Last Update: February 09, 2023, 11:42 IST
Australia’s Steve Smith inspected the Nagpur pitch ahead of the first Test (AP)
Australia coach Andrew McDonald said he did not think India had unfaired the visiting team with the pitch preparation
Australia coach Andrew McDonald has played down talk about “tampering pitches” in India, and indicated that he wants his team to be problem solvers who adapt to changing conditions from venue to venue. Can adjust
The Australian media has emphasized the way the pitch has been prepared for the first Test in Nagpur, saying that it was designed to help the spinners and trouble the left-handed batsmen of the visiting party Was.
However, McDonald, who took over as head coach from Justin Langer early last year, said before the start of Thursday’s match that he was “excited about the challenge that lies ahead of us”, echoing the sentiments of his captain Pat Cummins. clearly resonating. ,
McDonald told SEN’s Whatley on Thursday: “Our job is to solve the problems that the wicket presents and that’s the biggest thing about Test cricket, conditions vary from country to country and venue to venue within the country.” Are.”
The coach said the feeling in the team has always been that Indian pitches are predictable, so clearly he was not surprised.
“Obviously it’s dry and that’s probably what we expected to be honest. Coming to Nagpur, the message was this is the biggest turning wicket India And (with) high reverse swing. I think it all lines up and we’re excited about the challenge that lies ahead of us. I think we’ve all seen the same pitch rolling around.”
With an Australian team full of left-handed batsmen, the Indian spinners are expected to benefit from the dry surface and McDonald said they have the players to solve the problem.
“Yeah, there’s no doubt we have a left-arm heavy line-up. It’s drier on one side and a bit more damp on the other. It’s going to create some problems and we have some very good problem solvers in our batting line-up. who I think can handle it.”
The coach said he did not think India had unfaired the visiting team in preparing pitches, which have been labeled “unorthodox” or “doctrine” by the Australian media.
“I don’t think so. I think you play from your home conditions. We’ve got extra bounce in Australia and sometimes some grass too. They call it Test cricket for a reason. All your skills are tested. And it’s great to have different conditions in different countries. It would be a plain old game if the conditions were the same wherever you went.
“When you get to the surface like that we have a little but more detailed conversation,” he said.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)