Earlier, head coach Andrew McDonald had declared that they are comfortable with no practice matches, with opening batter Usman Khawaja also concurring with the same. However, McDonald said he prefers a center wicket for scenario-based training.
Speaking on SEN Radio about Khawaja’s statement, Healy said it’s an in-form batter’s talk and that bowlers will need practice matches to acclimatize to the conditions and the grind. The 58-year-old observed that Australia do not have practice matches between the Tests either.
Khawaja, who averaged a formidable 165.33 in Pakistan in three Tests last year, commented that conditions in warm-up matches might not necessarily resemble those in Tests. The left-hander backed himself to score against India’s world-class spinners on the turning decks.
“I don’t need Morris getting stale or bored without form behind him” - Ian Healy
Healy stated that Khawaja might not face a problem while playing in those conditions, but a rookie like Lance Morris needs game time, adding:
Australia will start their campaign in India with the first Test starting on February 9th in Nagpur.
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