Gavaskar to announce squads of 30 as journey towards Johnnie Walker Super Series begins

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar will announce the names of the players selected for the ICC World XI squads to take on Australia in October's Johnnie Walker Super Series in Mumbai, India on Monday 9 May.

The players picked for the 30-man Test and One-Day International squads will be announced at the Cricket Club of India at 12.00 noon local time (7.30am in London, 4.30pm in Sydney).

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed explained that this would be the first step of an exciting journey for the players involved.

"The journey towards the Johnnie Walker ICC Super Series begins on Monday when we will find out the names of the 30 players selected for the initial ICC World XI squads," said Mr Speed.

"I've no doubt there will be some surprises and some disappointments and I can't wait to find out who has made the cut."

Johnnie Walker Super Series selectors Sunil Gavaskar, Mike Atherton, Richard Hadlee, Clive Lloyd, Jonty Rhodes and Aravinda de Silva will choose from the cream of the world's cricketing talent in nominating players to take on Australia in the inaugural Johnnie Walker Super Series.

Players from nine Test-playing countries and 10 holding One-Day International status will come under selectorial consideration. Following the announcement of the initial squads of 30 on Monday, the selectors will meet again to reduce these down to 20 players in early July.

The inaugural Johnnie Walker Super Series will pit world champion Australia against ICC World XI Test and One-Day teams in the three One-Day Internationals at Melbourne's Telstra Dome and a six-day Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The final teams of 13 for the Super Test and 14 for the ODIs, plus management and coaching appointments, will be confirmed in August.

Combined prize money and match payments for the one-day series will be US$ 1.254 million, while the total money available for the Super Test will be US$ 1.390 million. The matches will be accorded official Test and ODI status.