Second test abandoned after rain
 |  World record wicket-taker Shane Warne is denied the chance to add to his haul of 537 by rain |
| |
MADRAS, India (Reuters) -- Australian captain Adam Gilchrist said he was disappointed when rain forced the second test against India to be abandoned as a draw on the final day.
"The test match was shaping up to be a classic," he said after play was called off on Monday. "Both teams were in the hunt and it is very frustrating to finish this way."
India were 19 for no loss overnight chasing 229 on a turning Chepauk pitch after Damien Martyn hit 104 in the second innings to lead an Australian fightback on day four.
"India may have been slightly in front," the wicketkeeper added. "But we scored only 219 runs on the fourth day.
"Day five, worn out pitch, it would have been increasingly difficult (to have won)."
India captain Saurav Ganguly was equally frustrated by the outcome, but praised Australia's fighting qualities.
"It was a 50-50 game," he said. "We were in a position where we could have got the runs, but it could have been hard work.
"The Aussies showed lots of character on the fourth day. I have seen teams, even past Australian teams, get rolled over in this situation.
"It's going to be a matter of winning every session and a matter of doing that for five days in the next two tests."
Left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra has replaced the injured Irfan Pathan for the third test in the four-match home series.
Pathan, who has a side strain, bowled 12 overs in the second innings of the second test.
Sachin Tendulkar, who missed the first two tests due to an elbow strain, has been retained in a 15-player squad named by the national selectors on Monday.
"Irfan suffered the injury on the first morning of the test," captain Saurav Ganguly told reporters. "We hope he will be fit for the final test in Bombay."
India have retained 19-year-old wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who scored an invaluable half-century but also missed three catches and conceded 26 byes.
"We can't chop and change players on the basis or one or two games," Ganguly said.
Australia lead the series 1-0. The third test starts in Nagpur on October 26.
