Melbourne, Dec 22: India's hopes
of getting crucial match practice ahead of the
Boxing Day Test against Australia were washed
out as rain did not allow a single delivery to
be bowled on the final day of their warm-up
match against Victoria, which ended in a draw
here today.
The three-day game ended with
India at 133 for four in the 48 overs that could
be bowled at the Junction Oval.
Only two-and-a-half hours of
play was possible on the first day of the tour
match and just 10 overs could be completed on
the second day before overnight rain and damp
conditions ruled out any play on the final day.
The gloom outside restricted the
Indians mostly to indoor nets and some players
have expressed concern about the lack of
practice before the four-match series against
the world champions starting December 26 at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The drawn warm-up match leaves
Indian bowlers without any practice ahead of the
series opener against the Australians, who are
riding high after regaining the Chappell-Hadlee
Trophy from New Zealand with a 2-0 win.
(Agencies)
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