Australia's Pat Cummins plays down pitch concerns ahead of the series opener - Indiatimes.com

Pat Cummins inspects the pitch during an Australia training session on February 08, 2023 in Nagpur.

(Getty Images)NEW DELHI: Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Wednesday played down concerns about the Nagpur pitch ahead of the opening Test of the four-match series against India.

According to reports, the way the Nagpur pitch has been prepared has left the area outside left-handers' off-stump dry at both ends.

Cummins, whose team just needs to avoid a 0-4 whitewash to make the World Test Championship final in June, conceded that Australia's left-handed batsmen might have to work extra hard to score runs during the match, which begins on Thursday.But the visiting captain also added that home advantage is part of the challenge of Test cricket.

It's another challenge and makes touring over here even harder when you know the conditions are custom-made for them," Cummins told reporters.

Cummins disclosed that all-rounder Cameron Green, recovering from a finger injury, would miss the opener, joining pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc on the sidelines.Australia may blood uncapped Todd Murphy alongside fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon, and Peter Handscomb might pip Matthew Renshaw for the number six position to bring right-handed variety in their southpaw-heavy lineup.