Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald says no tour matches before 2027 India Test series

In short:

Australia's men's Test team will keep faith with their approach of not having a tour match ahead of their five-Test series against India next year.

In 2023, Australia went straight into a four-Test series, losing the first match by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur on the way to a 2-1 series loss.

What's next?

Australia will begin their five-Test series against India with the first match in Nagpur starting January 21, 2027.

Australia will again opt for a training camp ahead of the five-Test tour of India rather than play ​a traditional warm-up match before attempting to end a 22-year wait for a Test series victory on the subcontinent.

Australia also chose not to play a tour match before ​the 2023 series, ‌instead training on specially prepared, spin-friendly pitches in Bengaluru before the opening Test.

The decision drew scrutiny after India won the Nagpur opener by an innings ‌and 132 runs, setting the tone for a 2-1 series ⁠victory that allowed the hosts to retain the Border-Gavaskar ‌Trophy.

Head coach Andrew McDonald ​said Australia would scout ‌a location to immerse themselves in conditions similar to India before the series opener in Nagpur starting on January 21.

"We've got a couple of options there," he told Cricket Australia website Cricket.com.au ​on ‌Wednesday.

"We have gone to the UAE previously and we have also gone into India last time into Bengaluru, so we're ⁠just working through what that ‌would look like in terms ‌of how we then manage the individuals."

Australia has not won a Test ‌series in India since 2004 when Adam Gilchrist's side triumphed 2-1.

Australia have a gruelling schedule before they ‌arrive in ​India, with a ⁠two-Test home series starting against Bangladesh in Darwin next week followed by a three-Test tour of South Africa in October and another four-Test home series against New Zealand from December ⁠9.

Fast bowler Michael Neser has been ruled out of the Bengaluru series with a ‌calf strain suffered ‌at training in Brisbane but McDonald said wicketkeeper-batter ​Josh Inglis was expected to be available after recovering from a back spasm.

Reuters

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