CANBERRA: The Indians are likely to field their first team when they take on Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI in their second and final warm-up game on Monday with the focus on the fitness of their fast bowlers ahead of the four-match Test series, starting December 26.
With the injury scare to Ishant Sharma, who will be rested on Monday, the focus will be on Zaheer Khan – also returning from injury after playing just a couple of a Ranji matches.
The team sources insist it would be a precautionary rest for Ishant but at best the issue on his availability is likely to linger till the morning of the first Test in Melbourne on December 26.
Monday’s match would offer a first outing for the likes of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who according to senior Australian batsman Mike Hussey has earned a lot of respect from the home team.
Sehwag will be a big draw, fresh from his record double century in one-day internationals. He would have fond memory of Manuka Oval where he thumped a century during the 2007-08 tour that paved his return to Test ranks in the subsequent Perth Test.
All eyes will also be on Zaheer Khan who is back in the team after proving his match-fitness in two Ranji Trophy games against Orissa and Saurashtra.
Zaheer’s presence would also offer the Australians an insight into how their young batsmen are ready for the challenge of swing.
Test players like Hughes, Warner, Khawaja and those seeking a recall like Doug Bollinger and Trent Copeland would all spice up the contest.
Mean-while, former Skipper Sourav Ganguly today revealed that Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda will fly to Australia as a cover for injured fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who has been ruled out of a three-day practice match in Canberra.
“Ashok Dinda will fly to Australia as a cover to Ishant in next 24 hours. My sources have confirmed this,” Ganguly told Aaj Tak in a special show which also included 1983 world cup winning captain Kapil Dev.
“Dinda is India’s best pace bowler right now and should have been on that plane to Australia in first place with rest of the squad,” he said.
However, the team management sounded optimistic on Ishant’s participation in the series opener from December 26.
“The doctor has advised him rest till Monday. So we would have a fresh look at him on Tuesday. But he’s improving,” said media manager G S Walia here this morning. (PTI)