India's tour of South Africa kicks off in earnest, well, semi-earnest anyway, on Monday with what has become a traditional pipe-opener for touring teams against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI at the privately-owned Randjesfontein ground in Midrand.

The game is a light-hearted affair, eschewing normal one-day conventions, and there will be a stiffer test for the Indians on Wednesday in Benoni against a South African A team ahead of the first One-Day International at the Wanderers on Friday.

The local team is an invitation XI and no longer includes Nicky Oppenheimer, but a place has still been reserved for his son, Jonathan. If a result is to be achieved – and it often isn't – it is likely to depend on the generosity of the captain of the side batting first. For all this, though, the tourists will not mind getting out onto a field at last against opposition younger than usual and which boasts a handy seam attack.

Nantie Hayward, Garnett Kruger and Albie Morkel should be sharp enough to make the Indians pay attention and there are a number of batsmen, including Jacques Rudolph, Kruger van Wyk, Gulam Bodi and Graeme Smith, who might well have international careers ahead of them.

The match starts at 10.00am

NFO XI: Jonathan Oppenheimer (capt), Jacques Rudolph, Kruger van Wyk, Gulam Bodi, Dale Benkenstein, Pietie Koertzen, Loots Bosman, Nantie Hayward, Albie Morkel, Graeme Smith, Garnett Kruger. Twelfth man: Enoch Nkwe.

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