Australian Cricket team accorded traditional welcome

Bangalore, Oct 6(UNI) Australian Cricket Test team players were accorded a traditional welcome on their arrival here to play the first match of the four test series beginning from October Nine.

The Kangaroo team, led by Ricky Ponting, which arrived from Hyderabad, where they played a four-day practice match against Board XI, were received at Hotel Grand Ashok by keeping tilak and garlanding.

The team was scheduled to go for net practice tomorrow at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue for First test.

Earlier in the day rains played spoil sport for the Indian team who were scheduled to have a fielding practice.

The Team India players, barring Sourav Ganguly, leg spinner Amit Mishra and R P Singh arrived here this afternoon. Sourav, who played for India 'A' in a match against New Zealand ''A'' that concluded at Chennai was expected to arrive tonight. Amit and Singh were also expected to arrive later in the evening.

The Indian players had undergone a five-day camp from September 29 to October three and reassembled today.

UNI MSP RKN2001