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The crucial warm-up match, infact the one and only match prior to the Boxing Day Test match for the Indians had ended in a damp squib. Heavy rains lashed Melbourne in the last four days to spoil India's preparations. All the tourists could get was 48 overs of batting practice while the inexperienced bowlers will have to learn it all in the middle of a test match.

The first day of the three-day match against Victoria at Junction Oval in Melbourne provided some experience of sorts for the Indian batsmen. Just the 38 overs were possible for the Indians on the first day. The second day was much more shorter providing 10 overs of play while the third and final one was a complete wash out. Indians were in early trouble losing three quick wickets at the top. But they fought back in a professional manner through their new opening batsman on this tour - Rahul Dravid along with the inform Sourav Ganguly.

The Indians lost a wicket off the 2nd over itself when Wasim Jaffer played a weak pull shot to be caught at mid off for a duck. The bowler taking this wicket was Allan Wise, a 28-year-old left arm quick. Wise in his next over got lucky with a down the legside dismissal of VVS Laxman. The left armer then got the stick from Sachin Tendulkar who pulled him out of the ground for a six. However, the little master could stay only for a short duration at the wicket as he played onto his stumps to Allan Wise. Tendulkar got just a cameo, 19 from 18. After that it was left for Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly to repair the damage before rain came in. Both batsmen had to work hard for their runs. Dravid was prepared to just bat out while Ganguly, every now and then played in an unorthodox fashion by stepping down the track to the quicks. He helped himself to a nice fifty towards the end of the day.

The second day had just a few overs of play in which Ganguly got dismissed after trying to play an expansive shot. He made a confidence boosting 59 (in 99 balls with 9 fours). Dravid showed incredible patience in his unbeaten knock of 38 having batted out 147 deliveries. He just had two fours, that was mainly because of a heavy outfield. Yuvraj Singh could get the opportunity of playing out 16 deliveries in the middle. He stayed unbeaten and India got 133 for 4 in the 48 overs that was possible in the match.

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