Local admiration for Indian cricketers grows

Indian cricketers are popular here. The only other Indian who can match their popularity status here is Narendra Modi. That the Gujarat chief minister has won another term has been well celebrated among the huge Gujarati population in Melbourne, who had been closely tracking the recent developments in the state.

They all agree that their 8216;own8217; Parthiv Patel should have been brought back ahead of Dinesh Kaarthick, but the latter has been at serious work8212;at the nets and at the bowling machine8212;even though he8217;s most likely to remain a mute spectator till end of next month.

Monday was an optional session, though it was attended in full strength. The Indian team had a long hit at the nets. The bowlers had a little run-in while batsmen took a long time at the nets, and helping them out were a bunch of practice bowlers.

Never to tire with practice, VVS Laxman spent a long time at the indoor stadium even long after all his teammates left as Robin Singh helped him face the bowling machine to different speeds and lengths.

Though the Indians have a proper scheduled practice session tomorrow as well, being Christmas they aren8217;t sure about how it might materialise with the practice bowlers. The Australians, on the other hand, had a long session indoor and outdoor and are likely to have an optional practice tomorrow.