By News18,Ritayan Basu

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Former Test captain Tim Paine highlighted the invaluable experience gained by Australia’s emerging cricketers during the ongoing Australia A tour of India. They have faced extreme heat, unfamiliar wickets, and a contrasting style of play, experiences that Paine believes are irreplaceable.
Paine, the head coach of the Australia A program in Lucknow, said the past two weeks have already taught the players lessons that will benefit them in future Test matches in the subcontinent. Australia A played five matches—two unofficial Tests and three unofficial one-dayers—in Uttar Pradesh. India won both series, including a record 412-run chase in the second unofficial Test led by KL Rahul’s unbeaten 176*, the highest chase by an ‘A’ side in red-ball cricket.
For Australia, standout performers in the unofficial Tests included Josh Phillipe, who scored 212 runs in three innings with a century and a fifty, and teen star Sam Konstas, who made 188 runs in four innings with a century. Nathan McSweeney, another opener in the running for an Ashes spot, scored two fifties in three innings, accumulating a total of 160 runs. Spinners Corey Rocchiccioli (six wickets at an average of 44.50) and Todd Murphy (five wickets at an average of 52.80) were effective with the ball, making a strong case as potential successors to legendary Nathan Lyon.
In the unofficial ODIs, Cooper Connolly scored two half-centuries and a total of 147 runs, while Mackenzie Harvey contributed 145 runs in three innings with two fifties, and skipper Jack Edwards scored 89 runs in one inning. Bowlers Tanveer Sangha (seven wickets at an average of 30.5), Murphy (five wickets at an average of 17.80), and pacer Will Sutherland (four wickets at an average of 24.50) were notable performers.
“It has been an excellent experience for this young group of Aussie cricketers to come and play in these extreme conditions,” Paine said as per a Cricket Australia press release.
“The heat, particularly yesterday, was something these guys don’t get to experience often. For a young group of guys to come and experience this, hopefully before they have to play in a Test match over here, you cannot put a price on it,” he added.
Different Condition On Black And Red
The stark difference in the playing surfaces has been a significant challenge. Paine noted that playing on the red clay wickets at Ekana Sports City, which are dry, spin a lot, and bounce differently, has been a real test for the batting group. For the fast bowlers, managing the heat while bowling short spells has been a unique challenge compared to conditions in Australia or England.
“We have been really lucky here at the Ekana Sports City to be playing on the red clay wickets, which you don’t get in Australia. How dry they are, how much they spin, how much they bounce has been a real challenge for our batting group. And for our big quicks, just how hot it is bowling three or four-over spells and being absolutely spent is something you do not experience in Australia or English conditions.”
The extreme conditions have tested even Australia’s fittest young talents. Paine mentioned Campbell Callaway as an example.
“Campbell Callaway is a great example – someone who loves to train and does everything at high intensity – but he has had days here where he has lost seven or eight kilos and been completely exhausted. For him to learn that he cannot prepare the same way in these conditions will be invaluable when he comes back in 2027,” said the coach.
Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine (AP/PTI)
Paine was also impressed by India’s approach to developing players, tailoring wickets across the country to offer varied learning opportunities.
“We have been pleasantly surprised with the opportunities to come over and learn on the red clay. Next week, we move to another venue where guys will get to experience the black clay. Even the subtle differences between the two types of pitches and their hybrids require different skill sets and approaches. A lot of our guys had no idea that you could get two or three different types of clays – and they all play differently.”
Facing high-quality Indian opposition has provided a lesson in different batting philosophies.
“In the first match, on a flatter wicket, our guys batted like Australians – lots of power and boundaries. But then India batted and went about it completely differently: ones, twos, manipulating fields, batting square of the wicket. To see our guys adapt in the second game and show they could go up and down the gears has been really pleasing.”
Reflecting on his own experience leading Australia during the 2017 Test series in India, Paine expressed hope that the tour will be crucial in preparing this group for their next major assignment in the subcontinent.
“International cricket is as hard as it gets, and then you add these foreign conditions on top of it. It is near on impossible to expect someone to come here for the first time and succeed straight away in a Test match. That’s why tours like this are so important. So far, this series has been a great success, and hopefully we will see the fruits of it in 2027,” he concluded.
(With inputs from Agencies)