Just ahead of the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia’s explosive batter David Warner was spotted switching from batting left-handed to right-handed during a net session at the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s Alur Ground near Bengaluru. Warner has collected 1,148 runs against India at an average of 33.76 in 18 Tests. In 2019, he tried this move before the Bangladesh Premier League where he smashed Chris Gayle back-to-back boundaries.
Australia will start its campaign with the first Test set to begin on February 9. The series has not even started yet and the two teams have been questioning each other on the state of Indian pitches.
“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. We’re better off having our own nets and getting spinners in and bowling as much as they can. We’ll wait and see when we hit the ground. I think we’ve made the right decision to not play a tour match,” Steve Smith stated after being asked why they were not willing to take part in warm-up matches before the 1st Test.
In reply to this, Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “Australia are not playing any tour matches this time. This is not new. Even India avoids tour games when they go on a few overseas tours. Since Team India’s schedule is packed with international games, it is not possible to turn up for practice games with the same intensity.”
“Smith said, ‘We got a green wicket in Brabourne and a completely opposite one in the first Test (during the 2017 series). In all fairness, it was a rank-turner in Pune. We might have given them a green track, but nobody plans all these things. However, Australia are known for its mind games and sledges before a series. They love doing that. It’s their style of cricket,” Ashwin added.