India, England and Australia have dominated the ODI format in the 21st century. Australia have won four World Cups whereas India and England have won one each. Ahead of the three-ODI series against Shubman Gill-led India, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh was asked to pick a combined XI of the Big Three. Marsh made a few notable omissions including legendary captains Ricky Ponting and MS Dhoni as he picked the eleven.
Openers
For the opening spots, he was given five options — Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Mark Waugh, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow — to choose from by Fox Cricket. He picked his former opening partner David Warner. He picked Tendulkar as Warner's opening partner saying, "Nothing can go past King Sachin".
Batting department
Among batters in top and middle-order, Marsh was given five options — Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Eoin Morgan and Michael Clarke. The opener picked Kohli, Root and Bevan, ignoring Australia’s World Cup-winning captains.
Wicketkeepers
Marsh snubbed MS Dhoni and Jos Buttler to pick Adam Gilchrist as the wicketkeeper-batter.
All-rounders
Marsh joked when he did not see himself in the list of all-rounders – Yuvraj Singh, Kapil Dev, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Steve Waugh, Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes. Symonds was the only all-rounder he picked, mainly for his ball-striking abilities in an era where only one ball was used throughout an ODI innings.
Bowlers
Marsh was given nine bowling options — Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Adam Zampa, Darren Gough and James Anderson — to fill the remaining four spots. He picked Kumble over Warne as the only spinner. Bumrah was an automatic choice for him. While he was allowed to pick as many as five Australians in the side, he named Gough and Anderson as the two pacers, ignoring skilful McGrath and speedster Lee.
Marsh’s Australia-India-England Combined XI
David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Darren Gough, James Anderson.
Marsh in action
Marsh will be seen leading Australia in ODIs in the absence of an unfit Pat Cummins. The first of the three-ODI series will be played at Perth Stadium on October 19.