After spending three days in the WACA nets, India have stepped up their preparations a week before the series opener at the Optus Stadium. The XI featured mainly fringe and key stars in the middle against a team full of India A players.
Rahul did not come out to bat later in the day as India’s leading batsmen were at another crease.
Jaiswal started aggressively with a belligerent strike through the cover, but fell into a second slip, which is not uncommon in the 15th over, a simulation that lasted two-and-a-half hours before lunch.
Amid reports that he has been scanned in recent days, Kohli has shown fine touch and has hit a few stunning shots through the covers. But in the 15th over, he forced seamer Mukesh Kumar to second slip before spending about half an hour at the near net.
Bowling on short pitches was a priority for India’s batsmen on Thursday and, with the local club’s fast pace, some batsmen took part in drills firing tennis balls at their heads from close range.
So far in these simulations the WACA surface has had significantly less bounce and carry than in Sheffield Shield matches this season. But there was some movement and India’s batsmen looked short.
No. 3 Shubman Gill got off to a slow start and struggled to get a strike during the two-hour crisis. He started to look more comfortable before blocking a short-length delivery from the speedy Navdeep Saini, which he celebrated enthusiastically in the 28th over.
A rare sight of spin at both ends at WACA occurred just before the interval when Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian bowled in tandem, with the batting side breaking at 106 for 5 after 28 overs. has been reached.
As befits a simulation, in a situation where it was not an official match, India’s main batsmen made another attempt. More specific aspects of the match appeared to be tested as Jaiswal and Gill, initially scratched, launched an all-out attack.
However, they soon reverted to a cautious approach as India’s coaching staff hit mostly fill-ups in the calm proceedings with a few boundaries.
Jaiswal looked most comfortable against short balls, including during net sessions, and was also very aggressive when spin came into the attack. He finished on 58 not out, and although Gill looked anchored at the crease at times, he hit an unbeaten 42.
After the last interval, Kohli and Pant returned and faced short length bowling from Prasidh and Reddy. Kohli particularly struggled, making and missing plays on several occasions. But he found his rhythm and played some nice back-foot strokes, including a shot that damaged the bat and pulled to the boundary requiring a change.
Kohli did not feel any discomfort, allaying injury fears as he batted for an hour before reaching 30.
Pant tried to counter the length by jumping the pitch and had mixed success. He was eventually bowled out on 24 by the impressive Mukesh. It was the second time on the day that his wicket rattled.
Jurel joined Akash Deep in the final passage as the batting team finished with 8 for 339 in a match simulation that lasted 75 overs.
The simulation is expected to continue through the weekend.
Tristan Lavalette is a Perth-based journalist.
