Australia A team have been put on the back foot in their unofficial Test in India, bowled out for 171 to trail by 163 runs in Puducherry<\/p>\n
The Australia A batters have endured a tough examination from India A’s spin attack, skittled for just 171 on the second day of the four-day unofficial Test in Puducherry.<\/p>\n
The tourists are under significant pressure after the hosts took their total to 334 on Wednesday, with Kumar Kushagra returning to complete his century, before standout bowling from slow left-armer Shams Mulani ripped the heart out of the visitors’ middle-order.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Behind by 163 on first innings, Australia know they’ll have to face a further trial by spin after the Indian pair of Mulani (4-67) and off-spinner Tanush Kotian (2-31) had done most of the damage first time around.<\/p>\n
After retiring hurt on 82 with cramps on the first day, wicketkeeper Kushagra returned to the crease to score his ton off 202 balls and go on to 113, helping India A stretch their overnight total of 5-257 by another 77 runs.<\/p>\n
Kumar Kushagra returned to complete his century \/\/ Cricket Association of Pondicherry media<\/p>\n
Australia A’s spin duo of Corey Rocchiccioli (4-95 off his 25 overs) and Todd Murphy (3-77 off 33.3 overs) did the main damage for the tourists.<\/p>\n
When the Aussies batted though, seamers Anshul Kamboj and Tushar Deshpande took early wickets, with Sam Konstas battling to make 25, while Campbell Kellaway (two), Nathan McSweeney (nought off 17 balls) and captain Peter Handscomb (eight) all fell for single figures.<\/p>\n
Handscomb was Mulani’s first victim in an excellent spell and Australia badly needed the resistance shown by top scorer Jason Sangha, who also eventually succumbed to the spinner on 46, caught brilliantly by Kotian at point as he thought he’d nailed a reverse sweep.<\/p>\n
Liam Scott, last season’s Sheffield Shield Player of the Year, offered a counter-attacking threat with his 26 off 30 balls but he too got dismissed by the excellent Mulani, edging one behind.<\/p>\n
Australia A men’s tour of India 2026<\/p>\n
1st four-day: Sep 22-25, Puducherry, 2pm AEST<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd four-day: Sep 29-Oct 2, Puducherry, 2pm AEST<\/a><\/p>\n Australia A four-day squad: Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott<\/p>\n India A four-day squad: Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (c), Sai Sudharsan (vc), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Nachiket Bhute, Vijaykumar Vyshak<\/p>\n 1st one-day: Oct 6, Puducherry, 3pm AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd one-day: Oct 9, Puducherry, 3pm AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n