The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to cancel the planned warm-up intra-squad match between the senior team and India A, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. This match was set to begin on November 15 in Perth to help Rohit Sharma and the team prepare for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series.
India A is currently in Australia for two unofficial Tests against Australia A. Their shadow tour started in Mackay, where they were bowled out for 107 runs in the first innings of the first match. However, on Day 2, they improved, scoring 146-2 in their second innings, with Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal both making fifties.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the team management prefers training sessions and match simulations on the WACA’s center wicket instead of a three-day match. Consequently, India will enter the five-match series without an official warm-up match and has also chosen not to play any first-class games against Australian domestic teams.
Last time, India played a full three-day warm-up match against Australia A, which ended in a draw and is notably remembered for Bumrah’s fifty and Pant’s rapid century. In the previous tour, India also had a warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI.
The Border-Gavaskar series is set to begin on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth. Team India has already announced their squad for the series and will arrive in Australia after the current Test series against New Zealand concludes on November 5 in Mumbai.
“Conditions similar to those expected at Optus Stadium”- Steve Smith on gearing up for the India series at WACA
The Australian first-team players began their preparations with Sheffield Shield matches for their state teams. Similar to India, the Australians will also have the opportunity to practice on the center wickets at WACA before the series opener.
“Going to be some good centre wickets with our boys bowling in Perth, in similar conditions to what you’re going to get at Optus Stadium. [It’s] probably going to be enough,” Smith recently told ESPNcricinfo.
India did not play a Test in Perth during their last tour of Australia. Their only match at Optus Stadium was during the 2018-19 tour, where they faced a 146-run defeat on a green pitch.
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