The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Aussies settle for batting practice

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Friday, Oct 01, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Aussies settle for batting practice

By G. Viswanath

MUMBAI, SEPT. 30. The Australians showed why they are considered true professionals, with the remarkable quality to assess a given situation and manipulate it to their advantage.

Realising that rain may cut down on the time available to them in their only warm-up match before the first Test at Bangalore, the Australian batsmen made the most of every minute in the middle against Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium.

In the three-and-a-half hours play possible, each of the Australian batsmen who went out to bat spent as much time in the middle as possible, which coach John Buchannan said was how they had planned to approach the game once it became clear that the teams would have to wait until 1.40 p.m. for the first ball to be bowled.

Overnight rain and a light drizzle on Thursday morning had severely affected a side pitch and left the outfield very soggy. Quite disappointed were the faithful fans, but once the game commenced they were pleased to see Matthew Hayden show his stroke-making ability and class in the course of his two hours 22 minutes tenure in the middle.

Hayden was initially watchful against off-spinner Ramesh Powar, who opened the bowling with Ajit Agarkar, but opened up later. The Australian opening pair rattled off the first half-century partnership of the tour in 69 minutes. Justin Langer cover drove Agarkar to announce that he was beginning to size up the pitch and the bowlers' line and length.

But Agarkar dismissed Langer off the second ball after lunch having him caught at the wicket. Langer spent one-and-a-half hours in the middle and faced 77 balls, but once again fell to Agarkar, who had dismissed him five times when India visited Australia last.

Left-hander Simon Katich, who uses the crease and likes to come down the pitch to the spinners, impressed with his footwork and ability to take the spinners on the full.

Hayden looked sound and solid and struck seven boundaries, besides hoisting Sairaj Bahutule and Ramesh Powar for sixes. Earlier he had shown the ability to sweep well when Powar pitched a little outside his leg stump. But his was a rather tame dismissal, offering a straightforward return catch to Bahutule, who was easily the best spinner in action. Agarkar too was sharp and rarely strayed in direction.

The Australian camp seemed happy with the day's work, scoring at three runs an over and finishing at 159 for three, though they received the news that Ricky Ponting would not be available for the second Test at Chennai also and may be fit for the third Test at Nagpur.

The scores:

Australia — 1st innings: J. Langer c Samant b Agarkar 24, M. Hayden c & b Bahutule 67, S. Katich c Indulkar b Kulkarni 30. D. Martyn (batting) 28, B. Hodge (batting) 6. Extras (lb-1, nb-3) 4. Total (for three wkts) 159.

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-108, 3-146.

Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 10-3-23-1, Powar 12-1-56-0, Salvi 9-2-24-0, Kulkarni 9-2-22-1, Bahutule 12-2-33-1.

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