Will Pucovski and Joe Burns have both failed in their bids to impress Australian selectors after both openers flopped in their much-hyped bat-off in the tour match against India.
Key points:
- Will Pucovski scored 1 off 23 and Joe Burns made 4 off 13 but both openers fell to Umesh Yadav
- David Warner may miss the first Test against India due to a groin injury
- Marcus Harris, who has played nine Tests and is another opening option, only scored 35
Opening for Australia A after India declared on 9-247 on the second morning of the three-day warm-up game, Pucovski only managed 1 off 22 deliveries before smoking his 23rd directly to point, where Shubman Gill took a sharp chance down low.
Seamer Umesh Yadav doubled up when he got a ball to rise on Burns, who gloved through to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha two overs later for just 4.
The pair could well open together in the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval if David Warner does not recover from a groin injury in time.
If he is fit, selectors will be forced to choose just one of the pair for the series opener, which starts in 10 days.
Burns appears to be the frontrunner with team management, having been backed by coach Justin Langer after finishing last summer as the incumbent.
But he has passed 11 just once in his five Sheffield Shield innings so far this year, while 22-year-old Pucovski hit double centuries in two of his three innings for Victoria this summer and is seen as a star of the future.
But his attempt to press his case didn’t go to plan at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval, surviving an LBW appeal from a Mohammed Siraj inswinger before being caught.
Marcus Harris, who has played nine Tests and scored a double ton alongside Pucovski for Victoria earlier this year, was also pressing his claim for an opening spot but fell short.
He was out for 35 after trying to cut off-spinner Ravi Ashwin, only to edge to Ajinkya Rahane at first slip.
The Indians had earlier declared at 9-247 on the second morning of the tour match, with Rahane finishing unbeaten on 117.
Australia A also lost Jackson Bird to a lower leg injury, after he limped off the field as he ran in to bowl just the third ball of the day.
James Pattinson was the best of the bowlers with 3-58.
AAP/ABC
