Rain Washes Out Day 1 of India’s Warm-Up Game Ahead of Aus Tests

The start to the India’s sole practice match ahead of the four-Test series in Australia was put back by Sydney rain.

Day 1 of India’s four-day warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI was washed out due to torrential showers in Sydney.

(Photo: AP)

The first day of India’s only tour match ahead of their four-Test series against Australia has been washed out by torrential rain.

India’s four-day warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI was scheduled to start on Wednesday, 28 November, but storms and heavy downpours ensured the covers stayed on at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The forecast, in fact, was so poor that India's Test squad never even arrived at the SCG. The showers did eventually stop and there was brief hope of a mid-afternoon toss, but play was abandoned without a single delivery being bowled.

India captain Virat Kohli opted for a gym session for the team rather than a day off.

The match was only originally scheduled to be a three-day affair, before Cricket Australia (CA) agreed to add Wednesday's earlier start at India's request.

India will also be able to use 14 players from their 18-man squad after asking for the game not to be given first-class status.

The first match of the eagerly-anticipated four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins in Adelaide from 6 December. The SCG will be hosting the series finale beginning on 3 January, with the second and third Tests at Perth and Melbourne respectively.