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Tour match against ACT XI begins today

S. Ram Mahesh

Kumble to sit out

— PHOTO: AFP

TIPS FROM THE MASTER: Sachin Tendulkar spent time with Yuvraj Singh at the nets, emphasising the need of tightening one’s game for the early part of the innings.

Canberra: Seldom has the day before a tour match carried so much import. Customarily, it’s the preserve of the bored stretching number, the fortifying round of hot tea, the laboured nets session, and the perfunctory quote.

Wednesday, however, was different. Canberra’s most august journalists — the sort that think little of hopping on the Australian Prime Minister’s airplane — gathered here at the Manuka Oval to confirm that the touring Indians had indeed arrived.

The fixture against the Australian Capital Territories (ACT) Invitational XI seems to have been cursed from the beginning. For long, it was unclear of its identity: two days or three? It has after great deliberation settled on three. But, till as recently as Tuesday, it wasn’t even certain of coming into being.

Focus on cricket

The matter of continuing the tour has since been resolved, however, and the Indians reached the ground at 4 p.m. (local time), rested and lunched after their coach trip from Sydney. The match offers them the opportunity to focus again on cricket ahead of the third Test at Perth from January 16.

“We will look to get the best possible out of the game,” said Anil Kumble, who will sit the match out. “It’s been three weeks since we arrived, some of the guys haven’t had a hit yet. It will not be a full strength team.”

M.S. Dhoni will lead in Kumble’s stead. Each side will comprise 12 players, eleven of whom will bat. “It’s important that those who are not amongst the runs get amongst the runs,” said Kumble.

“Canberra will provide the kind of environment where you can relax and focus on cricket. It’s important not only for Yuvraj (Singh), but also Wasim (Jaffer) and the other batsmen,” he said.

Sachin Tendulkar spent time with Yuvraj at the nets on Wednesday, emphasising the importance of tightening one’s game for the first 15 minutes of an innings. Yuvraj wondered aloud if he was falling over; the master batsman cited the instance of Yuvraj being hit on the elbow by Brett Lee, suggesting that perhaps the left-hander was getting into an awkward position past side-on. Tendulkar then proceeded to torment Yuvraj with cutters from 16 yards.

The 26-year-old experimented with a shorter back-lift, though he reverted after he got his eye in. Sourav Ganguly, meanwhile, was working with Jaffer, asking the opener to stay on the balls of his feet. Ganguly fed Jaffer with the bowling machine.

The others to get a hit were Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Karthik, and M.S. Dhoni. Among the bowlers, R.P. Singh left after a few deliveries, as did Kumble but for a different reason (he addressed the waiting press).

Vigorous work-out

Harbhajan Singh, the centre of media attention, bowled a fair bit, beating Karthik in flight on one occasion. Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Pankaj Singh and V.R.V. Singh had a vigorous work-out, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad keeping a careful eye on them.

Left-handed opener Chris Rogers is the most accomplished of the ACT Invitational XI, which comprises only half a dozen First Class players; he was in the running for the spot alongside Matthew Hayden as Australian opener before an inflamed appendix cleared Phil Jaques’s way. Hayden’s injured hamstring has brought Rogers into contention, and he has the perfect opportunity to press his claims.

The teams (from):

ACT Invitational XI: Mark Higgs (capt.), Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Jonathon Dean, John Rogers, Randall Starr, James Croswaithe, Adam Ritchard, Richard Sherlock, Luke Swards, Ash Perera, and Ryan Bulger.

Indians: M.S. Dhoni (capt.), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, V.V.S. Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, V.R.V. Singh, Pankaj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and R.P. Singh.

Umpires: Darren Goodgear and Rod Tucker.

Match referee: Brian Lawrence.

Hours of play (IST): 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., 7.40 a.m. to 9.40 a.m., and 10 a.m. to close.

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