Prithvi looming as a Shaw thing for India

While Virat Kohli holds the most fears for Australian fans this summer, young gun Prithvi Shaw is a relative unknown who could cause some serious headaches.

Shaw made his Test debut last month as an 18-year-old and started with a bang, scoring 134 against the West Indies in Rajkot followed by scores of 70 and 33no in the next match.

The now 19-year-old, who averages more than 60 in 17 first-class matches, showed why he is one of India's most exciting batting prospects since Kohli with a sparkling 66 on day two of India's tour match at the SCG.

Playing in his first match on Australian soil, Shaw went at a run-a-ball for most of his innings against the Cricket Australia XI attack. He got off the mark with a sublime back-foot punch behind point and dined out on anything short the fast bowlers dished up. 

The right-hander struck 11 fours in total and three of his last four boundaries were exquisite drives through both the off and on side.  

It was exhilarating to witness and looms as an ominous warning sign ahead of the first of four Domain Tests this summer in Adelaide next week.  

His innings ended when he slipped sweeping CA XI leg-spinner Dan Fallins, bowled around his legs from his 69th delivery. 

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar holds the record as the youngest Indian to score a century in Australia at 18 years and 253 days, but Shaw could follow in the Little Masters' footsteps as the second youngest should he reach three figures against the Australians.

India batting coach Sanjay Bangar is impressed with how Shaw raises his game each time he steps up a level.

"In whichever format that he's played he's made a mark straight away," Bangar told reporters after play with the CA XI 0-24 in reply to India's 358. 

"Be it various formats of first-class cricket in India, be it the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy or India A, wherever he has played he as shown he could adapt to the conditions pretty well and to the stage as well. 

"He plays with a lot of clarity and impressive about him is he gets into good positions. 

"That clarity of mind and fearlessness of youth probably helps him quite a bit."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar