Rain washes out day one of India’s pink ball warmup game in Canberra

India’s preparations for the second Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide took a hit as the first day of the team’s scheduled two-day warmup encounter with Prime Minister’s XI was washed out entirely without a single ball being bowled.

With an unprecedented 10-day gap between the first and the second Test, the team was scheduled to play a two-day pink ball game under lights against PM XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. However, the already-short encounter got further short due to incessant rains in the Australian capital. 

There’s a good chance that the team might get no practice under lights whatsoever prior to the second Test as the weather for day two (December 1) is not looking great. Thunderstorms are expected in Australian Capital Territory (ACT) region. 

Cricket.com.au reported that the teams have agreed to play a 'one-day' match on the second day, with each innings lasting roughly 3.30 hours each.

"A one-day match will be played at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Sunday should the rain clear and the ground be deemed safe," the report from CA said.

Prime Minister's XI v India day two session times

First innings: 2.40pm-6.10pm

Interval: 6.10pm-6.40pm

Second innings: 6.40pm-10.10pm

The two-day encounter was supposed to not just give the tourists a hit under the lights, but also give much-needed match practice for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his second child. 

For the hosts, the game was a chance to increase the bowling workload of Scott Boland, who is slated to feature into the Australian XI for the second Test following an injury to Josh Hazlewood. The clash was also seen as an opportunity for the likes of Sam Konstas and Matthew Renshaw to make their case for a place in the side, with incumbent Marnus Labuschagne struggling.

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