India vs Australia: Visitors' selector Mark Waugh says Indian tour is way too long

Hyderabad: Australian selector Mark Waugh has lamented the length of the team’s limited-overs tour of India. Readying to play their final T20 International on Friday, Australia’s limited-overs tour started with the first ODI on 17 September. The sojourn comprised five One- dayers and three T20 Internationals. [caption id=“attachment_1814603” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Mark Waugh. Getty Images[/caption] Former batsman Waugh, who’s travelling India with the side, would have preferred players have more time off with the Ashes around the corner. “It’s got to be said, it’s not an ideal time to be away from Australia,” Waugh told Sky Sports Radio on Thursday. “This series has been a bit spread out. It would have been better probably if it was a week or two shorter.” The retired batting great said the early departures from the subcontinent of captain Steve Smith and fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were a blessing. “Once they get home, they’ll have a little break then they’ll be back focused on red ball cricket, then the Ashes,” Waugh said. “The players are pretty much used to it; it’s probably more the travelling, flying around. “This one-day tournament and T20 tournament has been to about eight different places, so there’s been a lot of travel. But I think they’re coping pretty well.