India in Australia Tour Match Highlights: Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara Fail After Varun Aaron's 4/41
After Varun Aaron's 4/41 halted Cricket Australia on 243, India lost two early wickets. Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli however took the team to 99/2 at end of day's play.
After the shocking demise and a tearful funeral of Phillip Hughes, cricket in Australia was back on its feet on Thursday. On the day when the first Test between India and Australia was originally scheduled -- December 4 -- India played their second tour game, five days before the first Test in Adelaide. Catch highlights here:
* Day's play ends with India on 99/2, trailing CA XI by 144. Vijay remains unbeaten on 39 and will have the company of Kohli (30).
* Vijay has now smashed six fours in all and is eying a fifty. He has good support from Kohli at the other end who, despite his uneasy start, has found his batting rhythm.
* Murali Vijay has been holding his ground from one end. He has been cautious but is gradually coming into his element. Has hit two classic shots to the boundary.
* Kohli dropped in slips! The Indian captain edges but is lucky to survive - the chinks in India's dominant batting threatening to appear.
* OUT! After hitting three fours, Pujara falls for 22. He looked good to last the distance today but a lapse in concentration spells his doom. India: 36/2.
* Pujara has replaced Dhawan and has already helped himself to a four.
* OUT! Dhawan has fallen off the first delivery he faced. He tried to play the ball down the leg side but finds the fielder at forward short-leg. India lose key opener in the second over.
* Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay open the innings for India.
* OUT! The third and final session of the day begins with a bang for India. Ishant and Aaron pick one each to end CA XI's batting endeavour on 243.
* At the end of the second session of play, Cricket Australia XI are 205/8 with Aaron emerging as the best bowler so far for India.
* OUT! Jadeja just cannot be kept out of action for too long. He removes Lalor on 21. CA XI: 197/8.
*Jadeja comes on to get a bit of bowling action. He is the second spinner to be used today after Karn who has two successes from the match so far.
* Hughes funeral yesterday (Wednesday) has brought a sense of closure for Australian cricketers. They turn their focus on the 1st Test. Read full report here.
* Five bowlers have been used by India today. The emphasis is clearly on testing each pacer in practice matches ahead of the four Tests. Shami, Aaron, Ishant and Umesh have all been given extended spells.
* OUT! That's the third of the day for Aaron as the pacer removes Gulbis on 1. Once again, shattered stumps show just how much Aaron has enjoyed bowling in these conditions. CA XI: 163/7.
© AP
* OUT! Karn Sharma claims his second as a well-set Doran falls on 25. CA XI: 159/6.
* Kohli, who had not come out earlier today when play began, has now joined his team in the middle. CA XI (158/5) batsmen Doran and Gotch continue to battle.
* Umesh has bowled eight overs so far today and given away 26 runs at an economy of 3.25. While the bowling has been spot-on, he has not found a single wicket yet.
* Breaking news: Shaun Marsh has been included in the Aussie squad for the 1st Test. Reports suggest Michael Clarke has not been ruled out yet though. (Full report)
* Cricket Australia XI on 126/5 but the Indians would be a bit concerned about the seven no-balls bowled so far today. In all, there have been 15 runs from extras till now - B 3, LB 5, W 0, NB 7.
* OUT! Karn Sharma's spin gets India success. Keath (19) falls to leave CA XI's batting brutally exposed.
* OUT! Early success in the post-lunch session as Aaron finds the edge. Silk (58) makes the mistake and Raina accepts gleefully at third slip. CA XI 105/4.
*The players are back on the field for the second session of play. CA XI will look to continue their fightback.
* Cricket Australia end 1st session of play on 101/3.
* Cricket Australia XI mount a fightback of sorts after the early damages.
* OUT! And that's the second for Shami as Cricket Australia XI now 34/3. Matthew Short (19) makes the long walk back.
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* OUT! Varun Aaron delivers the second blow. Ashton Turner (0) leaves a shattered stump behind him as the Indians celebrate their second wicket of the day.
* OUT! Mohammad Shami strikes in the first over. These conditions are tailor-made for him and the youngster does not disappoint. He dismisses Carters (1) who is caught in the slips by Shikhar Dhawan.
* India will bowl and Virat Kohli will not take to the field. Ishant Sharma will captain the side in his absence.
* The Indian team observes a minute's silence to honour the memory of Hughes before the start of proceedings.
The highly-anticipated series between India and Australia has taken backseat after the tragic and early loss of Hughes. The entire cricketing fraternity has been reeling from the loss of Hughes, who died on Thursday after being knocked out by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match on Tuesday.
The celebrations may be muted, the aggression too could be toned down but cricket will come as a much-needed tonic for the grieving cricketers.
As far as the Indians are concerned, this will be a good chance to clear their minds and assess the conditions ahead of the tough four-match Test series. The return of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, by December 5, adds a spring in the step of the tourists, who had a nightmarish series in 2011. Dhoni's return only means that Virat Kohli's debut as Test skipper will have to wait.
© AFP
The Tragic Turn of Events and the Show of Solidarity
On November 25 in a Sheffield Shield game, Phillip Hughes was knocked out by a bouncer from Sean Abbott. Hughes tried to maintain composure but fell face-first. Doctors revealed he never recovered. On Thursday, much to the shock and distress of the cricketing fraternity, the unfortunate news of Hughes' losing his battle with life broke.
Hughes' passing left the entire cricketing fraternity in the lurch. Tears, prayers and tributes were flowing in from all corners as fans and players alike paid glowing tributes to the 25-year-old left-handed batmsan. Aussie skipper Michael Clarke read out a poignant eulogy for his "little brother" Hughes at the funeral.