sir Richard Hadlee, Clive Lloyd, Jonty Rhodes and Aravinda de Silva and they took a range of key factors into account, including players’ overall records, current form, previous performances against Australia and their world rankings.

Australia, unbeaten in a Test series at home since 1992, will name their final squad at the conclusion of the Ashes next month.

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