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Clarke misses practice

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

IN SYNC: Skipper Ricky Ponting, limbering up along with Shane Watson in Bangalore on Tuesday, would like his Australian teammates to deliver as one in the Test series.

Bangalore: Michael Clarke’s absence in the Aussie ranks as Ricky Ponting’s men practised at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday morning, did raise a few queries.

Clarke with a century on debut was a key figure in Australia’s 217-run victory over India when the teams last clashed in a Test here during October’ 2004.

The Australian media manager later said that Clarke was “not well and could not attend practice.” It is believed that Clarke is down with a stomach bug and is expected to train on Wednesday.

Earlier as Ricky Ponting and company limbered up with a bit of rugby and settled for a round of nets, all eyes were on Greg Chappell, who has come as Australia’s assistant coach.

Chappell supervises

The former Australian captain, who also coached India before quitting the post in April ’07, walked up to practice pitch adjoining the centre wicket and supervised a training stint that primarily involved Brett Lee and Stuart Clark.

A lone stump was placed and Chappell stood back and watched as Lee and Clark took turns charging in and letting go.

The aim was to get as close to the stump as possible and Chappell gathered the deliveries single-handed with his right palm sheathed in a glove.

As the morning drew to a close, the Indian team which had advanced its training schedule, fearing evening showers, trooped in.

Bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad was the first to walk in and he greeted Chappell before moving to the far corner.

Meanwhile, the Australian batsmen preferred to bat their blues away in the two practice pitches located close to the BEML end.

Matthew Hayden, who found time to walk up to the centre pitch and inspect the turf, later shifted to the practice pitch and shadow-played a few shots before rejoining his team-mates.

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