Usman Khawaja responded in the best possible way to being dropped from the Australian Test team by scoring an unbeaten 56 in the tour match draw between the Chairman's XI and India in Canberra.
Khawaja was told on Tuesday night he'd lost his place in the Australian team, but aseries of generous declarations aimed at getting the three-day match over as early as possible allowed the 25-year-old to gain some satisfaction from a disappointing day.
Set 145 to win the match, Khawaja opened the batting with fellow Test discard Phil Hughes (42 not out), and they ended their second innings 0-100 when the game was stopped.
The final day was a bemusing one for the few spectators who came to Manuka Oval.
David Warner's Chairman's team declared at 7-215 overnight, and after Virender Sehwag (1) was out early on day three, India followed suit by prematurely declaring at 2-90.
The declarations were designed at allowing the Indian team to get to Melbourne as soon as possible.
Permission was also granted by the Chairman's team for Indian quick 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 real chance of being fit and ready for the Boxing Day Test.
