Injury scare for Ishant before Aus Tests

Canberra: Fast bowler Ishant Sharma could bowl just 5.3 overs as the Indians had a hard day on field on the first day of their first practice match against Cricket Australia (CA) Chairman's XI, who posted a huge 398 for six declared in the first innings after twin centuries from Wes Robinson and Tom Cooper at the Manuka Oval here on Thursday.

All eyes were on Ishant, who went off the field twice in the space of his brief spell. He made his second exit midway through his sixth over after which he did not return. Ishant was seen on the ground later in the day but to carry drinks.

An official from the Indian team said that the lanky fast bowler had plans to bowl only six overs and after his ankle strapping loosened, he thought it was of no use to carry on.

Ishant Sharma bowled only 5.3 overs on the first day of India's first practice match against CA Chairman's XI on Thursday.

Reeling under jetlag and a five-hour journey to Canberra, the Indian team was certainly not in its best frame.

In the absence of Ishant, the rest of the Indian bowlers toiled hard. West Australia's Robinson and South Australia's Cooper piled the agony on the Indians, with left-arm pacer Pragyan Ojha and fast bowler R Vinay Kumar being the chief sufferers.

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