VVS hits the nets on off day in Adelaide

Adelaide: India's out-of-form middle-order batsman VVS Laxman preferred to hit the nets immediately after landing in Adelaide on Thursday while some of his teammates and their wives went shopping ahead of the fourth and the final Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval starting on Tuesday.

The India team landed in the city on early Thursday morning and coach Duncan Fletcher personally organised an indoor nets session for Laxman at the Adelaide Oval.

Laxman, who has averaged just 17 in the three Tests so far, quashed reports in Perth on Wednesday of his retirement. Fletcher was seen having a close watch as Laxman spent considerable time at the nets.

The Indian team was criticised for skipping practice sessions ahead of the Perth Test.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will be missing the fourth Test due to a one-match ban, Rahul Dravid, Ravichandran Ashwin and bowling coach Eric Simmons and other support staff went for shopping.

The Indian team was severely criticised for skipping practice sessions ahead of the Perth Test, which India lost by an innings and the match ended within two-and-a-half days.

India trail Australia 3-0 in the four-match series and have lost seven consecutive Tests on foreign soil, four of them by an innings and the rest by margins of 196, 319 and 122 runs.

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