ODI World Cup 2023: Versatile Australia brace for the unknown in Lucknow

Star Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell reckoned that his side is all set to embrace the unknown when they face South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 12. 

The pitches at the Lucknow stadium were dug up after the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), after the sacking of the curator following a low-scoring T20I match between India and New Zealand in January. Maxwell is confident that Australia will have adaptability at the newly relaid surface.

"It's a bit of an unknown here, think they've ripped up the whole ground and started again after the IPL. India also had a T20 here where they struggled to chase down, I think, 99 against the Kiwis earlier in the year. With that in mind, I think it will be a fresh start for the whole ground, turn up on the day and see how it looks," Maxwell was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

He went on to say that Australia are lucky to get two consecutive games in Luckow. After the match against the Proteas, the Pat Cummins-led side will take on Sri Lanka at the same stadium.

"We are prepared for whatever conditions come our way over the next few games. Suppose we are lucky to be in Lucknow for two games in a row, [so we] can have a look at these conditions," he added.

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He further stated that the Indian conditions vary from each other. He also spoke about the Chennai surface, stating they think they did a great job with the ball in the spin-friendly pitch.

"You know when you come to India you will be faced with a whole heap of different conditions, whether it be flat wickets that don't bounce or dry wickets that turn quite a bit. We feel like we've been testing ourselves a fair bit in training, feel ready to face whatever challenge, we just came up against a very good bowling line-up the other day. Felt like we created enough chances with the ball," the all-rounder added.