MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia’s (CA) National Selection Committee (NSB) is considering prioritizing the Men’s A tour of India over the ODI series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, committee chairman George Bailey confirmed on Wednesday.
Before the three-match Test series against the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) holders, Australia will play three ODIs each against Zimbabwe and South Africa from September 15 to 30.
Australia A will simultaneously tour India for two four-day matches, scheduled to play in Puducherry from September 22 to 25 and from September 29 to October 2 respectively.
Their selection committee is debating whether to send some players, including Cooper Connolly, to the Asian country instead of the one-day tour to South Africa as two four-day matches against India A could help them register their first Test series win over Australia since 2004.
“It’s always a very difficult thing for someone to get an opportunity to play international cricket,” Bailey said.
“But we certainly agree that it’s a very important series for us, it’s a series. We’re very excited about the team we’re putting together for that and the opportunity there,” he added.
Australia plans to use the ODI tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa as a key step in preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which the two countries co-host with Namibia next, but both four-day games are considered equally valuable.
It will be Australia A’s second trip to India in 12 months, and while it is uncertain whether the pitches in Puducherry will reflect the way the former WTC champions will face during the five-match series against the Men in Blue, Bailey insists the tour will be “worth it”.
“We’ve been lucky enough to get into India a couple of times again, so some of the guys are starting to get some good experience over there. If they get opportunities to tour there with the national team, that will stand them in good stead,” continued Bailey.
“It will be a debate for (Connolly) and some – and not trying to make it look too pretty – but maybe play some white-ball series in Zimbabwe and South Africa and then join as part of the (India A) series. For some, the India series will be a priority.”