IND A vs AUS A 2nd Unofficial Test Today Match Live Cricket Score Highlights Check Here
India A vs Australia A (IND A vs AUS A) LIVE Cricket Score Card HIGHLIGHTS: The second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A got underway at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. We take you through the major highlights from Day 1:
KL Rahul fails litmus Test, Easwaran flounders again
KL Rahul’s early summer challenge ended tepidly when he was castled Scott Boland in only three balls into the second over. Rahul has been pushed back to the top of the order with Rohit Sharma set to miss India’s opening Test. Rahul’s blip did not benefit Abhimanyu Easwaran, the other contender for the opening slot, as he fell for a four-ball duck in the first over. Easwaran, who entered the Australia tour on the back of superb scoring form in domestic cricket, has failed to live upto expectations in the series. The duck followed scores of 7 and 12 in the previous game. But more concerningly, Easwaran’s technique came under the scanner as he attempt to wriggle out of a short-pitched delivery from Neser, only to send it lobbing to the slip-cordon.
A top-order jolt
After being sent into bat, India A suffered yet another batting collapse on Thursday morning as Australia’s rejuvenated bowling attack led Test bowlers Michael Neser and Scott Boland wreaked havoc. India lost their top four batters within 16 balls to the moving Kookaburra on a bouncy deck. The situation was similar to the start India A had in the previous four-day game in Mackay, where they were left reeling at 32/3 in the first innings of an eventual seven-wicket defeat.
Squads
AUS A XI: Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, Nathan McSweeney (c), Beau Webster, Oliver Davies, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Michael Neser, Nathan McAndrew, Scott Boland, Corey Rocchiccioli.
IND A XI: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Khaleel Ahmed, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar.