Emerging Players Tournament 2008

MRF Indian players in Australia Institute squad

Cricinfo staff

July 8, 2008

Two Indian players will represent an Australian Institute of Sport team in the fourth year of the Emerging Players Tournament which begins on July 14 in Queensland. Varun Aaron and Shrikant Bhaskar Wagh, of the MRF Pace Foundation, will combine with 13 Australian players, some of whom have first-class experience.

Skand Dinesh Vohra, a left-arm fast bowler from Mumbai, was originally included in the side before being replaced by Wagh. A Cricket Australia spokesperson said: "The MRF Pace Academy have recently informed us that Shrikant Wagh and Varun Aaron will be the two players from the MRF Pace Foundation and that Skand Dinesh Vohra is a late withdrawal."

While Australia's seniors continue to win, the next layer has not yet won this tournament in four years. AIS team coach Brian McFadyen thinks change is around the corner. "I'm very happy with the quality of this year's team," he said. "The full-time AIS scholars have prepared brilliantly during the initial 12 weeks of the program at the Centre of Excellence which has helped their physical development and skill progression.

"With the talented list of players we have and the inclusion of the two Indian players from the MRF Pace Foundation we are expecting to see an exciting brand of cricket from this group. We are really looking forward to putting all the hard work of the last couple of months in to practice with the focus firmly set on tasting success in this tournament which has proved elusive since its inception in 2005."

A Twenty20 kicks off the tournament then another provides a hit of relief just before finals day. Each side will play six one-dayers ahead of finals.

India have chosen their National Academy Team to replace a Karnataka State Cricket Association XI, who had played for the first three years, winning it in the first year. South Africa, who have been victorious for the last two years, will send a side along with New Zealand.

AIS squad Liam Davis, Theo Doropoulos, Peter Forrest, Moises Henriques, Michael Hill, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Greg Moller, Dominic O'Brien, Steve O'Keefe, Grant Sullivan, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Aaron Varun, Shrikant Bhaskar Wagh.

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