Former Australia captain Ian Chappell believes extended period spent training down under will help Indian batsmen adjust well to the steep bounce expected on those tracks before the much-anticipated four-Test series.
Because of the quarantine regulations imposed for the safe conduct of India's two-month-long tour of Australia amid COVID-19 pandemic, the visitors have reached there well in advance and are getting to train while being isolated.
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They'll also be facing the Aussies in three ODIs and three T20Is before the Test matches and so are expected to have adapted well to the conditions before striving to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"This summer's chaotic, pandemic-plagued Australian cricket schedule may just benefit India in their quest to repeat last tour's series victory," Chappell was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"India's enforced period of lockdown - with training allowed - will provide the team more time to acclimatise in Australian conditions than the rushed pre-Test schedule that touring teams normally experience."
Chappell thinks Indian bowlers as well won't mind the extra time they have to readjust their lengths for Australian pitches.
"The extra training period during lockdown gives the bowlers ample opportunity to work out what length is applicable in Australia, and for the batsmen to become accustomed to the unusually steep bounce," he said.
"A lot of touring batsmen have trouble in scoring sufficient runs off the back foot in Australia. It is not enough to just survive against short-pitched bowling in Australia, you also have to be able to score off those deliveries."
"Until a batsman proves he can make runs regularly against that style of attack, he will continue to be peppered with short stuff," Chappell added.
Part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, the Test series begins with India's historic maiden away D/N encounter in Adelaide on December 17. Melbourne (December 26-30), Sydney (January 7-11) and Brisbane (January 15-19) will host the last three Tests.
