The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins said the visitors will be considering every possible bowling combination in the opening Test of the four-match series against India that is scheduled to commence on February 9 in Nagpur. Australia has a couple of selection headaches to take care of as Mitchell Starc will not be playing the Nagpur Test while Cameron Green is racing against time after having suffered a broken finger against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test last year.

Speaking to reporters in their training camp in Alur near Bengaluru, Pat Cummins said that there is no necessity for the visitors to play 2 spinners in Nagpur. Australia has opted for a 4-day training camp at the KSCA Stadium in Alur instead of a tour match. Australia is yet to see the conditions in Nagpur but the tourists are training on a scruffed-up pitch near Bengaluru and local net bowlers, including an R Ashwin impersonator, have been called up to bowl at the Australian batters.

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Apart from Nathan Lyon, Australia has picked 3 more spinners in leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and off-spinner Todd Murphy. Pat Cummins said it’s important not to forget what the visiting pacers have been able to achieve, regardless of the conditions in the past when thinking about the team combination, and their focus will be on picking a XI that will help them take 20 wickets.

As per the quotes in India Today, Pat Cummins said, “I wouldn’t say it is a given, it’s very conditions dependent so particularly this first Test, once we get to Nagpur we’ll see. I think sometimes talking about a couple of spinners you forget how good a lot of our fast bowlers have been in all conditions. Even for some of the SCG wickets, there hasn’t been a lot in them for quick bowlers but the quick bowlers have found a way.”

He further added, “We’ve got plenty of bowling options here – finger spin, wrist-spin, left-arm, Starcy when he comes back – so we’ll obviously pick the bowlers we think can take 20 wickets, how we are going to split that up we aren’t 100% sure yet.”

Australia also has a part-time off-spinner Travis Head and Cummins came in support of the aggressive middle-order batter to be available to chip in with the ball if needed. Australia has the option of getting a couple of overs from part-time leg-spinners Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

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Explaining the same, Pat Cummins said, “It’s a chance. That’s something we’ll have to balance up if we want to go with two spinners. Do we want variation or just two offspinners? So there’s no reason why we can’t go that way. Travis Head is in the side as well and bowls really good offspin. We’ve got plenty of variety to choose from.”