The World XI roared to life on Sunday but must defy 128 years of cricketing history to defeat Australia at the SCG on Monday.

The all-star side is chasing 355 for victory and only five teams have been successful in overhauling larger fourth innings targets.

But no touring team has reached such a fourth innings total in Australia and the World XI made an ordinary start, being 2-25 at stumps on day three with superstars Rahul Dravid (17no) and Brian Lara (0no) at the crease.

The run chase was set after the World XI finally clicked as Australia lost 9-47 to slump from 1-152 to be all out for 199 in its second dig in overcast conditions.

It was Australia's worst batting collapse anywhere since 1956 and on home soil since 1888.

Gun English allrounder Andrew Flintoff (3-48) was one of the chief architects of Australia's collapse and believed his glamour side was capable of reaching the large total.

"The players that we have got in our ranks, we have the likes of Brian Lara and Inzamam (ul-Haq), Rahul (Dravid) is in, it will take a special performance but within the side we have guys that can do that," Flintoff said.

"We have to believe and we have to go out there and play, we can believe we can do that."

The ball has dominated the bat in this contest but the World XI is stacked with players who have scored important hundreds against Australia.

Dravid, Lara, Jacques Kallis, Flintoff and Inzamam-ul-Haq have all recorded centuries against the home team.

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