Published: Feb 17, 2017, 07:31 PM (IST)
Edited: May 21, 2017, 04:44 PM (IST)
Beginners’ luck worked well for young Hardik Pandya; coming out for his first toss as skipper along side Steven Smith. Australia‘s tour of India finally kicked off with the visitors playing their solitary tour game against India A. India A is filled with players who are coming on the back of impressive showings in Ranji Trophy 2016-17. There have been lots of predictions by former players of the visitors being whitewashed by India in the forthcoming four-Test series. Nonetheless, Smith’s men will be pleased with their efforts at stumps on Day One of the 3-day game, reaching 327 for 5 after being asked to bat. With their batters performing well, the onus will fall upon their bowlers in the second day’s play at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia 1st Test at Pune
David Warner and Matt Renshaw came out to open the innings with the former taking the side to a flying start. Warner smashed Pandya to the pulp to take himself to 25 off 29 balls. Nonetheless, he fell off to pacer Navdeep Saini to bring Smith in the middle. Smith continued to make merry and looked nonchalant at the crease. He struck some lovely cover drives during his stay to send strong signals to Virat Kohli’s camp. Renshaw edged Saini to wicketkeeper-batsman, Ishan Kishan, after getting a look-in.
However, the proceedings looked one-sided with the duo of Smith-Shaun Marsh in the middle. They struck a fluent 156 run-stand as Pandya and co. looked perplexed in the middle. Welcoming Australians on a green top, Pandya rotated his pacers for long but did not get regular breakthroughs. The spinners, Shahbaz Nadeem and Akhil Herwadkar, were introduced late in the attack but Marsh-Smith played them without discomfort. Reaching to their respective centuries, Marsh-Smith retired out to give others a chance in the contest. Smith made 107 (54 runs coming in boundaries) and Marsh added 104 runs (50 runs coming in boundaries) to the scoreboard to press hard for a place in the side ahead of the first Test versus India (February 23).
Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh remained unbeaten to see the day off. The visitors will like to bat for another session before declaring and asking their bowlers to have a go at the opponents’ batting line-up. Till now, everything has fallen in place for Smith’s side and they will like to continue to maintain momentum going forward. Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steven O’ Keefe and Jackson Bird will be itching to flex their muscles with the red cherry on Day Two.
A good outing against some promising names from India’s domestic circuit will keep them in good stead ahead of the clash against the national side. On the other hand, India A do not lag behind and have enough firepower in their batting arsenal. With the likes of Pandya, Priyank Panchal, Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Ankit Bawne in their line-up, they will like to shine with the willow. If Australians are playing hard to show their current mindset ahead of clash with Team India, India A players will be wary being under limelight. A good performance against the mighty Australians will send riveting signals to India’s camp of their bench strength.
Playing XI:
India A: Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer, Ankit Bawne, Hardik Pandya (c), Priyank Panchal, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan (wk), Krishnappa Gowtham, Ashok Dinda, Shahbaz Nadeem, Navdeep Saini
Australia: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Steven Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon
