Aussies toil in warm-up

Rohit Sharma found good form ahead of the first Test

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli each cracked centuries as the Board President's XI closed the first day of the tour match against the visiting Australians 371 for six.

Sharma, almost run out on 99, hit a fine 105 off 144 deliveries and Kohli made an identical score from 146 balls as the two youngsters left Australia captain Ricky Ponting with plenty to ponder.

The pair added a brisk 146 runs for the fifth wicket, in the process hauling the President's XI out from a spot of bother at 59 for three.

Parthiv Patel was batting one short of a half-century and Irfan Pathan was on 17 when stumps were drawn.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson acquitted himself well on a poor day for the Australian bowlers as he returned with a haul of three for 62 from 20 overs.

Wasim Jaffer and Akash Chopra got the President's XI off to a steady start after the home side won the toss and elected to bat.

Brett Lee and Stuart Clark frequently delivered short and wide with the new ball, leaking runs with an attacking field in place.

Jaffer (19) looked supremely confident until Clark tempted him with a bouncer with the last delivery of his fifth over.

Jaffer mistimed the pull and Johnson ran a few steps to his right down at fine leg to pouch an easy catch. 

Chopra (25) was hit on the back pad by Johnson with a delivery that straightened after pitching on leg, while Subramaniam Badrinath (two) fell leg before to Peter Siddle, replays suggesting the bowler was fortunate with his appeal.

President's XI skipper Yuvraj Singh set about restoring some order to his badly hit ship and together with Sharma added 61 runs for the fourth wicket before being tamely dismissed.

Yuvraj had batted fluently for his 29 when he was served a bouncer from Johnson.

The left-handed batsman initially looked to pull, but then attempted to leave the delivery. The ball, however, caught the edge of the bat and ballooned to Michael Hussey at slip.

The dismissal brought Kohli and Sharma together.

Sharma, dropped from the Indian team announced by selectors for the first two Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series, gave notice of his form as he stroked the bowlers around the park.

Both players showed scant respect for spinners Michael Clarke and Jason Krejza as they took President's XI past the 250-run mark.

It was a sad beginning for specialist off-spinner and Test hopeful Krejza as he was not only hit for 124 runs, but went wicketless as well.

The Tasmanian spinner is expected to get the nod to play in his debut Test next week after fellow spinner Bryce McGain was ruled out of the match with a shoulder injury.