Australian batting mainstay Smith spoke of the visitors going into the first Test without playing any tour matches, calling it “irrelevant” due to the stark difference in runs bowled for tour matches and Test matches.
“Normally we have two tour matches in England. This time we don’t have a tour match in India. Last time (2017) we went, I’m pretty sure we were served a green top (to practice on) and it was somehow irrelevant,” Smith told Australian media ahead of the tour.
He added: “We got a green wicket in Brabourne and a completely opposite one in the first Test (during the 2017 tour).”
Ahead of the first test, the Australian team is organizing a training camp in Alur, near Bangalore.
Ashwin said they were nothing but Aussie mind games in the run-up to a big series.
“Australia will not play any tour matches this time. This is nothing new. India also avoids tour matches when they participate in some overseas tours. it is possible to show up for training matches with the same intensity,” Ashwin said, previewing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on his YouTube channel.
“We may have given them a green run (for practice in 2017), but nobody plans all of these things. However, Australia is known for their mind games and sleds before a series. They love to do it. It’s their style of cricket,” added Ashwin.
After the first Test in Nagpur, the teams will head to Delhi for the second match of the series, followed by the third match in Dharamshala and the final Test in Ahmedabad.
