VIJAY’S TON SPELLS RELIEF FOR TOP ORDER
SCORES 129 IN WARMUP MATCH, KL RAHUL SCORES CONFIDENT FIFTY
SYDNEY: Murali Vijay hit a dominant century and KL Rahul a confidence-boosting fifty in the drawn warmup match against a Cricket Australia XI on Saturday, banishing doubts over who should open for India in the first Test in Adelaide, from Thursday.
With Prithvi Shaw ruled out due to a torn ankle ligament, India’s opening gambit seemed in crisis. Vijay had a solid run in the County Championship before coming here and Rahul too had scored a Test century in England. But neither had done enough in their last international game to inspire confidence.
The CA XI wasn’t heavy on experience but it was necessary that Vijay and Rahul found form before the Adelaide Test.
The four-day game ended in a draw as India scored 211/2 in the second innings, after CA XI batsmen dominated India’s bowlers to compile 544. Vijay — who didn’t bat in the first innings — scored 129 off 132 balls, taking just 27 balls to go from 52 to 100, and hitting 26 runs off one over. Rahul scored a 98-ball 62 (8x4, 1x6).
“It was good to get some practice hitting over the boundary. I just took my chances and it came my way. I know opportunities are around the corner and wanted to be in a positive frame of mind. Basically, I am ready. I just want to go out there, contribute and give a good start for my team,” said Vijay, who averages 60.25 in Australia — his best outside Asia.
Rahul was criticised by assistant coach Sanjay Bangar for his cheap first innings dismissal. This knock should boost him. Rahul will be inspired it was at Sydney Cricket Ground, where he scored the first Test hundred the last time.
If selected, Vijay will return to a venue where he scored 53 and 99 in 2014-15, in a lost cause. “It always feels good to go to grounds where you have scored runs as it helps a lot,” he said.
Adelaide curator Damien Hough is laying a grassy pitch.
Vijay said: “We (Rahul and him) come from the same part of India so we understand each other well. He is a good guy to bat with and is fun. Hopefully we can carry that momentum forward into the first Test.”
Brief scores: CA XI 544 all out in 151.1 ovs (H Nielsen 100, D Short 74, M Shami 3/97, R Ashwin 2/122) v India 358 & 211/2 in 43.4 ovs (KL Rahul 62, M Vijay 129).