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Thursday, December 15, 2011



The Cricket Australia Chairman's XI piled up 398-6 at the close of day one of the tour match with India in Canberra.

Wes Robinson (143) and Tom Cooper (182 not out) added 226 for the third wicket on a day when the Indian bowlers struggled to make an impact.

Pace man Ishant Sharma only bowled 5.3 overs before he left the field but it is understood his early withdrawal was merely precautionary to monitor the left ankle problem that hampered his tour of England.

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3-39 off 15 overs while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha picked up two wickets, at the more expensive cost of 149 runs.

Robinson swung Ojha to the leg-side boundary for six on five occasions before he fell attempting a sixth maximum off the slow bowler.

Robinson only made his state debut at the age of 27 but has made solid strides since, culminating in his century today. The left-hander moved to his ton first before his younger third-wicket partner dominated in the final session.

Cooper has been representing the Netherlands at international level but will hope performances like this further alert the Australian selectors.

The Chairman's XI declared at the close, meaning India's much-vaunted batting line-up take centre stage on day two.

India have one further warm-up match ahead of the first Test at Melbourne, starting on Boxing Day.