As his team prepares for a two-day pink-ball warm-up match against India, Australia’s Prime Minister’s XI captain Jack Edwards expressed excitement at the prospect of facing some of the world’s best players, particularly Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Edwards hopes to make a mark on India’s formidable batting lineup ahead of the pink-ball Test between Australia and India, which begins on December 6 in Adelaide.
The Indian team has arrived in Canberra to fine-tune their skills with the pink ball, looking to overcome the traumatic memory of their 36 all-out in the 2020-21 Adelaide pink-ball Test. Coming off a dominant 295-run victory against Australia in Perth, India aims to continue their positive momentum in the warm-up fixture.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Edwards shared his excitement, saying, “We’re excited to get out there. Hopefully, the rain stays away. We had a good preparation this morning in the nets. The group is a mix of young talent and experienced players, and we’re all eager for the challenge.”
Edwards further added that it was an incredible opportunity for both seasoned and younger players to face off against the likes of Rohit and Virat. He mentioned, “It’s an amazing opportunity for both the young stars and experienced players to come up against some of the world’s best. Interacting with them at Parliament House (during the meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) was thrilling for many of the youngsters. It’s going to be awesome.”
The 25-year-old Edwards, who has played 36 first-class matches and scored over 1,500 runs, including two centuries, emphasized the value of learning from players like Rohit and Virat, calling the chance to pick their brains “unreal.”
On the conditions at Manuka Oval, where the warm-up match will take place, Edwards described the pitch as having good grass coverage, which would make it challenging for batters to settle in, especially against the new ball. He noted, “It looks hard and well-grassed, so it will be a challenge for the batters to start with the new ball.”
Edwards also discussed the challenge of facing Australia’s Scott Boland, who had troubled India during the ICC World Test Championship final. He said, “Boland is the ultimate professional. Under the lights with the pink ball, he could be very dangerous. Hopefully, he can take out a couple of top-order batters and put a dent in their confidence ahead of the Adelaide Test.”
Meanwhile, India’s young batting star Shubman Gill was seen practicing in the nets in Canberra, showing positive signs as he refined his solid defensive technique. Gill had missed the first Test due to a thumb injury, but his return to the nets was encouraging.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who joined the team after the birth of his second child, also began his practice session with the team. However, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir flew back to India for personal reasons and will miss the two-day tour game against PM XI. The BCCI confirmed that Gambhir will rejoin the squad before the Adelaide Test.
The Prime Minister’s XI squad for the warm-up match includes Jack Edwards (captain), Charlie Anderson, Mahli Beardman, Scott Boland, Jack Clayton, Aidan O’Connor, Ollie Davies, Jayden Goodwin, Sam Harper, Hanno Jacobs, Sam Konstas, Lloyd Pope, Matthew Renshaw, and Jem Ryan.