Border-Gavaskar Trophy – India shelve Perth intra-squad match in favor of training, middle wicket

The first Test against Australia in Perth will be India’s first competitive match on the tour after the BCCI scrapped the three-day intra-squad match at the WACA.

Bidding for a third straight Test series win in Australia, India’s tour was supposed to begin against India A in a warm-up behind closed doors from November 15-17.

But ESPNcricinfo understands that the Indian management has changed plans and instead opted for the team to practice on those three days, which will include net sessions and simulated mid-wicket match conditions at the WACA.

Australia may practice at the WACA after India’s stay at the venue which will be an important preparation for the players who have had limited matches under their belt.

“We’ll have some good wickets between our boys bowling in Perth, in conditions similar to what you’ll find at Optus Stadium. [It’s] it will probably be enough,” Steven Smith recently said of preparing for the Test series with center wicket practice at the WACA.

India initially decided to play an intra-squad match as a warm-up before the first Test starting on November 22 rather than a warm-up match against the home team of Australia.

The intra-squad match at the WACA was to be played behind closed doors at the request of the Indian leadership. It was initially hoped that the match would be open to the public as India’s two matches against the WA XI ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Close crowds of around 2500 fans at the newly refurbished WACA attended those matches with AU$5 admission going to the WA Cricket Foundation.

The Indian team will leave for Australia soon after the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai ends on November 5.

Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, India A was supposed to play the Indian Test team after their four-day matches against Australia A at Mackay and the MCG.

India A’s 15-man squad was stranded in Brisbane on October 25 and 26, when the first players faced a delay in getting off the plane due to an unwell passenger.