There’s life beyond Aussie super pace trio: Tony Dodemaide

CHENNAI: Australia have decided against playing a practice game ahead of next year’s highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India.

Tony Dodemaide, who is managing Australia’s development squad that is currently training in Chennai, and is also part of the national selection group, explained that the tight international schedule leaves little room for a conventional warm-up fixture.

Australia’s fourth Test against New Zealand is scheduled to finish on Jan 8, while the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy is slated to begin on Jan 21.

“So we’re playing Test cricket, as soon as the game finishes, we get on a flight and come here and have practice, and then straight into the first Test,” Dodemaide told TOI.

However, he added that players who are not part of the playing XI for the final Test against New Zealand will arrive in India early to get accustomed to the conditions.

“We need to win the Test match against New Zealand. But the players in the touring squad who aren’t playing in that Test will come early to get more acclimatised,” he said.

The Aussie pace department may still be relying on the experience of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but Dodemaide said the next generation of pacemen is not too far behind.

“Scott Boland, Michael Nesser and Brendan Doggett have been really good for us, while we have some very exciting talent coming through. Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett have also played some one-day cricket for us.”

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Dodemaide also highlighted the importance of Australia’s current development camp in India, particularly for their young spinners.

The squad has been brought to India specifically to experience conditions that are difficult to replicate back home.