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As warm-up matches go, the players didn’t get very warm. India’s only game before the Boxing Day Test was called off after only 48 overs because of persistent heavy rain in Melbourne.

Three days against Victoria were scheduled at the Junction Oval but overnight showers and a wet pitch meant no play was possible on the third day. It leaves their bowlers with no match practice before the first Test as the Indians finished at 4 for 133 with Rahul Dravid on 38 and Yuvraj Singh on 6.

Two-and-a-half hours were played on the first day before torrential rain saturated the ground and only ten overs were possible on day two. The Indians used much of the downtime to train at the MCG indoor nets and they will have little choice but to complete their preparations under cover with more rain expected over the next couple of days.

However, the Test should not be affected with a warm change forecast for Melbourne on Christmas Day. Sunny conditions are predicted for the first few days of the Test.

Source:Cricket News