Cricket Australia announce full squad for Bushfire Cricket Bash

Cricket Australia, on Saturday, confirmed the full squads for the much-anticipated Bushfire Cricket Bash. The charity game will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 8. The match is one of the initiatives from Cricket Australia to help the victims of the bushfire that recently ravaged the major part of the country.

Former Australia cricketers Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne will lead the teams that will feature a host of legendary cricketers including India superstar Yuvraj Singh. The game will serve as a curtain-raiser to the ongoing Big Bash League final on February 8. Dan Christian, Holly Ferling and Australian Rules football great Nick Riewoldt have also confirmed their participation in the game.

On Friday, West Indies legend Brian Lara had also confirmed his participation in the game. Lara is one of the three overseas players for the game with Yuvraj and Wasim Akram being the other two. Along with the trio, a host of legendary Australian cricketers like Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, and Michael Clarke have also signed up.

Last month, Indian great Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies legend Courtney Walsh were announced as non-playing coaches. Skippers Ponting and Warne will finalize their respective XIs for the match in the coming days.

Rules for the game:

As far as the rules or rather format of the match is concerned, it will be a 10-overs-per-side contest. There will be a five-over Powerplay with no bowling restrictions, and batsmen unable to get out from the first ball they face. Bowlers will not have over limits, fielders can sub on and off as it suits, while captains will have the ability to sub batsmen in and out during an innings.

Meanwhile, Steve Waugh and Mel Jones will also take part in a non-playing capacity, as will rugby league Immortal Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns. The funds raised from the game will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

Here is the full squad for Bushfire Cricket Bash:

Shane Warne (c), Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Brad Fittler, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Brian Lara, Dan Christian, Nick Riewoldt, Elyse Villani, Grace Harris, Holly Ferling, Justin Langer, Luke Hodge, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Phoebe Litchfield, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh.

Coaches:

Sachin Tendulkar, Courtney Walsh

Non-playing capacity:

Steve Waugh, Mel Jones, Andrew Johns