With just over a week remaining before the Border-Gavaskar Test series gets underway in India, Australia still have not arrived in the country. The decision has baffled many. With India considered one of the toughest places to tour, teams usually arrive well in advance to prepare for Tests.
Australia, however, have decided against it. But it looks like the decision to not go to India well in advance won’t affect their preparations. In order to prepare themselves for the tough series, Australian players are working hard while being in their backyard.
On Sunday, the team was in North Sydney to prepare in conditions that they are likely to get in India. Ahead of leaving for India, the players were having a short pre-series training camp at Bon Andrews Oval. The conditions were sticky and humid for the camp, giving the players a chance to prepare themselves for Indian conditions.
“Beautiful. About 31 degrees was it? That’s about Nagpur,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
Not only the weather conditions but the pitch also replicated subcontinent conditions. Earlier this month, Cricket Australia had requested that a rank turner be prepared ahead of the two-day “spin camp”. The curators did deliver a good turning pitch.
The pitch had been scratched and scarified until it mimicked wickets in Nagpur and Ahmedabad. There were artificial footmarks present on both sides of the deck, thus giving the players a chance to play in conditions that resembled a typical fifth day pitch in India.
The scuffed up pitch Australia have used to prepare for India. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/BaTu4dkOE2
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 29, 2023
Australia coach delighted with the pitch:
Andrew McDonald was delighted with the pitch that was on offer in Sydney. And the former Australia international made sure to praise curator Kieran Meurant and the North Sydney Oval ground staff for their work.
“The surfaces we got are very similar to what we‘re going to confront in India, which is very difficult to replicate,” McDonald said. “We feel as though we’ve got close to that, so the ground staff have done a fantastic job.”
Earlier this week, Australia had withdrawn spin trio Ashton Agar, Todd Murphy and Mitchell Swepson from this weekend’s Big Bash League finals in order to get them ready for the Test series.
Australia beginning preparations for India with a short camp in Sydney. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/vQR5a1qN2H
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 29, 2023
According to Fox Sports, the spinners used the SG balls as they worked on their skills ahead of the tough tour. And while the spinners were working hard, McDonald was watching them from the non-striker’s end with captain Pat Cummins occasionally providing feedback and insight.
“You can’t just shift T20 into Test match cricket,” McDonald said.
“I’ve heard state coaches talk about it year on year out, switching from BBL back into Shield cricket and how difficult that is. Everyone appreciates how difficult that is, hence why we’re here now,” he added.
Meanwhile, Australia do not have any warm-up matches scheduled ahead of the first match in Nagpur. And the surprising decision has not gone down well with many including former captain Michael Clark who called it ‘ridiculous’.
Australia have lost the previous three editions of the Border-Gavaskar series including two at home and would be desperate to reclaim the trophy. They have also not won a Test series in India since 2004 and would be keen to end their long wait for a series victory in India in the upcoming series.
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