Prior to the first Test on February 9, the Australian team travelled to India this week and decided to change their approach from previous series.
The Australian team would often play a practise match prior to a visit to another country, but because to the unpredictable weather that typically occurs during those matches, they have opted to concentrate on their training.
The four Test fields will undoubtedly be dry and spin-friendly, but in the past, groundskeepers have chosen to utilise green surfaces for tour games, making it difficult for the Australian team to fully prepare for the matches.
The Australian team worked out last week at the SCG on many of their own self-made damaged and fractured surfaces. Before the first Test begins in Nagpur on Thursday, they will do the same at their training facility in Bangalore.
“The guys that have been here in the past probably had more of a say, but it’s great to be able to have the facilities we do have. Lots of centre-wicket (practice), more of a closed environment where you can hone your skills,” Carey said on Friday.
“The wickets are spinning out here as well, so it’s a great way to lead up. A lot of the guys are coming off some Big Bash cricket, so a little tweak into the red ball. But the way the guys started yesterday has been fantastic.”
The Australian cricket team discussed potential difficulties they may encounter on their forthcoming visit to India.
Last week, Steve Smith disclosed that Australia decided against playing in a tour game because they had previously been taken advantage of by foreign groundskeepers.
The grounds crew has gone completely against the way they should have, creating pitches that will hinder the Australian team’s ability to adapt to the environment.
“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 and it was sort of irrelevant,” Smith said.
“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. 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 and we barely faced any spin, so it‘s kind of irrelevant. We‘re better off having our own nets and getting spinners in and bowling as much as they can.”