Nagpur: Victoria spinner Todd Murphy is poised to make his Test debut while Peter Handscomb is on the verge of a recall to the baggy green, as India’s bizarre pitch preparation forces Australia into a last-minute change of strategy.
Australia captain Pat Cummins says his men are “embracing the chaos” of touring life in India, resisting the temptation to hit out at the hosts for tailor-making a pitch to maximise the home team’s advantage in the series between the game’s two heavyweight Test nations.
The pitch has been a big talking point ahead of the first Test in Nagpur.Credit:Getty Images
Curators in Australia are fiercely independent, but in India there is much more interaction between them and the local board.
This was apparent on Tuesday afternoon when ground staff, under the close eye of officials wearing Team India outfits – at times including captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid – deployed their unusual techniques to cultivate the pitch for the first Test.
By selectively watering and rolling parts of the pitch, they have created a surface that is expected to make life hellish for Australia’s left-leaning top seven.
Six years ago, the Australians were most unhappy in Ranchi with what they believed to be a pitch stitch-up, but they have matured under Cummins’ leadership and are taking a more philosophical approach.
If Cummins is upset by India’s tactics, he is not showing it publicly.
“Embracing the chaos. These series always throw up different challenges on the field or off the field, and embracing it is what makes these tours so special,” Cummins said.
“That’s part of the challenge of playing away. Home teams want to win at home. In Australia, we’re lucky we’ve normally got pace and bounce. Home match advantage, I don’t think it’s a terrible thing. It’s another challenge and makes touring over here even harder when you know the conditions are custom-made for them.”
Australia will announce their starting XI at the toss, but it appears off-spinner Murphy has edged out left-armer Ashton Agar.
Todd Murphy trains before the first Test.Credit:Getty Images
Murphy’s parents are on their way to India, though sources close to the team and the player say they were always coming regardless of selection.
Cummins is not concerned that Murphy and Nathan Lyon spin the ball the same way. With Murphy averaging 25 compared to Agar’s 43, such a consideration is not as relevant. Australia have not fielded two frontline off-spinners since Tim May and Peter Taylor played together in Pakistan in 1988.
“I think in these conditions, they really spin, so just really good bowling is what you’re after, being consistent time and time again,” Cummins said.
“I don’t think you need to go searching for anything more, the conditions will come to you. You’ve seen Nath been really, really effective over here. A lot of bat-pad, leg slip kind of catches for the right-handers, so ideally, you’ve got variety in any attack, but I don’t think it has to be the case just for that sake.”
It is a rapid rise for Murphy, 22, who made his first-class debut less than two years ago. He has played just seven first-class games but impressed selectors enough for them to believe he can be a long-term Test tweaker.
“I think he’d be as prepared as he could be,” Cummins said. “He’s been bowling beautifully in the nets over here. He’s started really well for Victoria in first-class cricket. If he got the nod, he’s got Nathan Lyon down the other end that he can work with.
“He’s ready – everyone in the squad here has had really good preparation. Whoever we pick is 100 per cent ready to go.”
Right-hander Handscomb’s hopes of a Test return at the expense of the lefty Matthew Renshaw have soared due to India’s curious curating techniques. Cummins said the extra challenges confronting the left-handers was a consideration. If Renshaw plays, five of Australia’s top seven would be lefties.
“I think it is a factor over here. With so much traffic from the right-handers bowling, at times there is a bit more out there for the left-handers,” Cummins said. “The Indian line-up is going to be packed full of right-handers, so I think it plays a small factor.”
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