Follow UsMatthew Wade, Australia’s stand-in skipper for the five-match T20I series against India, asserted ahead of the series that the Kangaroos will look to pounce on any opportunity to learn, with the T20 World Cup not too far away.
The conditions in India are expected to be significantly different to the Caribbean, where the pitches are usually slow and low, but Wade insisted that any opportunity to play on a surface that’s either slow or turns will be precious for his side, just over six months ahead of the T20WC in the Caribbean & United States next year.
“With the World Cup not too far away, every game is important,” Wade said at the press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the first T20I against India in Visakhapatnam.
“Traditionally, the pitches are very, very good for batting over here (in India). In the West Indies, they tend to slow up and take a little bit of spin. So, any opportunity we get on a slowish wicket with a bit of spin is an opportunity for someone to put their hand up and show what they can do."
India only have three members in the T20 squad who were with the side in the World Cup — Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Prasidh Krishna — but the Aussies have seven individuals, including Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Steven Smith and Adam Zampa.
Wade revealed that all the ‘big names’ will definitely feature in the series, but admitted that it’ll be unlikely that they’ll play in the first T20I on Thursday.
“We are checking with the guys who played in the World Cup. We are trying to make sure that they are ready to go mentally and physically,” Wade said.
“So, there will be a few of those guys who will definitely miss the first T20I just to get themselves up and about for the next four games. Apart from the physical and mental fatigue, we have a full squad to pick from.”
Among those auditioning for a World Cup spot is Head, who is not yet a lock in the T20I side. Wade attested that the left-hander will likely not play on Thursday, but insisted that the South Australian batter will walk into the side once he’s recovered mentally and physically.
“We will have a chat with him and see how he is feeling. There won’t be any pressure from us for him to play the first T20I, but he will definitely feature throughout the series,” Wade said of Head.
“The T20 World Cup is not that far away and I think we have got 10 or 11 games before the battle kicks off again. Whether it’s tomorrow or throughout the series, you will see Travis play.”