Most teams make full use of home conditions when it comes to Test cricket and ahead of a series, focus swiftly shifts to conditions and how to prepare for them, especially for the touring side.
And with Australia’s four-Test tour of India, it is no different. Although the pitches during the 2016-17 Indian season haven’t been as spinner-friendly as the ones during the India-South Africa series in 2o15, Pune may be a little different.
Pictures of the pitch that are floating around show that it is extremely dry with some even predicting that the match might not even last for over three days.
Australia captain Steve Smith, speaking at the pre-match press conference, was of the opinion that there will be spin right from the word go in the first Test and mentioned that he hadn’t seen a pitch like this before.
“I think it will take spin from ball one. There are a couple of divots out of the wicket as well. I haven’t really seen a wicket like that before a Test match, so I think it is going to take a lot of spin and potentially some up and down movement for the fast bowlers as well,” said Smith.
With the pitch being so dry, the visitors might be tempted to play three spinners in the Test match. Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe are expected to lead the spin attack, with Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson or Glenn Maxwell possibly getting a game.
Pune pitch looks a bit interesting up close. pic.twitter.com/IFZ78QeFbI
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) February 22, 2017
