Pat Cummins & co start preparations at Alur ahead of test series | INDvsAUS

Xtra Time Web Desk: Pat Cummins-led Australian Test team has begun practice at the Alur Grounds near Bengaluru. The five-day camp started on Thursday, February 02 and will go on till February 05. The Aussies will travel to Nagpur on February 6 for the first test match which will begin at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Jamtha.

Australian batter Usman Khawaja has joined the squad in Bengaluru and will start training on Friday. Khawaja, who was the Australia Test player of the year could not arrive in time due to visa issues.

Instead of the practice games, Aussies are training on customised pitches at Alur. Thanks to head coach Andrew McDonald and spin consultant Daniel Vettori.  The former BlackCaps spinner who is also associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise has sought the help of local curators to prepare customized wickets. It is understood that Australia’s preparatory camp for four days would be ideal preparation before they travel to Nagpur.

David Warner, Steve Smith and other Australian batters will train on different sorts of scuffed-up pitches — slow turner, rank-turner, one with variable bounce – to get acclimated to the conditions that they are likely to encounter at Nagpur, Delhi and Ahmedabad.