Australia cricketing great Ian Healy claims it’s a lack of trust between nations that is in turn to blame for the failure of touring sides across the sport.
The Aussies won’t play a tour match in India before embarking on a four-Test series, a fact that has already drawn the ire of Healy.
Men’s coach Andrew McDonald told the Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month that the no tour match policy is something Australia has adopted over the last few series, stating the Aussies feel they don’t need the extra hit-out as they aim to stay fresh.
But recent comments from Australian opener Usman Khawaja suggest otherwise.
“Have you ever been pre-tour with us? They can be spinning wickets when we play but we go to the practice matches and they are green Gabba-like wickets out there so what's the point,” Khawaja laughed in a press conference earlier this month.
“I think we have finally learned. When I heard we weren't going to have a practice game I went up to Andrew McDonald and said, 'Good idea'.”
The Australian setup has instead made the choice to prepare Indian conditions in its own backyard as the XI gathers for a training camp before flying out later this week.
Australia prepping for the India test in Sydney 🌀
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 29, 2023
(📷: @andymcg_cricket) #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/swCGZ4aLps
With the India series arguably Australia’s toughest challenge in Pat Cummins’ captaincy to date, Healy too believes India has forced the Aussies’ hand.
“We’ve gathered our spinners in Sydney for strategic talks (on replica India surfaces)… we no longer trust that the requested facilities will be provided for a nation,” Healy said on SENQ’s Pat and Heals.
“We’ve been part of this shenanigan too by the way… when we’re over (in England) we spend our time whinging about weakened County teams that England put up as our opposition before the series.
“Our focus in cricket has shifted from creating opportunities and experiences for our best up and coming cricketers… now we deny touring teams quality preparation before very highly anticipated series and I don’t like it.
“It’s disappointing to watch such dismantling of trust between cricket’s nations and it needs to stop.”
Australia hasn’t won a Test series in India since 2004/05, and the drought goes back even longer in England.
Meanwhile, since 2012/13, Australia has only lost three Test series at home.
“Touring teams seem to all struggle these days and here we go again, we’re going to India without a whole lot of Indian practice under our belts, let alone England later in the year where we haven’t won since 2001,” Healy continued.
While Cummins’ troops won’t play before the first Test, there’s still a chance a tour match can be organised mid-series.
“In India they’re hoping everything will click and the squad freshens up with net practice… our coaching staff are content with this and I’ll trust them for now, I would, however, like to see a tour match between the second and third Test in India… I’d love to see a three-day game so that our seven reserves (in the 18-man squad) we’ve got over there can have a good hit out,” Healy added.
The series kicks off on February 9 in Nagpur. The Aussies suffered a blow over the weekend when it was revealed Cam Green is unlikely to bowl if selected, however Mitch Starc is progressing well in his return from a finger injury and could be available earlier than expected.
Listen to Healy's full discussion below