MELBOURNE: India continued to fret over the composition of their opening pair for the series opener against Australia later this month after KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran failed to impress in the second unofficial Test on Thursday.

Yashasvi Jaiswal will need a new opening partner for the series opener as India captain Rohit Sharma is likely to miss the Perth Test for personal reasons.

An uncapped Easwaran and a 53-Test veteran Rahul, who is known for his ability to bat anywhere in the order, are the leading contenders to partner Jaiswal in Perth, but both fell cheaply against Australia ‘A’.

Easwaran made a three-ball duck falling to Michael Neser, while Rahul made four before Scott Boland dismissed him caught behind.

On a bouncy pitch at the Mel­bourne Cricket Ground (MCG), India A slumped to 65-5, before Dhruv Jurel struck a gritty 80 to help them post 161 all out.

Neser claimed 4-27, but left the field with a hamstring injury in a major blow to his hopes of a Test recall in the five-match series against India.

Australian opener Nathan McSweeney, who is tipped to fill the void created by David Warner’s retirement, failed to impress as he fell for 14.

Sam Konstas, another name being touted as a possible opening partner for Usman Khawaja, was batting on one as Australia A reached stumps on 53-2.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024