VISAKHAPAT-NAM, India, Mar 2: Recalled Australian opener Michael Slater booked his place for this week's first Test against

India with a glorious century in a three-day tour match here today, reports AFP.

Slater followed his 98 in the tour opener against Bombay last week with an unbeaten 149 as the tourists put on an impressive batting display against the Board President s Eleven.

The Australians, replying to the home team's 329 for lour declared, were 269 for one by close of the second day's play. Greg Blewett made 57 while Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on

Slater, kept out of the Australian team since the one-off Test against India in October 1996, was reinstated for this tour in place of the out-of-form Matthew Elliot.

While the batting prospered, the bowling remained a cause for worry for the tourists ahead of the three-Test series which begins in Madras on Friday.

The home team, 223 for four on the first day, carried their score to 329 without further loss as the overnight pair of Hrlshlkesh Kanitkar and Vanka Pratap batted freely on the easy-paced wicket.

Left-hander Kanitkar celebrated his inclusion In the 14-man squad for the first Test with an unbeaten 102. Pratap made 59 not out as the Australians. including leg-spin maestro Shane Warne, struggled to bowl a tight line.

Warne, who claimed two wickets on the first day. failed to add to his tally and finished with two fro 88 from 26 overs. He had figures of 0-111 against Sachin Tendulkar's Bombay in

the first match.

BRIEF SCORES

BOARD PRESIDENT'S XI: 329-4 deci (H Kanitkar 102 not out. V Pratap 59 not out, V Laxman 65. S Ramesh 58; Warne 2-88).

AUSTRALIA: 269-1 (M Slater 149 not out. G Blewett 57. R Ponting 41 not out).