Australia struggle at start of Indian tour

Paceman Ashish Nehra rattled Australia's top order as they struggled to 63 for three wickets after captain Steve Waugh elected to bat in their tour-opening three-day game against India "A" on Saturday.

Nehra, a left-arm paceman from Delhi, staked his claim for a test position when he picked up all three wickets in the first hour of play by making use of moist early morning conditions on an otherwise placid wicket.

He bowled opener Michael Slater for five in his very first over with the Australian total on six. Left-hander Justin Langer cracked two fours before being trapped leg before wicket for eight.

Nehra struck again when Waugh chased a ball outside the off stump and the edge flew straight to wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia.

Waugh was out for a duck and Australia were reeling at 25 for three, before opener Matthew Hayden (20) and Ricky Ponting (27) steadied the innings, guiding the visitors to the first drinks break without losing another wicket.

Australia rested batsman Mark Waugh and strike bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne for the match.

Australia play another three-day game next week before the first test starts in Bombay on February 27.

Teams:

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain) Adam Gilchrist, Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Martyn, Colin Miller and Ricky Ponting.

India A: Vangipurappu Laxman (captain), Sadagopan Ramesh, Shiv Sunder Das, Dinesh Mongia, Hemang Badani, Nayan Mongia, Debasish Mohanty, Rahul Sanghvi, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra and W.D.Balaji Rao

Mail Cricket Editor