“That's fraught with danger,” Allan Border on Australia’s decision to not play warm-up games ahead of WTC final

Australia will take on India in the WTC final at the Oval from June 7 to 11.

By Salman Anjum - 23 May, 2023

Batting legend Allan Border has expressed concerns over Australia's decision to not play any warm-up games ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the Ashes.

While Australia will take on India in the WTC final at the Oval from June 7 to 11, their iconic Ashes series against England is slated to get underway on June 16 at Edgbaston.

In order to prepare for the six Tests, the Australian team will undergo a high-intensity training camp in Beckenham.

According to Border, the decision to not play practice matches is 'fraught with danger'.

"I don't care how hard you work in the nets, nothing replaces game time," Border told Fox Cricket.

"It just doesn't feel right not to play any cricket leading into an Ashes series. I just think that's fraught with danger... there's something gnawing at me saying it's the wrong decision," he added.

It will be the first time in Ashes history that the team from 'Down Under' won't face any local county sides before or during the tour of England.

Earlier this year, Australia had opted for simulation training rather than playing warm-up games ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. The visitors ended up losing the four-match series 2-1.

"I'm really surprised we're just allowing the Ashes tour to be so condensed with no cricket between the games, but that's the way it is.

"I get it, we've got IPLs and T20s, I understand. The game's moved on. But I think there's an opportunity there for us to go to England early and play a couple of games... just to polish things off a bit," Border remarked.

Notably, Australian batters such as Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Harris are currently plying their trades in the County Championship while those participating in the ongoing IPL in India will travel to England after their spells are up.

The rest of Australia's Test squad just finished a three-day training camp in Brisbane and will travel to England later this week.

By Salman Anjum - 23 May, 2023

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