Traditionally, the festival brings together some of the best Jamaica and West Indies players of the past, present, and the future, and the 21st renewal of the annual event is no different.
Unfortunately, Lawrence Rowe, who is remembered for his classic batting, a Test debut of 214 and 100 not out and a magnificent 302 versus England at Kensington Oval, will not appear at today's game as he injured a finger while removing hurricane fixtures in Miami. Another notable absentee will be Carlisle Best, who due to Hurricane Georges, was unable to get a flight to the island.
Dujon, who is remembered for his elegant play and a glorious 131 versus Australia at Queen's Park Oval, leads former stars including Faoud Bacchus of Guyana, Alvin Greenidge of Barbados and Basil ``Shotgun'' Williams of Jamaica who will captain the Walsh XI.
The rest of the cast includes promising young batsmen Sylvester Joseph of Antigua and Ramnaresh Sarwan of Guyana, talented left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell of Guyana, promising fast bowlers Reon King and Colin Stuart of Guyana, former Jamaica attacking opening batsman George Powell, nine members of Jamaica's 14-man squad for next month's Red Stripe Bowl, and some of the Melbourne players who won the 1998 Senior Cup and County Championship titles.
The Jamaica reps are Wavel Hinds, Tony Powell - son of George, Laurie Williams, Chris Gayle, Howard Harris, Kirk Powell, Andre Coley, Raymond Ferguson, and Melbourne's own Robert Samuels.
Apart from Samuels, who has also represented the West Indies, the other Melbourne players on stage will include youngsters Marlon Samuels, Donovan Pagon and Carlton Baugh Jnr, and veteran Colin Fletcher.
In a tribute to Melbourne's two most celebrated cricketers, Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh, the teams will be Holding's XI and Walsh's XI, and in an attempt to offer more excitement to the fans and to ensure that at least the team batting first will complete its allotted number of overs, the 45-overs per side will be split.
The team batting first will bat for 25 overs, the second team will bat for 25 overs, the first team will return for its remaining 20 overs, and then the second team will have its final 20 overs in which to bid for victory and the Milo/Melbourne Trophy.
If either team is dismissed before the end of its final 20 overs, players will be allowed to bat a second time until the overs are completed or the match is over.
The teams:
Holding's XI: from Robert Samuels - captain, Chris Gayle, Alvin Greenidge, Sylvester Joseph, Howard Harris, Faoud Bacchus, Marlon Samuels, George Powell, Raymond Ferguson, Kirk Powell, Colin Stuart, Llewelyn Meggs, Kevin Baugh.
Walsh's XI: Basil Williams - captain, Wavel Hinds, Tony Powell, Jeffrey Dujon, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Colin Fletcher, Donovan Pagon, Laurie Williams, Andre Coley, Reon King, Neil McGarrell, Carlton Baugh Jnr., Aubrey Wollaston.