Indian news round-up

Indian cricket coach John Wright said in Mumbai on Friday that the team was shaping well and was confident of doing well in the first Test.

Speaking to reporters after a strenuous practice session at the Wankhede stadium, Wright said "we are working on our game and the boys are looking ahead to perform."

Asked about the performance of the India A and Mumbai teams against the visitors in the three-day matches, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who was also present at the briefing, said "we are very happy with the way in which the boys played against the Aussies. But it is still very early on the tour and the Australians are settling down. We all know that the Test match will be a different ball game," the Indian captain said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed the secretary of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Rajeev Madkholkar as the observer for the first Test between India and Australia, to be played at Mumbai from February 27 to March 3.

According to a release from the VCA, this is the first major assignment for the official during his long association with the game.