Super Series

I'm really interested in the forthcoming Super series set to begin tomorrow. A myriad of super and future stars clash against each other in a tasty little series. As always before a series I put forth my views and predictions.

Key battles:

1. Sehwag v/s Brett Lee
All of us know for a fact that Sehwag digs at a bowler hurtling the cherry at pace. He has many a time clobbered the likes of Shoaib in Pak, Bond in NZ and Lee in Aus. But Brett Lee comes around this time from a fairly successful Ashes series and holds the mantle for the Oz-destruct-act.
Prediction: Lee wins

2. Lara v/s Mcgrath
Heavyweights at work here. Has always been a mouthwatering contest with Mcgrath holding the upper hand in a lot of contests. But Lara is no Cullinan. He has the ability to destroy an attack but is certainly vulnerable initially where Mcgrath has got him squared up bowled or Lbw.
Prediction: Tie

3. Gilchrist v/s Flintoff
Its a fav with the Pom tabloid nowadays on how Gilchrist was Flintoff's bunny during the ashes. But hey Flintoff is a new kid on the block where Gilchrist has bullied for almost a decade. Gilly would be seething revenge and considering Flintoff's still dizzy state, he is in for a hiding here.
Prediction: Gilly pulling Flintoff back to roots.

4. Martyn v/s Muralitharan
Keeping in mind the indoor nature, I think that dew might play a factor. There would be no breeze, so the drift that Murali depends on be non-existant and that would hinder his performance. But as the 2nd and 3rd games arrive, the track would play slower and lower and should create ample problems for Martyn who, with all due respects is no Mark Waugh at playing spinners. He might have had a fantastic series against India...but sadly he isnt in the right mental state.
Prediction: Murali would edge it.

5. Ponting v/s Akthar
This un should be a classic. Akthar loves to hog the limelight...and this acts as a perfect platform. What better way than to kick the captain in the nuts when he is down. Ponting loves to cut and pull and he is one of the best at that. The SCG being generally slow, he would have more time to negotiate those snorters and this should be one of the highlight contests accoring to me.
Prediction: Ponting...he would be smarting to prove to the world that the Aussies are still the best.

I havent mentioned two modern day greats, Kallis and Dravid. They are blokes who shy away from the media where the rest I mentioned generally always fill up pages. They would quitely go about their task and bring sanctity to proceedings. My hunch is that the World XI would nick the series 2-1.

Man Of The Series: Jacques Kallis. (As much as I hate the guy...cant deny he is a class act)
Disappointment of the series: Pietersen (Mark my words he is going to be sorted out in the series)

Let the show begin!!!

-Balls