It was day three and ultimately the final day of the second match between Australia A and India A. The game would be won by the home side, completing a second victory following the earlier match in Mackay.

It was a result reversing the scoreboard the last time Australia A played a touring Indian team. On that occasion the Indians won both matches before a frustrated Allan Border criticised the local side’s lack of effort, saying their efforts had fallen short of what one would expect from aspiring Test players.

A modest crowd came along. If you expected to hear voices from the opposite side of the ground you’d have to shout and wait for the echo.

The third day began in what felt more like autumn, cool air and sunshine. Ideal conditions for bowlers as well as batters. Although as the day progressed, despite a green seam down the middle of the pitch, the wicket improved for batting.

The game was more about subplots than the result. What would be the final outcome of the anticipated ‘bat off’ between Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft? Would any new talent emerge that indicated Test match potential?

The bat off and quite possibly the hopes for those two players to re-enter the Test arena vanished in the space of two balls. If any player was making a statement it was Prasidh Krishna, who found himself on a hat-trick.

I remember Marcus Harris batting against India two tours ago by that country. There was acknowledgement he offered genuine potential and it’s almost astonishing to think now that in some quarters he was considered captaincy material for the future. Harris made starts on that tour, often getting out for scores in the teens or early twenties.

But there was noticeable talent in his shot selection and it seemed a matter of time before he would own that opener’s position.

But his performances later faulted and he seemed tentative, as if too many coaches were in his head. He remains an accomplished Shield player but someone unable to seize the opportunities to play at Test level. His scores of 17 and 36 in the first tour match would hardly have given the selectors confidence.

Perhaps he hoped his first innings of 74 at the MCG may have been enough to receive that selector’s phone call. But those hopes were gone in a first ball duck in the second innings. Admittedly it was a tough ball but I felt for him as he made his way back to the room. It was as if he was walking away from everything he’d prepared for.

And what of Cameron Bancroft? He was considered a front runner following a successful 2023-2024 domestic season. Quite possibly that window of opportunity was wide open for him during last year’s Pakistan and West Indies tour.

Had David Warner retired earlier, Bancroft could at least have taken an opener’s position against the West Indies and made a statement. But Warner’s desire to leave when he decided, plus the selectors’ wish to place Steve Smith at the top of the order put a stop to that.

With scores of zero, 16, three and zero in the two tour matches, Bancroft’s aspirations are surely over. I speculate whether we will see a return to form by Harris and Bancroft as they return to their domestic careers without the pressure of impressing selectors for Test matches, or whether the weight of disappointment will be too much.

There is at least some positive news during these times of questioning just how much new talent is in the wings for Australia. Sam Konstas, at a mere 19 years old guided Australia A to what at times was a nervous chase for victory.

His attacking shots were impressive and it must be remembered he came to the crease at a tense time where India A could still win. Konstas offered the Indians only one chance in his score of 73 not out. He was well supported by Beau Webster. Also noticeable was Nathan McSweeney. He would have liked more runs but is showing a composure that demonstrates he is a serious Test candidate.

So now we wait for the Test matches. How will India perform after the inspiring series victory over them by New Zealand? How many physiotherapists will be needed to maintain the two teams we often are told are ageing? Will the Sydney Test be washed out? Pump up the cushions and light the barbecue.