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Team India bemused at reports of walk-out of warm-up game



Team India is bemused and laughing their guts out at the suggestion in Australian media that they toyed with the idea of boycotting the ongoing three-day warm-up game against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI here because of rain.

“The story is completely baseless. There is no truth in it. Rain is part of cricket. You don't leave a venue only because it's raining,” said Indian team's media manager G S Walia.

It rained heavily on the night prior to the start of the three-day game between the tourists and Cricket Australia Chairman's XI, forcing the game to begin only after lunch on Monday.

The Australian media has gone to town stating that India were contemplating heading for Melbourne for better practice sessions, leading up to the first Test starting there on December 26.

The reports said that a member of the support staff, travelling with the Indian team, had actually enquired with the groundsman at the Manuka Oval about the effect persistent rain would have on the three-day match.
Newspaper:Indian Express, 20th Dec