Australia’s so-far disastrous tour of India has taken another nasty turn for the tourists.
Fresh off a first-match thumping in Nagpur, the visiting team was forced to cancel a centre-wicket practice session on Sunday when curators watered the pitch, thwarting the Aussie plans.
And the following day news of a venue change for the third Test of the four-match series will only sink their hearts further.
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The BCCI has confirmed the third game will be moved from the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
The rival camps will instead head to Indore to play at Holkar Stadium, where the Indian Test team has played twice.
The hosts boast an undefeated record at the venue, thumping New Zealand in 2016 and Bangladesh in 2019 at Holkar Stadium.
Fiery off-spin bowler Ravi Ashwin has taken 18 wickets there at an enviable average of 12.50.
Australia struggled on the Nagpur dust bowl in game one, and the Dharamsala wicket was expected to provide a softer deck more favourable to the fast bowlers, which is the Aussies’ strength.
It’s just another blow for an Australian camp striving to win a series in the country for the first time since 2004, and only the second time since 1969.
Aussie-India Test moved to new venue
Already 1-0 down and facing an uphill battle, the move away from Dharamsala makes the task all the more tough.
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium had a new drainage system installed last year and while the BCCI had hoped the surface would recover in time for the March 1 match, an inspection on Sunday confirmed it was not ready.
The venue sits at an altitude of 1451, with the Himalayas looming on the horizon, and weather conditions in recent months have now allowed the turf to grow sufficiently for the stadium to be used for a Test match.
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