Add Category
Updated
Australia captain Steve Smith has not ruled out playing three spinners in the opening Test against India starting in Pune on Thursday.
Tour selectors had India's turning wickets in mind when they included five spin options in its squad for the four-Test series.
Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe both played in Australia's most recent Test against Pakistan at the SCG last month, while Ashton Agar and the uncapped leg spinner Mitchell Swepson are also in the India tour party, as is all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
Maxwell was only given six overs to press his claims in Australia's drawn tour match against India A which wrapped up in Mumbai on Sunday, returning the figures of 0-26.
Lyon and O'Keefe were used extensively, taking 4-162 and 3-101 respectively.
Smith and Australia coach Darren Lehmann had another look at the Pune wicket on Wednesday to "throw up a few options" as to the make-up of their Test XI.
Among those "options" could be the decision to play a third spinner against India's star-studded batting line-up.
"I guess it's whether we play three spinners and either one quick or two quicks and no all-rounder, or a spin bowling all-rounder," Smith told Grandstand.
"We've got a few options, so we'll have a look and see what's our best for this first Test match."
Smith's first impressions of the Pune deck provided no shocks and he expects "spin from the first ball".
"I wasn't surprised, it was pretty dry," he said.
"It looks like it's going to take some spin from ball one, so we weren't surprised by that.
"We're prepared for that and now it's just about going out there and playing the game we play."
Smith calls for tight bowling against India
Smith has stressed the need for Australia to adopt a disciplined approach to its bowling, making sure not to give any "freebies away" to the hosts.
India's batsmen helped lay the platform for the series victory at home to England late last year, with captain Virat Kohli in superb touch with 655 runs at a staggering average of 109.16.
He also posted a double century (204) in India's 208-run triumph in the one-Test against Bangladesh in Hyderabad earlier this month.
But the need for discipline also applies to Australia's batting, which was found wanting when it last contested a Test series in India in 2013.
"I think as a batting group it's being able to back our defence," Smith said.
"I think obviously you have to be positive and look to score but in the end it's about making sure your defence is in good order."
Australia's Test series against India will be broadcast on ABC Extra on Digital Radio, online and via the ABC Radio app, while ABC News Sport Online will be live blogging the coverage.
First posted