India get off to stuttering start on Oz tour

Sydney: Even before India's tour of Australia has gotten under way, the superstar cricket team seems to have taken a stuttering start as they kept the police, fans, media and a Cricket Australia official waiting in Adelaide.

The Indian team led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was expected to fly into Adelaide on Saturday where a CA liaison officer was waiting to greet them and police were clearing a path for their smooth exit from the international arrivals hall.

A few Indian cricket fans also waited anxiously with phones ready to take a photo of their heroes but they never showed up, News.com.au reported.

According to CA, a miscommunication led to their flight not even departing Singapore when they were originally expected to be landing in Adelaide ahead of a tour match starting at Glenelg on Sunday.

An hour after their flight was expected to land it became apparent that the Indians weren't there. The police and the CA liaison officer made a swift exit after they realised the delay, leaving fans and the media to work it out for themselves.

The Indians are now expected to touch down in Adelaide late on Saturday and have their first training run at Glenelg on Sunday.

India is due to play two two-day tour matches against Australia's Chairman's XI in Adelaide this week with the first to be held at Glenelg Oval from Monday and the second at Adelaide Oval from Friday ahead of their first Test against Australia that starts on December 4, the report added.