The niceties over, Australia settle down to business as they break a lot of sweat at Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex.

By Faisal Kamal

Indian bowlers may be itching to target Australian batsmen come October 25 but rookie Mumbai Cricket Association bowlers have already had to go against Ricky Ponting and company.

Acclimatising to Indian conditions, the Australians had a long and hard net session on Thursday morning at the MCA's recreation centre at Bandra-Kurla complex with young Mumbai bowlers in tow. For many of them, it was dream come true rubbing shoulders with the world's best cricketers.

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Harbouring dreams of playing for the country one day, every boy has a story to tell. An over-excited under-19 Mumbai off-spinner, Siddharth Prasad spoke about his bowling stint to Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Shane Watson.

Prasad said, "Bowling to the Aussie skipper is a great opportunity that players seldom get so early in their careers."

The Mumbai under-19 and under-22 players made the most of the opportunity that came their way, thanks to the absence of Mumbai's Ranji players, who are in Pune to play a domestic Twenty20 tournament.

The rigorous net session started with Shane Watson facing the rookie MCA pacers while opening partner and wicket-keeper Tim Paine took on the local spinners. On strips tailor-made for pacers and spinners, the duo exchanged positions after 30 minute sessions each.

Hopeful of finding a slot in the Playing XI, Shaun Marsh had an extended session against the spinners, probably indicating that he may bat lower down the order. Ponting was busy attacking the seam bowlers and concentrated on playing the spinners in the Vee.

Ponting said, "We were very satisfied with the training session we had. Our batsmen were hitting the ball well. We are happy with the facilities provided to us." Surely, charity begins at home.

The veteran and experienced Michael Hussey seemed to be at maximum ease against the spinners, concentrating on using his feat to get to the pitch of the ball and frequently lofting it straight down the ground.

On a hot and humid morning, Aussie speedster Mitchell Johnson tested his reserves of energy as he bowled at full steam. He was full of praise for the net bowlers. Johnson said "The young lads were very good. They really took a lot of pressure away from us. I mean our bowlers could just relax, get a bit of a run in while we could also bat in the nets. The bowlers are a very talented lot."

The first one-dayer of the seven-match series starts in Vadodara on Sunday.

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