Australia U-19 all-rounder Neel Patel is preparing for a major challenge as the young Australian side gets ready to tour India.
The 17-year-old says he is excited to experience India’s hot conditions and very different pitches.
Patel expects the wickets to have less grass, lower bounce and more assistance for spinners compared with Australian conditions.
He sees the tour as an important opportunity to improve his batting, particularly against spin and while playing in tough conditions.
Patel has also been working on his back-foot game to become a more complete batter.
Australia’s Under-19 squad will play three one-day matches and two four-day games in Rajkot and Ahmedabad, with the tour scheduled to begin on September 13.
For Patel, the India tour is not only a major cricketing challenge but also an important step in his development as a young Australian cricketer.
