Former England skipper Michael Vaughan expressed his shock and concern at India’s decision to forego a traditional warm-up match ahead of their Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener against Australia in Perth. The Indian management has opted for going directly into a match simulation at the WACA ahead of the series. Plans to have a similar intra-squad match against the India A team had also been scrapped.
Traditionally, India has played warm-up games before touring Australia for Test series. In fact, the last two tours by India into Australia-2020/21 and 2018/19-had included warm-up games against Australia A. The warm-up games set the team ready to face Australian conditions. India’s move this time round has left many, including Vaughan, perplexed as it will now pose as a challenge for India without the competitive edge coming from a warm-up game.
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Vaughan Questions The Lack Of Competitive Edge
Vaughan was quick to point out that intra-squad games do not provide the same competitive environment as warm-up matches against domestic teams. In a warm-up match, players are up against an opposition that is eager to perform and compete, providing them with a far more intense and challenging scenario. In comparison, Vaughan argues, an intra-squad game lacks that competitive spark and may not possibly truly replicate the pressure and intensity of a Test match.
“I can’t get my head around a team like India only wanting to play an intra-squad game leading into a series against Australia in their own backyard,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket.
“I just can’t see how you get yourself in that competitive mindset of consequence by playing an intra-squad game. Time will tell,” he added.
Now that Indians, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, haven’t won most matches during the home series in the last few series events, a warm-up match would have been an excellent time for Indians to get into their grooves. Even the young lot isn’t faring well in the India A team, and a warm-up match would have sent them in to settle into conditions and stage some badly needed match practice.
Missed Chance To Adapt To Perth Conditions
Vaughan is further concerned that India lost a chance to familiarise themselves with the Perth pitch, its bounce and pace, by not playing any warm-up match. India can do that only through practice match simulation at the WACA and Vaughan feels that may not be sufficient to prepare for what the Optus Stadium might throw against the Indian team. According to him, a warm-up match at WACA would have taught the Indian team vast experience about the Australian pitches and, more importantly, coping with bouncy tracks, where subcontinent nations’ cricketers find it tough to master it.
“I’m surprised that this Indian side didn’t want at least one game of cricket, and the WACA’s the perfect venue because it’s a similar pitch to Optus (Stadium), so you get used to the bounce,” he added.
Changing Mindsets: Then Vs. Now
Vaughan also talked about the change in mindsets of players from one generation to another and whether there’s a change in the present lot of Indians from that of his time. He would have found his players mostly dependent on tour games to acclimatise to the local conditions because tour games give the opportunity for acclimatization for technique and approach changes before series commencement. While Vaughan believes there is more confidence in the Indians ability to adapt quickly, he does not know whether that will prove to be the money-shot, especially when their batting line-up is strewn with so many uncertainties.
“These players have a different kind of mindset to what we had, whereas we probably needed more games,” he continued.
“They’re playing 12 months of the year and get straight into it, but it’ll be intriguing to see how both sets of players settle on that first day when they’re playing the longer form. The modern player maybe believes that they don’t need (tour matches). They think they get enough cricket throughout the year and they can react and just adapt. I just like to see teams win and stick a marker down.”
Is India Willing To Take The Risk?
Ultimately, Vaughan is curious to know whether India will hold good in the non-traditional way of overcoming the lack of an experience like a tour match. The team has passed all tests for the last few years and proved its solidity. There’s no warm-up match before taking on the stiff challenge in Australian soil, though. It may prove to be risky. Ahead of India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy encounter with Australia, all will be seen how the team adapts to the conditions without getting a pre-series warm-up. Will their decision pay off, or will the absence of a warm-up match cost them? Only time will tell.
