Mon Nov 18 09:43:17 UTC 2024: ## India’s Skip of Warm-up Matches Before Australia Series Raises Eyebrows
**Perth, Australia –** Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed surprise and concern over India’s decision to forgo a warm-up match before the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Instead of a traditional match against an Australian domestic side, India opted for only intra-squad practice, a move that Vaughan believes may hinder their competitive preparation.
Vaughan questioned how the Indian team can achieve the necessary competitive mindset without match practice, stating he can’t understand their approach. India initially planned a three-day intra-squad match but even that has been cancelled in favor of focused center-wicket training at the WACA ground in Perth, which the Indian team believes closely mimics the pitch at the Perth Stadium.
While acknowledging that modern players may believe warm-up matches are unnecessary given their extensive playing schedules, Vaughan countered that he prefers to see teams use them to establish dominance early in a series. He highlighted the contrast between the current generation of players, who may rely on adapting quickly, and previous generations who often benefited from additional match practice.
Australia’s own omission of warm-up matches on recent tours is noted, citing scheduling conflicts and concerns over local pitch conditions as reasons. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a crucial test of whether India’s unconventional preparation strategy will prove effective. The first Test begins in Perth on November 22nd.
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