Australian cricket team arrive in India

Defying speculation of series blackout over the security risk following Delhi serial blasts, the Australian cricket team arrived in Mumbai on Monday to take a connecting flight to Jaipur. The Ricky Ponting led World Champion is in India to play a four-match Test series starting from October 9.

The team is scheduled to play some practice matches in Jaipur – after a royal welcome – before leaving for Hyderabad where they have to play a four-day match against the board president’s XI commencing on Oct 2.

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The squad is without the all-rounder Andrew Symonds who was kept out of the crew under disciplinary ground after he missed a compulsory team meeting during the One-Day series against Bangladesh last month.

The Indian squad is yet to be announced, though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday said that Sachin Tendulkar will be available to play in the four-Test series.

Sachin has been undergoing a treatment for an elbow injury which he had sustained during the Sri Lanka tour and hence pulled out of the season opening four-day match between the Ranji Trophy champions and a Rest of India team starting from Friday (Sep 24).

Australian squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wicket-keeper), Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Jason Krejza

Series itinerary:

Sat 27, Sep 2008: vs RCA's Centre of Excellence in Jaipur.
Thu 2, Oct 2008 - Sun 05, Oct 2008: Warm up Match
Thu 9, Oct 2008 - Mon 13, Oct 2008: First Test at Bangalore
Fri 17, Oct 2008 - Tue 21, Oct 2008: Second Test at Chandigarh
The 28, Oct 2008 - Sat 1, Nov 2008: Third Test at Delhi
Wed 5, Nov 2008 - Sun 9, Nov 2008: Fourh Test at Nagpur