Batters seek quick fixes to ace spin trial

Batters on either side will hope to find their feet and hold sway in the slow conditions of the Siechem Cricket Stadium here, as the second ‘Test’ between India-A and Australia-A begins on Tuesday.

Three of the four innings in the opening game concluded inside 60 overs, with the first essay being the only exception courtesy of ton-up Kumar Kushagra. Devdutt Padikkal and B. Sai Sudharsan got their eye in, but only by piling up lengthier essays will they fully utilise this ‘A’ fixture, which is primarily aimed at attuning them for next year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Australia-A batting line-up boasted of four capped batters, yet none could deliver a fifty across the two innings. Four of the Australia-A top-five – Nathan McSweeney, Peter Handscomb, Jason Sangha, Campbell Kellaway – average over 50 against spin, but none could tame Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian when the ball stayed low.