Off The Field

David Warner expects spin-friendly pitches on ‘challenging’ tour of India in 2023

Written by Sumit Seth

Veteran Australian opener David Warner said he is motivated to win in India and England before he hangs up the boots in Test cricket. Australia will tour India for a 4-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February-March 2023 and the series is being billed as one of Australia’s best chances to beat India in India.

Australia have been struggling against India in Test cricket, losing back-to-back home series. The powerhouses of world cricket have not beaten India in a Test series in India since 2004-05. 

“The extra motivation for me is winning in India, and completely winning a series in England. I’ve been told by the coach and the selectors they’d like me to be there. I still know what energy I can bring to the team,” Warner said in an interaction with the press at the MCG.

India will host Australia in 4 Tests from February 9. The series opener will get underway in Nagpur from February 9. The 2nd Test will be played in Delhi from February 17 after which the action moves to Dharamsala for the 3rd Test, starting March 1. The series finale will get underway from March 9 in Ahmedabad.

Australia came up with a stiff challenge to India the last time they played Tests in the Asian nation – 2017-18, losing the series 2-1. 

“We know what we’re going to prepare for, they’re going to be turning wickets. It’s different with the venues, Nagpur and Delhi quite dry, then Dharamsala that time of the year, we’ve played there, and we probably should have won that Test, but we lost that ourselves,” Warner added. 

“There’s going to be times when it’s going to be challenging over there, but it’s about how our batters can build and bat big as we did in Pakistan.

“I think with the ball, we’re going to do a fantastic job, we’ve got a world-class spinner in Nathan Lyon and we’re going to have to potentially think about playing two spinners,” he added. 

About the author

Sumit Seth