Mumbai to play against Australia in tour game

The confusion over Australia's opponents for the warm-up game in Hyderabad was finally resolved today when the Indian board confirmed that Mumbai will play. The Board President's XI will play against South Africa in their tour game at Jaipur.

SK Nair, the secretary of the board, told Wisden Cricinfo that the domestic fixtures also played a role in the decision. "The final decision was taken today that the tour game is against Ranji Trophy Champions, Mumbai. The BP XI match will be played against South Africa. There was a thought of interchanging the two but that might affect the domestic fixtures because Mumbai may be playing a Ranji Trophy game at the same time of the Jaipur game."

So Australia meet Mumbai in a tour game for the third time in succession. On both the previous occasions, Mumbai have had the upper hand. Sachin Tendulkar's blitzkrieg 204 not out in 1998 left the Australians bruised even before the series had started while in 2001, Mumbai got the better of a draw after gaining the first-innings lead.