Only one practice match with Presidents X1, Hyderabad was planned for the visiting Australian Cricket Team ahead of their test series in India. Since the Champions trophy was postponed, Aussies were starved out of any practice match to prepare for the Boarder- Gavaskar trophy test series in India. Their keenness in getting acclimatized to the playing conditions in India was evident from the well in advance arrival of the Australian Cricket Team in India. Some how they managed to get an additional practice match with RCA XI from September 27 to 28 at SMS Stadium Jaipur. But Cricket360 observes, the BCCI was not much willing to help the visitors with an extra practice.

When Aussies team for the Indian tour was declared, the inexperience of most of the players was a matter of concern. Except Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden, none of them have ever tasted the slow cricket pitches in India. They wanted to get exposed to Indian pitches and acquire confidence by assaulting RCA XI. When they elected to bat after winning toss, the intention was clear, a full fledged batting practice for them. But they could not last even for a single day.

Mathew Hayden was the first prey to the spin trap made by RCA XI. The much talked about batting side of Australia has many weak patches that are what cricket360 could find out time and again from the performances of the Australian Cricket Team, especially in Indian pitches. Only Simon Katich could make some sort of resistance. He made 73 before got caught by Mathur. Shane Watson’s efforts ended when he was trapped leg before by Mathur.

 

Ricky Ponting had the most sympathetic start to his Indian tour. The Aussies captain could only make five runs. He was troubling to play against the spin bowling of a young lad from RCA XI, G Singh. Ponting was confident enough to improve his test average against India prior to this tour. It is mere 12.28 where as his overall test average is well above 57. He could cross 50 runs only once in 14 occasions. Tuff days are ahead for him in India.

Michael Clarke, wanted to continue with the same form he had during his last visit to India. Cricket360 recalls his fabulous century during his first match with India. This time, but he had a disastrous session to start with. He was on his way back with only two runs, when the Aussies score was 118 for five in 34.3 over. He too was the prey of left arm spinner G Singh. Mike Hussey was run out at 10. Shane Watson could make use of the experience he had gained during IPL 2008. But he could not save Aussies from collapsing to a mere 218 in 77.1 over. They could not withstand the bowling attack of relatively less experienced RCA XI side.

It was the bowling side who gave Aussies some sort of relief after a disastrous batting session. Full credit goes to the young bowlers Siddle, Bollinger, and Krejza. Brett Lee made the earlier destruction. The RCA XI was wrapped up by the Aussies in to 122 within 54 over. But still, Gagan Khoda and Bisht troubled the visitors pretty much.

Cricket360 foresees a big trouble to the Australian Cricket Team in the test series starting from October 09. If this is the way they play against a state side, they would have to walk on fire while facing Harbhajan and Kumble. The Aussies were considered to be invincible for a long time, but now they are reduced to a normal cricketing side. 

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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