Seniors’ galacticos worth just 213

Apart from the skipper none of the other batsmen seemed capable, or bothered for that matter, to try and make a point. To think that the battery they were facing comprised Joginder Sharma, Amit Bhandari, Shib Shankar Paul and Murali Kartik is all the more concerning, seeing that the opposition they will face in a week’s time reads Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Shane Warne and a few others.

Paul, Sharma and Bhandari put the galacticos to shame and kept wicketkeeper Mahender Singh Dhoni interested — with the Seniors’s batsmen happy with fishing outside the off-stump. Sharma in particular impressed with his lively pace.

Right through his short stay at the crease, Sehwag, almost obsessively, repeated the errors of the last three months. Though given a life by Gautam Gambhir in the slips, Sehwag traded like a millionaire and played an uppish shot to be caught very cleverly by Mohammed Kaif at covers.

For a long time after that, coach John Wright could be seen speaking to Sehwag in the dressing room.

Coach Wright had more than one reason to have a concerned look as he watched the proceedings alongside vice-captain Rahul Dravid durring the middle session. Dravid had finished a short fluent stay at the wicket, but not before he had seen off Aakash Chopra finish another scratch in the middle.

Chopra played like a man under pressure before nicking one to Dhoni off Bhandari. True to his reputation though, Chopra hung around for sometime without ever looking to score.

Another of the batsmen short on confidence, VVS Laxman did not move his feet at all and just nibbled at a ball outside the off-stump.

And if Yuvraj Singh is going to be the next Indian Test opener, then Glenn McGrath & Co are probably licking their hands in anticipation.

Never comfortable, Yuvraj had to fend off a Joginder snorter to end his stay. On the adjoining strip next week, Yuvraj can expect more of the same if he is up against the new ball.

As the procession continued at the other end, Ganguly played a resolute innings to nurse his side out of a crisis.

And though Ganguly tried to put up a brave face at the end of the day by saying things will change next week, the signs are omnious. ‘‘The form of the batting, especially Sehwag’s is a worry. But you must remember this is just a practice match,’’ Ganguly said.

However, questions would surely be asked of the Indian top-order’s attitude while playing this match and also for not even lasting three full sessions in a day’s play. This was their last chance to run into some form but they messed up the opportunity, their last before the Aussies, and also defeated the entire purpose of the game.

BRIEF SCORES

India A: 302 for 9 in 94.3 overs (S Sriram 125, G Gambhir 45, Y Venugopala Rao 36, M Kaif 31; Z Khan 3/38, I Pathan 2/61, A Kumble 2/83) and 47 for 1 in 15 overs (D Jadhav batting 27; Z Khan 1/9)

India Seniors: 213 all out in 66 overs (S Ganguly 65, Harbhajan Singh 35; J Sharma 3/42, A Bhandari 3/56, M Kartik 3/73)