Nothing to write home about

The Indians were left with a lot of soul-searching to do after unfancied Victoria Bushrangers piled on a massive 518 built around a record 264 by Brad Hodge on the third and final day of the tour-opening cricket match here today.

With Victoria deciding to bat through the third day before declaring on 518 for eight minutes before the tea break, the Indians hardly had time to make up for their earlier lapses.

In fact, their first innings disaster returned to haunt the Indians as they lost two wickets, including that of Virender Sehwag 20, before making 116 for two.

Ramesh, who made 87 in the first knock, logged a few more points for his Test selection with 36 while Aakash Chopra remained unbeaten on 55.

But it was Hodge who continued to hog the limelight at the MCG rewriting the record books in compiling 264 studded with 39 fours and a six.

There was also some drama in the final half an hour when the Victorians wanted to walk off with six overs remaining. The two Indian batsmen decided to stay put with no signal coming from the dressing room.

Obviously the Indians, chaffed at Victoria8217;s continuation of their innings this morning, wanted to make their own point. But they finally decided to call it off, strangely so, with an over remaining. Chopra, who hit two fours in an Andrew Mcdonald over, reached his half-century in 146 minutes off 112 balls and hit eight fours.

Rahul Dravid, coming in at the fall of Ramesh, remained not out on one.

The day clearly belonged to Hodge who made the highest-ever score by an Australian batsman against a touring side in a first class game in 75 years.

Hodge8217;s innings was second only to Bill Woodfull8217;s 25 for Victoria against MCC on the 1928-29 tour.

Only two scores have been bigger than Hodge8217;s against India in any form of cricket in the last 14 years. PTI