India vs Australia Tests: World's top two test teams, India and Australia, are all set to go up against each other in the upcoming four-match Test series -- Border-Gavaskar Trophy -- starting from February 9, in Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. The 'spin talk' has been one of the highlights to the build-up to the high-octane IND vs AUS Test series. Australia, to prepare for India's spin-friendly conditions, is doing everything they can. They have gathered a bevy of local spinners to practice batting on tailor-made pitches.
Meanwhile, pictures of 'worn pitches', Australian cricket team is using to practice for four-match Test series between India and Australia have gone viral on internet. The visitors are currently preparing for the series with a four-day training camp at the KSCA Ground in Alur, near Bengaluru. Cricket Australia reportedly informed that the Karnataka State Cricket Association have made the three pitches in the middle of main ground to help Australia prepare for the assignment. The pitches offer more turn as training progresses.
As per a report by Cricket.Com.au, Australia have flown in Maheesh Pithiya to Bengaluru, a net bowler who is said to have an uncanny resemblance to veteran India spinner R Ashwin's bowling action. Australia are practicing playing against Pithiya on this track hoping to find it relatively easier if they then face Ashwin later.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
India squad: (for the first two Tests) Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav