Steve Smith says Australia made the right decision to not schedule a tour game in India, given the “irrelevant” pitches the team was met with on the last tour.
The Aussie men’s team last travelled to the country in early 2017, and left with a 2-1 series loss, extending a drought in India that stretches back to 2004.
They flew out of Sydney on Tuesday ahead of a four-Test series, which begins in Nagpur on February 9.
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While it’s typical for a cricket team to arrive in a foreign country well in advance in order to have at least one practice match, Cricket Australia opted against it this time.
Instead the squad gathered in North Sydney at the weekend for a condensed training camp, where curators were asked to prepare a pitch that might mimic a dry, cracked deck in India.
“We normally have two tour games over in England. This time we don’t have a tour game in India,” Smith told reporters on Tuesday.
“The last time we went 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.
“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.”
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India’s dry and turning wickets are in stark contrast to the usual green, seam-friendly pitches used for Australian Test matches.
It’s that fact that is largely credited for the abysmal record of Australia’s Test team in India. The men have not won a series there in 19 years.
It has been dubbed “the final frontier” but Smith isn’t so keen on playing up to that label.
“It’s certainly huge. I don’t know if it’s the final frontier,” he said.
“India and England – our two opponents over the next six months – are probably our biggest as an Australian Test cricketer.
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“We’ve got some challenges in front of us, but the guys are ready for it. I’ve never won (in India), I’ve been there twice. In fact it’s been very difficult playing there.”
Australia is excepted to select at least one additional spin bowler to work in conjunction with Nathan Lyon.
Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson, and the uncapped Todd Murphy have been picked in the touring squad.
“I’d say (we will pick) two (spinners) minimum, maybe three,” Smith said.
“I guess it depends on the surface that is dished up.”
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