The first Test between India and Australia will begin in Nagpur on February 9.
Many former and current Australian players have been singing the tune of the possibility of ‘unfair pitches’ being produced by BCCI to help the Indian team. Ian Healy even said that if BCCI produced fair pitches which help pacers at first and then spin on day 3 or 4, Australia will win the four-Test series.
Steve Smith backed the Australian team’s decision not to play a tour game citing that the pitch given in tour matches is completely different from the one given in Tests.
Wary of the spin threat against India, the guests are preparing themselves in the best possible way to tackle the challenge. The Australian team is practicing on worn pitches in Bengaluru -- surfaces that are expected to be offered to them during the four-match Test series against India.
Speaking on this matter, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that for the first time, the Australian team is in doubt before the series even began and are panicking from the start.
"Australia are travelling to India with 18 players. That, in itself, shows that they are panicking. They are in doubt. They haven't toured India with 18 players ever. They know India are a strong team at home, it isn't easy to beat them.
"Virat Kohli wasn't there at the Gabba, and he's back in the team. Australia are a strong team, they are in form, but beating India in India isn't easy at all. Can they bat? Can they see off (Ravichandran) Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav? Only if they could tackle spin, it would be a good competition,” Mohammad Kaif said in Hindi in a video posted by Star Sports.
Here is the video: