Now Reading: Australia to skip practice match before India Test series
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Australia to skip practice match before India Test series
Australia will not play a formal practice match before the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, head coach Andrew McDonald said. The team will instead hold a short camp in conditions similar to…
The Story in Brief
Australia will not play a formal practice match before the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, head coach Andrew McDonald said. The team will instead hold a short camp in conditions similar to the subcontinent. Options include the UAE and a previous camp near Bengaluru, but no venue has been finalised.
The series starts on 21 January with Tests in Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad. Players outside the home Test squad against New Zealand may prepare for India instead of playing in the Big Bash League. The final squad will be decided after the New Zealand series. Australia last won a Test series in India in 2004-05.
The Indian Opinion
Skipping a practice match does not by itself show overconfidence or weakness. Some have called Australia's plan bold or reckless, but neither label is fair without evidence. The squad is not finalised and player workloads may shift. A conditions-based camp may help, but its value cannot be judged until the series begins. The first Test in Nagpur will reveal whether this strategy worked.
Sources (2): thehindu.com, rediff.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
