Lokesh Rahul enhanced his case for inclusion in India's first Test XI with a composed half century, guiding Board President's XI past a difficult period on day one of the two-day practice game against visiting South Africa on Friday.
A fit-again Gautam Gambhir will lead a 14-member Indian Board President's XI against the touring Australian team in a three-day practice match from September 25 in Chandigarh.
Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma will captain the Board President's XI in a two-day warm-up match against the visiting South African team beginning at Nagpur on Tuesday. The squad also includes youngster Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan, while Abhimanyu Mithun, who has also been included in India's 15-member squad for the first Test, will spearhead the pace department along with Punjab seamer Manpreet Gony.
Unseasonal rain in Mumbai could deny the tourists vital match practice before the first Test against India that begins in Ahmedabad on November 16.
Batting first, Board President's XI made 295 for 9 in 50 overs and then bowled out the tourists for 265 in 47.4 overs.
The Australians, led by Steve Smith, arrived in Chennai from Bangladesh after drawing a two-Test series and the match tomorrow would give them opportunity to at least switch to the One-day format.
Thanks to Taylor's 102 and Latham's 108 (both retired out) on a flat Brabourne Stadium track, New Zealand notched up a mammoth 343 for nine in the allotted 50 overs.
It may be recalled that India had played a Test each against England and Australia at Mumbai in December last year, winning them by 347 runs and eight wickets respectively.
In addition to the Karnataka batsman, leg-spinner Karn Sharma, who has been in great form for India A against the Black caps A side, was called as a replacement for injured Rajasthan youngster Rahul Chahar.
Rohit Sharma's hopes of a Test comeback took a slight jolt as he was dismissed for a duck on the third and final day of the warm-up match between Board President's XI and South Africa.
Sri Lanka's left-handed opener Dimuth Karunaratne is willing to think out of the box in an attempt to counter spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the upcoming three-match Test series against India.
'There is no health or fitness concern.'
Youngsters including Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, teen sensation Prithvi Shaw will be keen to make a mark and impress the national selectors during Tuesday's One-Day warm-up against New Zealand in Mumbai.
Spinner Amit Mishra shone with four wickets but the Indian fast bowlers were far from impressive as their two-day warm-up match against West Indies Cricket Board President's XI ended in a draw at St Kitts. Shai Hope's unbeaten century was the highlight of West Indies Cricket Board President's XI innings on the second and final day of the opening practice game. WICB Board President's XI were 281 for seven when play was called off.
Markram's good form augurs well for the Proteas
Denied adequate preparation time in India, the West Indies would look to utilise all their resources when they take on Board President's XI
New Zealand are hoping to give a better account of themselves when they take on the Indian Board President's XI in the final warm-up game on Thursday before the first One-Day International, in Mumbai on October 22.
England's two-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting next week has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday. The first Test was scheduled to start in Galle on March 19 and the second game set for Colombo from March 27.
South Africa coach Russell Domingo did not sound too worried about the indifferent form shown so far on the tour by Test captain Hashim Amla, even if the opening Test of the four-match contest is just round the corner.
Resuming at 135-3, overnight batsman Kohli slammed a fifty, while the rest of the middle-order -- Ajinkya Rahane (40), Rohit Sharma (38), Shikhar Dhawan (41) too looked in good touch as they spent some time at the crease before retiring.
India opener Gautam Gambhir, who was hit on his wrist by a rising delivery during Australia's tour opener against Board President XI, did not came out to bat on Monday, opting to rest. However, the doctor who attended on him said it is just a precautionary measure and there is nothing to worry about.
The domineering Board President's XI punctured Australia's usual aura of invincibility in the drawn warm-up match, exposing numerous chinks in the visitors' armour ahead of the four-match cricket Test series.
Board President's XI were 110 for 2 in their second innings when stumps were drawn on their third day, having stretched their overall lead to a healthy 251.
Ahead of the India-West Indies Test series, Rajneesh Gupta looks at how the two teams stack up.
The young leg spinner grabbed two wickets as Australia, replying to Board President's XI 455, were 191 for 4 in their first innings on Day 2 of the four-day match. Michael Hussey (54) and Brad Haddin (34) were unbeaten when stumps were drawn.
With the national selection committee and the team management deciding to promote Rohit as an opener, keeping his spunky strokeplay in mind, the next five Tests could be a make or break for the 32-year-old stylish right-hander.
In reply to Sri Lanka's 411/9 declared, the Board President's XI were struggling at 31/2 after lunch on the second day, but Samson patiently built his innings and helped his side reach 287/5 when both captains agreed on a stalemate after 75 overs.
The revised itinerary of India's home series against the West Indies underwent a few changes with the capital hosting the second ODI on October 11 instead of the one-off T20 which will now be hosted by Cuttack on October 22.
Latham, who struck a brisk 108 off 97 balls in New Zealand's 33-run win over Board President's XI in the second practice game in Mumbai on Thursday, said the visitors are relying on video footage to study the Indian spinners.
The pace bowler picked 5 wickets for 59 runs as England were bowled out for 238 on day 1 in the warm-up match against the BCCI President's XI
Looking for a proper tune-up before the three-match Test series against hosts Sri Lanka gets underway, India would be hoping that rain stays away from their one and only three-day practice game beginning at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on Thursday.
For Sri Lanka captain Rangana Herath, the two-day game against Board President's XI may be a warm-up game but for home team skipper Sanju Samson, it is an opportunity to gain experience of facing one of the best spinners in world cricket.
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler said he 'feared the worst' after his shot hit short-leg fielder Pathum Nissanka on the head in their drawn tour match against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI on Wednesday.
All-rounder Parveez Rasool on Tuesday became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to bag an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract, signing up with Pune Warriors for the 2013 season.
Australian opener Ed Cowan, middle-order batsman Usman Khawaja and IPL's million-dollar man Glenn Maxwell will be eyeing to get some batting practice in their first two-day warm-up match against the Board President's XI, in Chennai, on Tuesday.
England's players will avoid shaking hands and instead greet each other with fist bumps on their tour of Sri Lanka in a bid to avoid the coronavirus, captain Joe Root said. He claimed as of now the tour will continue as per schedule despite the coronavirus spreading throughout the world.
Board President's XI spinners, led by Parveez Rasool, wreaked havoc as they bowled out Australia for a meagre 241 in the warm-up match on Tuesday, but Australia opener Ed Cowan feels the turning track actually provided his team good practice ahead of the upcoming Test series.
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