Wierd!

He also supported wicket keeper Brad Haddin despite the 39 byes that marred the scores. “On this pitch it gets difficult. I have never kept wickets and I don’t think you have either so it is better that we don’t comment,” Ponting said.
—

An extended net

Among the many things to emerge from the Brisbane Test of 2003, one of the storylines was of Rahul Dravid’s extended hit in the second innings and how it helped him for the rest of the series ( coming as he was with no record to speak of in Australia and relatively poor form into the match).

Forward fast to 2008 and Bangalore. India goes into the first Test with three of the Fab 4 not having a hit for the better part of a month and a bit. Sachin, because of injury and VVS and Saurav for not being part of the Irani Trophy ( or the warm up game against Australia. Granted that Saurav had a hit against New Zealand A, but that was neither here nor there).

Step forward Ricky Ponting. And his insistence on bowling his part time spinners for extended periods to the three batsmen.

49(126) SRT , 42(142) VVS , 47(115) and 26(68)SCG later, history may just be repeating itself.

PS:- VVS Laxman played in the Irani Trophy.. My apologies for mis-stating this in the post. Thanks Rahul for pointing this out .