Oz tour of India build-up hit by Bollinger, Hussey’s participation in Champions League

CHANDIGARH - Australian fast bowler Doug Bollinger and batsman Mike Hussey’s participation at the Twenty20 Champions League in South Africa has hit the team’s tour of India build-up.

Australia have been handed the worst possible lead-in to their Test series, after Bollinger and Hussey’s team, the Chennai Super Kings, advanced to the finals of the tournament.

The duo is now scheduled to be in India on Monday, leaving just three days until they are pitched into a Test in entirely foreign conditions.

“It’s difficult for us. The way I keep thinking in my own mind is it’s the way of the modern cricket world at the moment,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted team coach Tim Nielsen, as saying.

“Funnily enough Huss and Doug are playing for an Indian franchise in South Africa before they come and play for Australia in India against India, so when you look at it that way it’s something we’ve never had to comprehend or think about before the last couple of years,” he added.

Nielsen further said that two players are doing specialized training sessions in South Africa with the SG balls to be used in India.

“We’ve given them some SG balls, they’re over there doing some additional training on top of their T20 training, they just have to get here when they can get here and use the time they have to prepare as well as we can,” he added.

The first Test will be played Mohali form October 1-5, while the second Test will be played in Bangalore from October 9-13. (ANI)