Australia’s ace test batter, Steve Smith defended the board’s decision not to play a tour game ahead of the four-match Test series against India, starting on February 9 in Nagpur.
Leading up to the Test series, the Aussies gathered for a preparatory camp in Sydney, where they were provided with pitches relevant to the Indian conditions. Usually, they do play a couple of practice games ahead of every big series to cope up with the alien conditions. But it was not the case this time ahead of their long-awaited India tour.
Smith, who could not be part of the camp in Sydney due to commitments with Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, puts light on the decision of the board not to play a tour game ahead of the four-match Test series.
“We normally have two tour games over in England. This time we don’t have a tour game in India and I think we’ve made the right decision,”
said Smith, who recently claimed his fourth Allan Border Medal.
Australia’s number four recalled kangaroos’ last Test tour in India, where the visitors got a green surface to play the only tour game scheduled.
“The last time we went there, I’m pretty sure we got served a green top, and it was sort of irrelevant. We’re better off having our own nets and getting spinners in and bowling as much as they can.”
he added.
Australia are expected to arrive in Bengaluru by February first. They will train in the city for five days before traveling to Nagpur for the first Test.
