Don't think there will be a heap of bounce on the wicket: Steve Smith

Australia have lost Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Cameron Green to injuries ahead of the Nagpur Test in the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy - which has left them pretty handicapped as far as maintaining the balance is concerned. 

It would be too big a gamble for Pat Cummins to combine with Lance Morris and Scott Boland, hence two spinners are a likely proposition for Australia. Or if the first look of the surface is anything to go by, there is a possibility that Ashton Agar and Todd Murphy could be partnering with Nathan Lyon.

"Pretty dry, particularly one end. I think it will take a bit of spin, particularly the left-arm spinner taking it into our left-handers. There's a section there that's quite dry," Australian vice-captain Steve Smith told reporters when asked about the surface.

"Other than that, I can't really get a good gauge on it. I don’t think there will be a heap of bounce in the wicket, I think it will be quite skiddy for the seamers and maybe a bit of up-and-down movement as the game goes on. The cracks felt quite loose. I'm not entirely sure – we'll wait and see.

"I think if Green was fit it definitely be more of an option," Smith said. "Without him, maybe. I'm not entirely sure. I think we've got a strategy meeting this afternoon where we'll have a talk about what we think but ultimately it's down to the selectors to pick the team they think is best for the surface."

Last week, when Australia were practicing at the KSCA Facility in Alur, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Green bowled lethally for a period of time, which impressed Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald but the latter then admitted that Green was still not a confirmed name on the team sheet, with some visible signs of discomfort. Smith now stated that there is a high chance that Green would sit out of the game.

"I don't think he is [going to play]. I don't think he's ever faced fast bowlers yet. So I dare say he won't be playing but who knows? I'm not entirely sure. We'll wait and see. But it's unlikely, I think,” Smith said.