Australia’s brigade of left-handers are bracing for a nightmare wicket in Nagpur when the primary Test in opposition to India begins tomorrow.
The touring get together has had their first have a look at the pitch for the opening match, with weird photos from the bottom sparking fierce debate over the flexibility of house nations to physician pitches to go well with their crew.
The startling photos have revealed the centre of the wicket has been rolled and watered, with the areas on a good-length for left-handers left untouched regardless of searing sub-continent warmth in what might spell severe bother for the Aussies in opposition to an Indian facet set to select a trio of spinners.
Both of Australia’s openers, David Warner and Usman Khawaja are left-handed, as are Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw and Alex Carey within the middle-order.
Indian cricket hierarchy had been seen inspecting the wicket as ground-staff labored after Australian gamers had left the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
The house facet’s ploy shall be to show the ball again into Australia’s southpaws and seem set to select left-arm orthodox pair Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, in addition to right-armer Ravichandran Ashwin.
The wicket might additionally play into Australia’s choice pondering as effectively, with Renshaw and right-handed Peter Handscomb battling it out for a spot at No. 6 with the news Cam Green gained’t play.
Off-spinner Todd Murphy can also be now firmly within the combine for a shock Test debut alongside Nathan Lyon, with West Australian Ashton Agar Australia’s solely left-arm gradual bowler.
After inspecting the wicket yesterday Steve Smith anticipated a spinning observe with little help for Australia’s seamers.
“It’s pretty dry. Particularly one end. I think it will take a bit of spin, particularly the left-arm spinners spinning it back into our left-handers,” he stated.
“There’s a section there that is quite dry.
“I can’t get a good gauge on it, I’m not sure, but I don’t think there will be a heap of bounce in the wicket for the seamers, it will be quite skiddy and maybe a bit of up and down movement as the game goes on.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
