India, Feb. 20 -- Back in 1994-95, one-day internationals (ODIs) were the prime cricketing format, tri-series a big draw, and Australia was the team to beat, especially at home. That season, in a tri-series that included England and Zimbabwe, the Australia Cricket Board added a second Australian team into the mix. Its personnel included several players who would become mainstays in the first team, including Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer.

One of the main reasons cited by ACB for a second team was depth of talent. But in a sporting construct that evolved around the idea of nations, a second team was one too many, and the concept never took off. In the men's T20 format today, India is flexing ...