Australian captain Michael Clarke has dismissed Indian accusations of doctoring pitches to ensure the tourists' downfall.
Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, speaking ahead of Tuesday's Test at the Adelaide Oval, said Australia had prepared green-top pitches tailored to suit their pace bowling strength.
Clarke insists the variants are just part and parcel of being a touring international cricketer.
"The pitches have been the same in Australia for the last two years," Clarke said.
"In my opinion, it's very hard to doctor the wicket when you're playing against very good opposition.
"It's about preparing a pitch and then both teams playing on it.
"That will be no different when we go to India.
"I think it has been the same in Australia for a while now. The last couple of years, I have seen a little bit more grass on the pitches."
Gambhir, who has had a torrid time opening the innings with Virender Sehwag, feels India should make extravagant turning pitches so opposing tourists have similar disadvantages to those his side have faced.
"We're beginning to realise that when we go overseas, every country prepares wickets according to their own strengths," Gambhir said.
"We have seen in the last three Test matches and even in England that there was a lot of grass and that helped the seamers.
"So once these people come to India, I think that we should not be hesitant in making turners.
"That is when we will get to know whether they're mentally strong."
But Clarke rejected the theory, noting a wider worldwide trend of juicier pitches.
"They were exactly the same against England - they were pretty similar in South Africa as well," Clarke said.
"So that is part of being an international sportsman - you travel the world and play in completely different conditions.
"I have played a number of times in India when the ball has spun so that will be no different next time we go there, I'm sure."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia First posted January 23, 2012 23:17:33
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