Australia to skip warm-up matches, train for India Tests

Australia will forgo traditional warm-up matches in favor of a specialized training camp to prepare for its five-Test cricket tour of India next year, head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The decision continues a strategic shift for the Australian team as it seeks its first Test series victory on Indian soil since 2004.

The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is scheduled to begin on January 21, 2027, in Nagpur, with subsequent Tests in Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad, concluding on March 3. This marks Australia's longest tour of India in 50 years. With the series starting less than two weeks after Australia concludes a four-Test home series against New Zealand in December, McDonald said a focused camp would offer more valuable preparation than a practice game.

McDonald explained that the team is evaluating locations, likely in the United Arab Emirates or India itself, to hold a camp that replicates the spin-friendly conditions expected during the Tests. He said the goal is to use a dedicated venue to simulate the pitches and climate as closely as possible. This approach mirrors preparations for recent subcontinent tours,...