Ian Chappell has asked Australia to “focus on the job” and not worry about pitches as he dissected Pat Cummins’ team’s capitulation against India in the first Test in Nagpur.

The former Aussie captain, in his column for ESPNcricinfo, wrote: “The first Test has exposed Australia’s weakness against good spin bowling on turning pitches.

“If they can ensure this setback doesn’t mean their mental capacity to cope in India is not dented, it will keep them in the series. If they waver, they are in big trouble.”

Speaking about the prematch “noise” about the Nagpur pitch being unplayable, Chappell said: “Not unexpectedly, it turned out to be nothing more than a fairly typical first-day Indian red-soil wicket. It was by no means impossible to play on...

“Far too much emphasis is put on how pitches are going to play and on doctoring. It’s worth remembering that both teams have to play on the same pitch,” he added.

New spinner in the fray

New Delhi: Uncapped Australia left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who is flying in for Mitchell Swepson, has a “live chance” to make his debut in the second Test against India starting here on Friday if the visitors opt for three spinners, said coach Andrew McDonald.

Kuhnemann, 26, will be joining the touring Australian team in place of leg-spinner Swepson who will make a pre-planned return home for the birth of his first child. Swepson, however, is set to return to India ahead of the third Test.

Kuhnemann is yet to play international cricket and was “shocked” to get the news. “Got a phone call... Was pretty shocked. I was just lucky enough that my passport was in my bag,” he said.

Written with inputs from PTI