London: England coach Trevor Bayliss has defended India’s much-criticised preparations for the ongoing Test series, stating the beleaguered visitors couldn’t have fit in more practice sessions than what they did before the disastrous first two games.
“The simple fact is, teams like Australia, India and England play so much cricket. I’m sure everyone would love to play more warm-up matches than they do. You simply can’t fit them in,” Bayliss told reporters here. “Somewhere along the lines the players have to have some sort of rest. So to keep putting more practice matches in, it’s almost impossible. It’s just the way it is,” he reasoned.
Certainly conditions were in favour of us at Lord’s. But then that’s natural. There are times when we travel we have to face the turning ball from the first hour of a game”
Bayliss said his team face similar dilemma while travelling. “We play practice matches and get asked ‘if your preparation is right. Well, we’d love to have a few more games. But there aren’t 10 days in a week,” Bayliss pointed out.
Bayliss would like helpful conditions at Trent Bridge as well, on account of home advantage, and also for the fact that it would help demoralise sub-continental sides.
“In these types of conditions (like Lord’s), I don’t think it’ll matter what the wicket is like. Here there’s always a little bit of grass on the wicket. With the overhead conditions, it’s the big thing,” Bayliss asserted. “But then every side would like home advantage.”
