Steve Smith believes it was the right decision to not play a Tour match, citing the “irrelevant” pitches that didn’t spin in those games when Australia was in the country on previous occasions.
This is in spite of some criticism of Australia for not playing a tour match prior to their upcoming four-match Test series against India.
Since their tour of Pakistan last year, Australia has maintained a no tour match policy, which they will retain for their crucial Test tour to India, which will be played for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“We will wait and see when we hit the ground. I think we’ve made the right decision to not play a tour match. Like I said, last time they dished up a green top for us and we barely faced any spin, so it’s kind of irrelevant.”
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“We are better off having our own nets and getting spinners in and bowling as much as they can,” Smith was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph before leaving from Sydney airport with the Australian team on Tuesday.
Last weekend, they practised pitches at the North Sydney Oval by simulating rough, cracked pitches from India and utilising SG balls. Australia has a five-day training camp in Bengaluru prior to their first Test match at Nagpur on February 9 to get a head start on playing in the difficult Indian conditions.
“We normally have two tour games over in England. This time we don’t have a tour game in India. The last time we went I’m pretty sure we got served up a green top (to practise on) and it was sort of irrelevant.”
“Hopefully, we get really good training facilities where the ball is likely to do what it’s likely to do out in the middle, and we can get our practice in,” added Smith.
Australia lost 2-1 on their most recent visit of India, despite winning the first Test in Pune. Smith, who in 2022 won his fourth Allan Border Medal as the finest Australian male player, believes the Pat Cummins-led team is prepared for the Indian challenge. Australia hasn’t won a Test series in India since 2004.
“It’s certainly huge. I don’t know if it’s (winning in India) the final frontier. I’ve never won there, I’ve been there twice (for Tests), it’s always difficult playing there.”
“India and England – our two opponents over the next six months – are probably our biggest as an Australian Test cricketer. We’ve got some challenges in front of us, but the guys are ready for it.”
The post Playing Tour Games on Indian pitches is irrelevant: Steve Smith first appeared on India Sports News.
