Canberra, Dec 21: Openers Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja, dropped several hours earlier by Australian selectors for the first test, were the not out batsmen when the three-day Chairman's XI match against India ended in a draw Wednesday.
Khawaja was on 56 and Hughes 42 when play at Manuka Oval ended with the invitational side 100-0 in its second innings chasing 145 for victory.
India led by 54 runs on first innings and declared its second innings at 90-2 before the start of play Wednesday, aiming to give its bowlers some extra work, but none could break through against the openers.
Permission was granted by the Chairman's team for India fast bowler Ishant Sharma to bowl on the final day despite not being included in the original 13-man squad. Sharma claimed 0-18 from four overs to show he's a strong chance of being fit for the Boxing Day test beginning Dec. 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 4-32 from 15 overs for India in Australia's first innings, when Ed Cowan's century for the invitational side helped secure him a spot in Australia's squad for the first test.
