Lehmann appointed vice-captain for Indian tour

Australia's replacement vice-captain Darren Lehmann will miss the only lead-up game before the first Test against India because of a flight delay. Lehmann, who skipped the beginning of the tour to visit his sick mother in Adelaide, will not arrive until the match against Mumbai has started tomorrow after his departure from Melbourne was stalled by fog.

With Adam Gilchrist elevated to the captaincy by Ricky Ponting's absence, Lehmann, who acted as vice-captain against Sri Lanka during the winter when Ponting hurt his back, will assume the deputy's role for the first Test in Bangalore on October 6.

Ponting broke his left thumb during the Champions Trophy semi-final loss to England and will have another examination in Sydney tomorrow.

While the fitness of Ponting is still a concern the squad has been boosted by the arrival of Sydney yoga instructor Kate Turner to help the players strive for peace of body and soul.

The ancient technique originated in India and Australia's support staff hope it will aid pre-game stretching and post-match sleeping.

"India is a good place to introduce yoga because it is physically challenging and the players have fewer diversions," the team's physiotherapist Errol Alcott told the Courier-Mail. "After a long session some of the guys can feel mentally challenged and have trouble sleeping. If we do a short session at night at the appropriate time it may help the players sleep."