Australian coach Andrew McDonald has defended his side’s preparation for the India tour, saying he “wouldn’t have changed” the lead-up.
The tourists did not play a single warm-up match prior to the first Test in Nagpur, and the decision has been put under the microscope after back to back defeats inside three days.
Australia believed avoiding lead-up matches would keep its players fresher towards the back end of the four-match series, but the decision has backfired in spectacular fashion.
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Nevertheless, McDonald wasn’t prepared to look in the rear view mirror barely 24 hours after falling in an 0-2 hole.
“I still wouldn’t have changed what we did leading in, there’s no doubt about that,” McDonald said on Monday.
“I think they had really good preparation in Bangalore, so that’s not any excuses. We sit here right now – I think at the end of day two, if you said our preparation was good, you’d probably have a different slant on it, but within an hour then people start to critique what happened in the past.
“I think, at that point in time, that the preparation was really good and the way we’re going about our work was good. I don’t think that had a great bearing on what happened in that hour, we were prepared for that as well as we could have been, and we failed under the examination of India.”
McDonald’s comments came after former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy blasted Australia’s preparations.
“Never again tell me we’re not playing a tour match to begin, at least two, there’s no shortcuts to Test match success,” Healy told SENQ Breakfast on Monday morning.
Healy suggested that there would’ve been multiple benefits to come from Australia familiarising itself with Indian conditions, ranging from skipper Pat Cummins’ performance to that of both the bowlers and batters in the side.
”The selectors would have known what to do, rather than go with a pre-determined plan which goes against form lines,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Travis Head is not part of our plan even though he’s the most in-form player, but that plan was over after one test.
“The captain won’t succumb to Indian chaos and be much more in command.
“He starts to learn about the pressures and how this opposition gangs up on you.
“Playing with three spinners and minimal quicks, we’ve got to get used to that.”
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