Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed concerns over India’s decision to forgo a warm-up match ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Vaughan believes that the lack of match practice could hinder India’s ability to get into a “competitive mindset” and adapt to the Australian conditions.
India has opted to focus on center-wicket training at the WACA in Perth instead of playing an intra-squad game or a match against an Australian domestic side. The Indian think tank believes that the bounce of the WACA center strip closely mirrors that of the Perth Stadium pitch, making it more beneficial for the top-order batters to spend time in the middle.
However, Vaughan argues that match practice is essential for players to get into the rhythm of competitive cricket. He points out that Australia has also skipped warm-up matches in recent Test tours, but their players have a different mindset and are accustomed to playing 12 months of the year.
Vaughan believes that the modern player may not prioritize tour matches, relying instead on the volume of cricket they play throughout the year. However, he emphasizes the importance of winning and setting a marker in the first match of a series.
India’s decision to forgo a warm-up match has raised questions about their preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While the Indian think tank believes that center-wicket training is sufficient, Vaughan’s concerns highlight the importance of match practice in getting players ready for the rigors of Test cricket.
