Chairmans XI v India
Manuka Oval – Day One, December 16
Chairmans XI – 6/398 (86 overs)
Cooper 182*
Robinson 143
The Manuka Oval has been a happy hunting ground for batsmen so far this season, and today was no exception. Nevertheless, India will have a number of concerns arising from this encounter. First and foremost, is the fitness of Ishant Sharma, who left the ground midway through his 6th over. The Indian team management have downplayed any injury concerns, however this is not a good sign leading in to a 4 match Test Series.
Furthermore, Ohja’s left arm orthodox was treated with disdain by the Australian players seeking to impress the national selectors. His 25 overs went for nearly 150 runs, suggesting he was never able to apply pressure, against a batting line-up which appears to have been focused on quick runs.
The main perpetrators were Wes Robinson of Western Australia and Tom Cooper, a New South Welshman adopted by South Australia.
Robinson is approaching his 31st birthday, which may rule him out of higher honours, however he has been performing well for Western Australia for a couple of years now. His conversion rate is perhaps his undoing – he has scored just 2 first class hundreds (now 3), to accompany his 18 half centuries. Nevertheless, he is a classy player, and could not have picked a better time to make a big hundred against an attack of international class.
Cooper is an interesting character. He averages 54 in one day internationals, of which he has played 18 for his beloved Netherlands. Recently, he made an imposing 203* and 98, in a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales. Since this match, he has scored a paltry 68 runs from 6 innings. Clearly, once he makes a start, he knows how to cash in. However, the length of time between his good innings needs to shorten.
The effect of this hitting display will not be known until India come out to bat. The pitch is clearly in favour of the ones holding the willow and the oval is not particularly big. Even still, for an Australian team looking for confidence anywhere it can find it, this will provide a boost.
Australian Cricket News 