Australia has built an artificial pitch at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane to help its batsmen deal with spin-bowling on the slow tracks of the subcontinent, where they have so often struggled in the past.
The surface, which is intended to mimic conditions in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has a concrete base with artificial grass, clay and turf rolled into a compact layer on top.
"The artificial base and the bounce is a lot different to what we get in Australia," Cricket Australia's high performance manager, Pat Howard, said yesterday.
"I think it's a step in the right direction. Batsmen can practise on a pitch that will play very differently to what we can expect in Australia," he said.
Australia's problems with spin bowling are widely considered to have contributed to the humiliating 4-0 series sweep they suffered in India last year.
The first players will get a chance to bat and bowl on it this week as Australia prepare for a trip to the United Arab Emirates to take on Pakistan in two Tests, three one-day matches and a Twenty20 starting next month.
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