After three days in the WACA nets, India stepped up their preparations a week before the series opener at the Optus Stadium with an XI featuring their key stars in the middle against a team packed with mostly fringe and India A players.
Rahul did not appear to bat later in the day as India’s top batsmen pulled off another upset.
Jaiswal began aggressively with a belligerent swing through the covers, but on the 15th he fell to second slip in what would become a common sight through a drill that lasted two and a half hours before lunch.
Amid reports of him undergoing tests in the last few days, Kohli looked fine and shot some gorgeous pictures on the covers. But at 15 he deceived seamer Mukesh Kumar for second slip before spending around 30 minutes in the nearby nets.
Short bowling was a priority for India’s batsmen on Thursday, with local club quicks unleashing high speed, while some batsmen took part in a drill in which a tennis ball was fired from close range and aimed at their heads. .
The WACA surface so far in this simulation has had considerably less bounce and carries than Sheffield Shield matches this season. But there was some movement away and India’s batsmen looked deficient.
Number 3, Shubman Gill, started slowly and struggled to get a shot during his two-hour stay at the crease. He started to look more comfortable earlier, in the 28th minute, defending to a close-range gully from the quick Navdeep Saini, who celebrated enthusiastically.
The rare sight of spin from both ends at the WACA came just before half-time, with Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian bowling in tandem as the batting side reached the break at 106 for 5 after 28 overs.
True to the simulation, as it was not an official match, India’s top batsmen got another chance. It seemed like there were more specific game situations being tested as Jaiswal and Gill, who was irritated the first time, attacked with force.
But they soon returned to a cautious approach as they mostly batted sharply in a smooth passage of play as India’s coaching staff took turns around the boundary.
Jaiswal looked more comfortable against the short ball, including during net sessions, and was also ultra-attacking when spin came into play. He finished 58 not out while Gill, who at times looked anchored at the crease, made 42 unbeaten.
After the final break, Kohli and Pant returned and were confronted by a short throw from Prasidh and Reddy. Kohli was particularly distraught and bowled and missed several times. But he found his rhythm and played some lovely strokes off the back foot, including a throw to the boundary that damaged his bat and required a change-up.
Kohli didn’t look uncomfortable, quelling fears of injury, as he batted for an hour before finishing with 30.
Pant tried to counter the distance by leaping across the field and had mixed success. He was eventually bowled in the 24th over by the impressive Mukesh – the second time in the day that his wickets had been shaken.
Jurel returned and was joined by Akash Deep in the final overs as the batting side finished at 339 for 8 in a mock match that lasted 75 overs.
The simulation should continue over the weekend.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
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