Gearing up for the big Test

Both Australia and India look to finetune their final squads in the only warm-up game...

Ben Hilfenhaus pitched one short and the ball kicked like a mule,narrowly missing Marcus Norths jaw,while Phillip Hughes had a hard time staving off a Mitchell Starc delivery that was heading towards his rib cage.

The practice pitches,with a fair amount of grass and damp conditions,gave the visitors a familiar feel as they turned up for the second time in the day gearing up for the three-day warm-up game against the Board Presidents XI getting underway at the Sector 16 stadium on Saturday.

The centre wicket appeared somewhat drier,however,with the mower making sure the tinge to the square is more to the liking of the eyes and minds of Indias fringe players.

As BP XI skipper Gautam Gambhir arrived in the city for the game,the agenda for the next three days was clear for both Australia and India: To find their touch and sort out their respective first XIs for the Test series. The Australians have already hinted that they would prefer to field 12 players out of the 13 who have arrived so far.

Still,there is some uncertainty in their ranks. Simon Katich doesnt know who his opening partner will be,nor does he have any idea if Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger who are playing the Champions League in South Africa will slip into the Test mode in time. But he insists the inexperienced players in the side will get vital clues on the conditions,the seamers will try their swing,reverse swing and the cutters while Nathan Hauritz and Steven Smith will get to ply their trade against batsmen who are traditionally comfortable against spin.

Skipper Ricky Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke will be keen to get a good score to add to their confidence while the story isnt too different in the other side of the camp.

Gambhir is eager to find his touch while Sreesanth,with an added headband to his list of accessories worn on the field,will be keen to show that he has a few extra tricks in his bag and a few more yards in his pace. Pragyan Ojha is another one hoping to impress the selectors and the team management,and likewise for new face Cheteshwar Pujara who would want to walk into the Indian dressing room for the first time with a good knock under his belt.

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The BP XI are spoilt for choice,especially in the bowling department with four fast bowlers Sreesanth,Umesh Yadav,Jaidev Unadkat and Ashok Dinda to go with two specialist spinners Ojha and Piyush Chawla.

Ravindra Jadeja is the extra option amongst the 13 who attended the nets on Friday. Saurabh Tiwary joined the team alongside Gambhir to complete the list. The composition tomorrow would depend on various factors,including the selectors wishlist. But irrespective of who plays for the BP XI,the match will serve as the form guide that could determine the course of the short Test series.