Playing tour games on Indian pitches is irrelevant: Steve Smith


PTI, Jan 31, 2023, 3:04 PM IST

Former Australia skipper Steve Smith says his team is better off training on its own rather than playing tour games on “irrelevant” Indian pitches ahead of the four-Test Border-Gavaskar series.

Australia have decided not to play a single tour game in India during the month-long Test series, primarily due to the hosts serving up green tops for practice matches and spinning tracks for the actual games.

Smith, who won the country’s best men’s player award for the fourth time in his career on Monday, said nets sessions would benefit his side more than the tour games.

The 18-member squad, led by Pat Cummins, had a pre-series camp on spin-friendly tracks in Sydney and will have a week-long stint in Bengaluru before the first Test in Nagpur from February 9.

“We normally have two tour games over in England. This time we don’t have a tour game in India,” Smith was quoted as saying by news.com.au on Monday ahead of the team’s departure to India.

“The last time we went (to India) I’m pretty sure we got served up a green top (to practice 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,” said Smith, who beat Travis Head and David Warner to win the Allan Border medal on Monday.

Australia have been criticised for not including tour games, which are an integral part of a long series, in their itinerary. But Smith said rigorous nets sessions will help spinners train better.

“We’re better off having our own nets and getting spinners in and bowling as much as they can.” Smith, whose side had lost the series 1-2 when it toured India in 2017, indicated a lot of thinking had into the decision.

“We’ll 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 (in a tour game) and we barely faced any spin, so it’s kind of irrelevant.” The Australians had a training session in Sydney last week on pitches that had significant cracks to replicate Indian conditions.

“It’s (the Test series in India) 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. We’ve got some challenges in front of us, but the guys are ready for it,” added Smith.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls

Sambhal violence: FIR against SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, SP MLA’s son

Six junior artists of Kannada film ‘Kantara’ injured in accident in Karnataka

MNS at risk of losing recognition, symbol after drawing blank in Maharashtra polls

‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator’ make gravity-defying theatre debuts

BMW hit-and-run case: HC refuses to release accused Mihir Shah on ground of ‘illegal’ arrest

Perth Test, Day 4: Siraj removes Smith as Australia go into lunch at 104 for five

Related Articles More

Perth Test, Day 4: Siraj removes Smith as Australia go into lunch at 104 for five

Skipper Rohit Sharma hit nets following arrival in Perth, will play two-day game in Canberra

Chennai Super Kings can use R Ashwin in a number of ways: Stephen Fleming

IPL 2025 | Got someone who can do captaincy job: Ricky Ponting on Shreyas Iyer

I played with fearless mindset, took brave decisions: Yashasvi Jaiswal

MUST WATCH

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar


Latest Additions

No ‘formula’ under discussion for CM’s post: Ajit Pawar

Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls

Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls

Sambhal violence: FIR against SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, SP MLA’s son

Congress rebel joins Shiv Sena after poll defeat against CM Shinde

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.