Veteran batsman V.V.S. Laxman was the last to arrive at the optional nets this morning and was seen asking for new balls as the Indians practiced throwdowns with old balls here on Saturday.
The three other Indian players present for the optional nets were all batsmen — Rahul Dravid, Ajinkya Rahane and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. They all had been practicing against “throwdowns” from the support staff but apparently the balls were not new.
Laxman's query was understandable. With Australia likely to crank up the pace during the Tests and pitches, with or without grass, containing that inherent bounce, the red cherry with lacquer could have offered a better preparation.
It's a point which is well-supported by Australia which is presently practicing with “two-piece” new balls in order to prepare better for seaming and swinging deliveries in a three-day batting camp in Melbourne to shape up its batsmen.
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell is also due to address the Australian team and offer insight on the Indians whom he coached for three years in last decade.
Young batsmen such as Phil Hughes are spurning the riches of Big Bash cricket and opting for low-key three-day practice match against the Indians in order to be ready.
India, on its part, did send seven of its Test specialists — the trio of Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and bowlers Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, besides reserve wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha — almost a week before the rest of the team members arrived on Dec. 14.
India has also squeezed in an extra game as a matter of preparation. Young Indians on the present tour need to make most of the extra time which has been afforded to them.
The bowlers need to find the right length to be successful. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among batsmen and Abhimanyu Mithun, Vinay Kumar and R. Ashwin among the bowlers could do with extra nets.
Dravid, the most senior batsman of the side in terms of age, is a case in point. He was the first one to pad up at Saturday's nets. Indians have their best chance ever to win a series in Australia. It's a feat which has never been managed by the Indians over nine visits, 36 Tests and 64 years.
Decision on Ishant
The Indian team management will decide in the next 24 hours if it needs to seek a cover for fast bowler Ishant Sharma.
Ishant, despite the team management's best attempts to downplay his left ankle injury, is unlikely to play in the match against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI on Monday.
Even if he is declared fit ahead of the first Test, the Delhi bowler could be undercooked for the rigours of Test cricket, having played no competitive match since the final Test against the West Indies in Mumbai last month.
Team India would be averse to repeating the mistake of the England tour where Zaheer Khan hardly bowled in the tour opener against Somerset and later showed up with a hamstring injury after bowling a few overs on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's in July.
Zaheer did not play after that on that tour as India was whitewashed 4-0. India could expect the other four pacers — Zaheer, Yadav, Vinay and Mithun — to shore up the attack but Ishant's absence, if it happens, would be a serious blow.
Ishant bowled five overs against CA Chairman's Eleven on Thursday before retiring to the dressing room due to “discomfort” in his left ankle. He had consulted a local doctor after that.
