India return to action on crisis tour

CANBERRA: Opener Virender Sehwag and the struggling Yuvraj Singh both fell cheaply on Thursday as India returned to action after fears they would quit their crisis-hit tour of Australia. 

Sehwag fluffed his chance to make a powerful case for Test selection, making just 24 after India won the toss and elected to bat against the Australian Capital Territory XI.   

Singh's horror tour continued when he made just two as the tourists paid the price for poor shot selection against a modest attack with little first-class experience.    

The Indians declared at 325 for nine after throwing a number of wickets away with loose shots, and the ACT were 10 without loss at stumps on the first day.   

The match follows three days of frenzied fallout from the controversial second Test in Sydney, which ended in charges of racism, bad sportsmanship and poor umpiring.   

Senior batsman and former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid, who benefited from dropping down to number four, making 62 from 91 balls with nine fours, said it was disappointing that several batsmen again failed to deliver.    

"It is about making people sit up and notice them," he said. "Hopefully they can reinforce that in the second innings. When people get their opportunities they have to put their hands up. That's what these games are about."   

"I'm sure that Yuvraj and the guys would have liked to get some more runs, get some confidence and get some time in the middle" Dravid added.   

Sehwag, considered close to selection for Sydney, where Australia won in dramatic fashion, began his innings cautiously but played a couple of trademark aggressive shots before falling to seamer Luke Swards, 25, who is yet to play first-class cricket.   

Sehwag, who survived a run-out scare on seven, was caught at second slip, where ACT captain Mark Higgs held a difficult catch.  

The highly rated Singh's batting woes continued when he was caught in the gully from a poor shot. He has made just 17 runs in the first two Tests at 4.25.   

In better news for the tourists, embattled opener Wasim Jaffer finally found some form with a stylish 92.   

Jaffer, with just 22 runs in four Test innings on this tour, was in much better touch against the ACT bowlers, hitting eight fours and two sixes during his 191-ball knock.   

Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, captaining the tourists, ran into some overdue form with a quickfire 38 runs from 37 balls, including six boundaries.   

Spinner Harbhajan Singh, handed a three-Test ban for alleged racism in the second Test, received a mixed reception when he strode out to bat and survived a confident LBW appeal first ball, but was caught behind two balls later without scoring.   

India rested captain Anil Kumble, star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman and former skipper Sourav Ganguly for the match.  

The Indian and Australian captains have both tried to calm the situation in the wake of the Sydney Test. Kumble has called for talks with his opposite number Ricky Ponting, and the Australian skipper promised to examine his team's behaviour.   

India arrived in Canberra a day late in protest at Harbhajan's ban, which they are appealing. They decided to resume the tour after umpire Steve Bucknor was axed from the Test series.    Australia lead 2-0 in the series with two matches to play.