India to do their own thing: Shipperd

Victorian cricket coach Greg Shipperd has resisted the temptation to urge India to make a game of their three-day tour match after the corresponding fixture four years ago ended in dispute between the two sides.

Shipperd conceded India were likely to be interested only in gaining three days of practice instead of playing to win at the Junction Oval from Thursday, given it is their only hit-out before the first Test against Australia.

Victoria encouraged India to make a game of their three-day clash during the 2003-04 tour, but the Bushrangers’ then-coach, the late David Hookes, accused then-Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly of reneging on a deal to make an early declaration.

Hookes was annoyed Ganguly did not declare after 70 overs, so in response let Victoria bat well into the third day, which allowed Brad Hodge to post a double century.

Forecast showers could be India’s major headache this match, as their batsmen will want time to acclimatise to local conditions. So Shipperd expected Anil Kumble’s side to want to do its own thing.

“I seem to remember the last time we invited there to be a game played, but the touring team is usually interested in their own preparation,” he said.

“We’ll see how the game unfolds and throw options in if we think it’s appropriate.

“Their business is their business, so we’ll focus on what we can do.

“The way the game pans out may influence them in one way or the other, so we have to wait and see.”

Shipperd expected a well-paced, bouncy wicket at the Junction, which would be more in line with traditional Australian conditions for touring sides.

However India might face a slower pitch at the MCG come Boxing Day, which would be more to their liking. Kumble said Tuesday India were likely to field a strong side on Thursday, however Victoria’s side will be well depleted.

Captain Cameron White and strike bowlers Gerard Denton and Shane Harwood are all sidelined through injury and Hodge is unlikely to be risked after injuring his back in Perth last week. Hodge is in Victoria’s 13-man squad, but Shipperd said he would like his star batsman ready for the domestic Twenty20 campaign in the new year.

“I certainly would like to have him fresh and ready to go for the Twenty20,” he said.

“It’s a competition that allows our state to play at another level, internationally (the new Champions League), if we should get through to the top two and with our best side in we’ve got a very good chance of achieving that.”

Despite the injuries, Shipperd promised the Bushrangers would take the match up to India.

“Look, they might be vulnerable to the Australian cricket team, but I’m not sure they’d be too threatened by Victorians,” he said.

“But we’ll certainly come out and play some good quality cricket, I’m sure, and surprise them.”

Victoria (from): Brad Hodge (capt, fitness permitting), David Hussey, Aiden Blizzard, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Nick Jewell, Michael Klinger, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Robert Quiney, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade, Allan Wise.