Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft both failed in their final Test audition against India A on Saturday afternoon, dismissed for golden ducks during Australia A’s six-wicket victory at the MCG.
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Australia is expected to announce the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener within the next 24 hours, but Harris and Bancroft missed an opportunity to press their case for an eleventh-hour inclusion.
The duo were toppled by Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna in the opening over of Australia A’s second innings, with Harris’ inside edge sailing through to the wicketkeeper and Bancroft struck LBW by a toe-crushing yorker.
However, Australia A recovered to chase the awkward 168-run target in 47.5 overs, with teenager Sam Konstas and all-rounder Beau Webster, who earned man of the match honours, finished unbeaten on 73* and 46* respectively.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia A vs India A scorecard
Corey Rocchiccioli, who claimed four second innings wickets including the scalp of KL Rahul, said there was some banter in the squad about the coming Test series given the selection battle at play.
The Western Australian quipped that when Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney, who is expected to earn his maiden Test call-up this weekend, brought himself on to bowl before lunch, he was auditioning for a spot on the Sri Lanka tour at the end of the summer.
“Well, everyone seems pretty normal, to be honest,” he said.
“There’s probably only a couple of spots up for grabs (but) there’s probably been some joking around when McSweeney was coming on that he was auditioning for the Shri Lanka tour. But everyone has been the same as what they usually are at the start of the week.
“I’m sure there might have been some nerves for some of the batters who were auditioning for the Test spot. But … I think everyone sort of held the same sort of character throughout the week. (We are) a jovial bunch who liked to crack some gags.”
soaked up 69 deliveries before feathering a peach from Indian quick Mukesh Kumar for 25.
The hosts were in a spot of bother at 4-73 when Ollie Davies was bowled by spinner Tanush Kotian by 22, but Konstas’ half-century anchored the innings and calmed any nerves in the Australia A dugout.
But Rocchiccioli said there were never any real concerns among the hosts squad.
“To be honest, the boys were pretty chilled downstairs,” he said.
“I missed the first two wickets because I was having a shower, so I came out with two down (and) there were blokes padding up. But everyone was sort of relaxed.”
Rocchiccioli, who has travelled to India with Konstas in the past, said he was impressed with the way the teenager batted on Saturday.
“He went through the gears well. It was nice to watch. He sort of got himself set and then, towards the end, he started smashing the spin. I was just enjoying the way he goes about it,” he said.
“He’s obviously got a mature head on his shoulders when it comes to batting and his skill set. I think it’s incredible. I’m only 27, but I feel like all these young batters coming up have every shot in the book. It’s really impressive.
“I think it’s gone, the old school adage that you sort of wait till you (have faced) 150 balls before you start backing away and trying to carve them. It’s really impressive to see what he’s doing.”
Earlier on Saturday, the tourists were bowled out for 229 in 77.5 overs after a lower-order fightback, with Dhruv Jurel cracking a classy half-century at the iconic venue.
Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy combined for a 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket to frustrate the Australians before Rocchiccioli broke the stand, with Jurel picking out cow corner.
Webster removed Reddy a few minutes later, with the right-hander gloving a short delivery down the leg side and caught by wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson for 38.
Following an entertaining cameo from Prasidh Krishna, who clobbered 29, Rocchiccioli and captain McSweneey cleaned up the Indian tail, with the West Australian tweaker finishing with 4-74 from 23.5 overs.
“I feel like in every first class game I’m playing in now, I’m starting to understand a bit more tactically about where I need a bowl and how I need to bowl,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve bowled that much around the wicket in a really long time to right handed batters, so that was something I picked up … during the week and I thought I’d give it a go out here and be brave.
“I just enjoyed the fact that I could go out there over the 30-odd overs that I bowled and just try some different plans that I probably don’t have at the WACA.”
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