Practice imperfect for India

Despite a calm exterior,Tim Nielsen is a worried man.

Despite a calm exterior,Tim Nielsen is a worried man. The Australian coach has been closely following the Chennai Super Kings campaign in the ongoing Champions League,purely because of the presence of Doug Bollinger and Mike Hussey critical to Australias cause in the forthcoming Test series in their ranks.

I am trying to work out the way modern cricket works. Dougie Bollinger and Mike are playing for an Indian franchise in South Africa under an Indian captain,days before they come to play for Australia in India against India. Its something you couldnt imagine a couple of years before. We have given them a schedule with SG balls after their T20 routines; we have a plan if they lose the semi-final or if they play the final,to help them recover from a 11-hour flight, he says.

Nielsen,though,hasnt considered leaving them out for the game against Board Presidents XI to give them extra rest. I would leave that decision to individuals and assess them before the Test, he says. And though the Aussies may have that luxury,India dont. For a series that was modified from seven ODIs to two Tests and three ODIs to retain Indias number 1 ranking,preparations dont indicate foresight.

Bad timing

Seven India players have been part of the CLT20 Rahul Dravid,Sachin Tendulkar,Suresh Raina,MS Dhoni,Harbhajan Singh,Zaheer Khan and Murli Vijay and have little time to prepare for the series. Four of them are still in the competition,but perhaps it wasnt the right time from India point of view.

The remaining havent exactly been preparing for Tests. With heavy rains in most of north India,players like Gautam Gambhir,Virender Sehwag,Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra have been restricted to spending family time. Gambhir is short of match practice after being out after the first Test in Galle.

Gambhirs request for some match practice was accepted by the selectors,making him captain of the BP XI. Mishra is equally worried and is planning to travel to Mohali much ahead to get some practice. Its better than waiting in Delhi,at least I can get some overs under my belt, says Mishra.

Sehwag hasnt had any luck either while Ishant has been busy in the gym. Plans for a small camp ahead of the series fizzled out and only VVS Laxman with some hits at the nets and Sreesanth going through the paces in Bangalore are prepared for the Tests.

As good as Ashes

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The Aussies,on the other hand,are better prepared,hitting the nets back home with special SG balls since the Test series against Pakistan. The Ashes is out of the mind and Marcus North puts it at par with the Ashes. When you talk about Test cricket,this series is as good as playing the Ashes. Especially now,when India is the top team, says North. Michael Clarke says being the top team in all formats is an area of perfection we look to achieve.