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India get extra day to prepare for Aussies

Tour match extended to aid India's preparation, with CA naming a youthful side for the four-day fixture that will be live streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Five members of India's Test squad flew direct from New Zealand to Sydney on Tuesday ahead of a tour match at the SCG that has been changed from a three-day to a four-day fixture as the tourists hone preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series.

Given their non-involvement in the three-match T20I series beginning Wednesday, the quintet of Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel, Hanuma Vihari and Murali Vijay all touched down in Sydney to link up with two members of India's coaching and support staff to prepare for the game against a Cricket Australia XI, beginning November 28.

The match had originally been slated as a three-day fixture but, after the BCCI requested greater preparation ahead of the Test series, was extended by a day by Cricket Australia (CA).

CA on Wednesday named a youthful side captained by Western Australia's Sam Whiteman and featuring KFC Big Bash star D'Arcy Short for the tour match.

CA XI squad: Sam Whiteman (c), Max Bryant, Jake Carder, Jackson Coleman, Harry Conway, Daniel Fallins, David Grant, Aaron Hardie, Jonathan Merlo, Harry Nielsen (wk), D’Arcy Short, Param Uppal (Coach: Graeme Hick, assistant coach: Sriram Sridharan)

Only two players in the CA XI squad have played more than 10 first-class matches (Whiteman and NSW quick Harry Conway) though eight players have Sheffield Shield experience.

The four-day fixture will be live streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

"We can confirm the tour match between the Cricket Australia XI and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground will now be a four-day match, starting on November 28," a CA spokesperson said.

"We have worked with the BCCI around a request for additional match preparation for their team ahead of the four-match Domain Test Series against Australia, and were happy to accommodate this by scheduling an extra day as part of this fixture, at the same venue of the fourth Test match of the series."

Four members of Australia's Under-19 World Cup squad from earlier this year - Jonathan Merlo, Param Uppal, Max Bryant and Aaron Hardie – have been picked in the CA XI squad.

"This is an excellent opportunity for these talented players to test themselves against India, the number one Test team in the world," Chappell said.

"It's a versatile squad, with a number of players capable of contributing with bat and ball. D'Arcy Short and Param Uppal both offer valuable spin bowling, alongside their batting, with Aaron Hardie and Jonathan Merlo both capable middle-order batsmen who offer a seam-bowling option."

The five India players had been in Mount Maunganui with India A against New Zealand A in a four-day match that concluded on Monday, as they switched their focus to a red ball.

Teenage opener Shaw, who scored a sparkling hundred on his Test debut against West Indies in October, made 62 and 50, while Vihari, who notched a half-century in his debut against England in September, returned scores of 86 and 51 not out.

Experienced trio Vijay (28 and 60), Rahane (12 and 41no) and Patel (94) all spent valuable time in the middle during the match, which finished in a draw.

The remainder of India's Test squad, including Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara, will travel direct from India to Sydney next Sunday.

India Tour of Australia 2018-19

Gillette T20s v India

First T20: November 21, the Gabba

Second T20: November 23, MCG

Third T20: November 25, SCG

Domain Tests v India

First Test: December 6-10, Adelaide Oval

Second Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 3-7, SCG

Gillette ODI Series v India

First ODI: January 12, SCG (D/N)

Second ODI: January 15, Adelaide Oval (D/N)

Third ODI: January 18, MCG (D/N)