Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Ian Healy has said there is no trust between cricketing nations and it’s evident in the way visiting teams are being denied quality preparation before major Test series. The veteran also suggested that Pat Cummins-led Australia not playing a tour game in India is down to the lack of trust in the facilities provided by the hosts as well.
Ian Healy’s comments came after veteran player Usman Khawaja defended Australia’s decision to not play a tour game in India, saying that the pitches for the tour game might not be similar to the pitches that are on offer for the Test matches as well.
“We’ve gathered our spinners in Sydney for strategic talks (on replica India surfaces) we no longer trust that the requested facilities will be provided for a nation,” Ian Healy told SEN Radio on Monday. “We’ve been part of this shenanigan too by the way¦ when we’re over (in England) we spend our time whinging about weakened County teams that England put up as our opposition before the series.”
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“Our focus in cricket has shifted from creating opportunities and experiences for our best up and coming cricketers… now we deny touring teams quality preparation before very highly anticipated series and I don’t like it. It’s disappointing to watch such dismantling of trust between cricket’s nations and it needs to stop,” he further added.
Ian Healy, however, shared his concern over the readiness of Australia for the Test in India, having not won a Test series in India since 2004-05. Notably, India and Australia will meet in the first of the 4 Tests in Nagpur from February 9 as well. While the second Test will be hosted by New Delhi and the third and final Test will be played in Dharamsala and Ahmedabad, respectively as well.
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“Touring teams seem to all struggle these days and here we go again, we’re going to India without a whole lot of Indian practice under our belts, let alone England later in the year where we haven’t won since 2001,” Ian Healy concluded.
