Australia’s skipper Michael Clarke and opener David Warner will continue their build-up to Friday’s first Test against India as the tourists train at the Chennai nets on Tuesday.
Clarke (hamstring) and Warner (thumb) were rested from Australia’s three-day tour match against India A which ended in a draw on Monday at Chennai’s Guru Nanak College Ground.
Australia found some form with the bat to reach 3-195 in their second innings on Monday, but only after being bowled out for 235 in their first dig to trail by 216 and face the embarrassment of being sent back in.
Shane Watson top-scored for Australia in both innings with 84 and 60 from his favoured opening position but the Test vice-captain says he’s expecting to return to No.4 if Warner is passed fit to play this weekend.
Watson and Ed Cowan (53) added 104 for the first wicket on Monday — their second century partnership of the match.
Phil Hughes (19) was bowled by left-arm skipper Rakesh Dhurv in the final over before tea.
Usman Khawaja finished on 30 not out with Matthew Wade on 19 after Wade made 44 in the first innings.
Dhurv (5-51) and offspinner Jalaj Saxena (4-61) exposed potential weaknesses in Australia’s batting lineup against spin and Chennai’s Chidambaram Stadium is strongly tipped to favour the slow bowlers.
“Davey has been hitting (balls in the nets) in the last couple of days so I think he’ll be alright,” Khawaja said.
Khawaja, who may find it tough to squeeze himself back into the Test side this week, praised India A’s spinners.
“They used the condiitions brilliantly and they put a lot of pressure on us,” Khawaja said.
“The players took a lot out of that.
“That’s why in the second innings you saw us bat so well. Watto and Eddie really set it up and we batted pretty well.
“It’s just nice to be out in the middle and getting some game time.”
Khawaja says pace bowling remains a key weapon for Australia.
“Pete Siddle bowled lovely in this game (1-40 off 18),” Khawaja added.
“He really hit the deck hard and got in their faces and did what he does best.
“Pace can be as effective as spin out here.”
Spinner Ashton Agar, 19, will return home on Tuesday to resume with Western Australia.
Nathan Lyon (2-113) and Xavier Doherty (3-108) remain in contention for one or possibly two spin-bowling spots in Austraila’s side for the first Test.
Varun
Guest
Amith I like your team but yes I would have siddle as the first bowler picked, lion heart of out bowling attack
jameswm
Guest
ak, if you don't like watching "boring accumulators", then maybe test cricket isn't your game. Anyone ever call you goldfish?
jameswm
Guest
Johnson and Starc are the pace bowlers whose spots are guaranteed? How out of touch are you? Did you know Pete Siddle is the no.4 ranked test bowler in the world?
formeropenside
Guest
What would be even better is Wade learning to actually keep to spinners. That could be important in India.
ak
Roar Guru
Warner is the only player worth watching in the entire lineup. The rest of the batsmen are all boring accumulators including Clarke. They might pile up a lot of runs but unlike Slater, Hayden or Gilchrist they are quite boring. Even the bowlers are quite boring. I like Virender Sehwag for that. A batsman's job is not just to play for the team but also to entertain. People pay money to get entertained. They like to have some sort of relaxation from their daily routine. Players become famous because spectators spend money on them. If one looks at cricket or any other sport just a game and not as war then one will not like to watch the snail paced accumulators who play only ground strokes. Hence a player like Sehwag is great since not only does he score but entertains since as long as he is there at the crease you stay glued to the TV since you know that something interesting is gonna happen or he will get out. One thing he surely does not do and that it is to bore people.
Varun
Guest
Having wade at 6 will just weaken the batting attack, have khawaja at 6 and wade at 7 and then you have a string batting attack
Varun
Guest
Would love to see khawaja play but no show Maxwrll will squeeze him out given Warner is looking better, what amazes me is why we always find a reason not to play khawaja, just give him a full series and you could have a test star in the making
Amith
Guest
So now we have 5 bats pretty much guaranteed (Cowan, Watson, Khawaja, Hughes and Clarke), keeper guaranteed (Wade) and 2 pacers that should be guaranteed (Johnson and Starc) - though you never know. So there should be 1 batting and 2 bowling spots up for grabs. 1 batting out of Smith, Henriques,and Maxwell - and by all accounts Maxwell is favourite, in spite of Henriques being in great form and Maxwell and Smith not playing a game. 2 bowling out of Siddle, Bird, Pattinson, Doherty and Lyon - yet we are yet to see Bird in action. Doherty seems likely to play and it looks like Pattinson will too - though if they want more experience and less prone to injury then Siddle may get a go in spite of his poor record in India. So it looks like it will be Cowan, Warner, Hughes,Khawaja, Clarke, Maxwell, Wade, Starc, Johnson, Siddle, Doherty.
Dean Woodward
Guest
No Red Kev i don't think that's the reason they put him in front of the Mic, i would like him to play and he deserves to play. Lets hope they pick him as part of a 6 specialist batting lineup.
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
The chances that may help Doherty is, tracks here specially Chennai help a spinner like Doherty! and India has more right handers like Sehwag, Sachin,Kohli, Dhoni, VIjay than lert armers, which puts Doherty in to serious contention here! If Doherty doesnt play, Clarke should be bowling more overs!
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
i think you've got it right here! this is squad that will be selected most probably!
Red Kev
Guest
CA has shoved Khawaja in front of the mic again today, I think it might be a signal the he's going to play (making me think Warner isn't as ready as we'd like to believe). Recently they are putting Cowan out there.
Dean Woodward
Guest
They can't ignore Khawaja forever, he will get his chance when Watto goes home but unfortunately he will once again have 1-2 games to show what he can do, why can't he just get a full series for once. That's all we are asking for.
Richard
Guest
James, a very good chance because he just took three wickets in the warm up game. Three guys who were slogging him, what does that mean? Thats what batsman do to spinners or try to, he got them out and thats what counts.
Richard
Guest
If we take the warm up games as an indicator its going to be tough going for the fast men, a lot of balls between wickets. Also their grounds are hard which means even more wear and tear. If we take in 2 spinners they might score at a quicker rate but wickets will fall faster with much more chance of getting a result, specially if Bird and Henriques are tying up one end. We should try the 2 spinner option first IMO
Lancey5times
Guest
Couldn't agree more. Henriques could be a huge player for us with his accurate mediums. I remember back in the early 90's when Adelaide and Sydney used to turn plenty and stay low guys like Steve Waugh, Greg Blewett and Mark Waugh (pre-spin) had plenty of success. S Waugh took some handy 4 for's in Adelaide. I'd play him and 2 spinners. Bird, Siddle, Henriques, Lyon and Doherty for lack of a better option.
Disco
Roar Guru
Precisely. Weakening your attack because your playing in India? I mean, Australia's record there is poor enough as it is.
Amith
Guest
Timmuh i would have the identical team as yours. Also can i say that under boof Khawaja has improved his play against spin alot, he usees his feet very well and sweeps naturally as opposed to the likes of Cowan who have been working on their sweep shot. For me he is a must in our top 6 batsman. For the bowlerw we must got with 3 pace bowlers and 1 spinner, our pace attack is our strength so we have to stick with our strenght similar to how India picks 2 spinners when they play in Australia.
Amith
Guest
Brett our strength is pace bowling surely we need to go with 3 pace bowlers and only 1 spinner otherwise our bowling will get smashed all over the park.
Amith
Guest
Red Kev you make a key point that majority of Cowan's runs have come against medium pacers, as soon as spin comes on he gets out and the others follow, that is a worrying trend. What was posieve was to see Wade get 40 not out in first innings and Khawjaa's 30 not out in the second innings all against spin bowling, it there in the middle order where the game will be won or lost for us