For the clamour and bustle of a Test match in India, there is no adequate rehearsal. Between now and the first Border-Gavaskar Test match, Australia have no strenuous first-class engagements to approximate even remotely the pressure that will come down on them on February 25.
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After Saturday, the Australians will disperse to various limited-overs and state engagements around the antipodes before coming together, in dribs and drabs, for a preparatory camp in Dubai.
No first-class pre-series fixtures in India have been announced yet, and there will only be time for one three-day game between the Australians' arrival on the subcontinent and the commencement of hostilities in Pune.
![Test captain Steve Smith bats during day four of the Third Test against Pakistan at the SCG.](/web/20170108161944im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/n/c/0/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtnbm8.png/1483744257680.jpg)
While the Australians are reacquainting themselves with the idea of first-class cricket on practice wickets in Dubai, India will be completing a Test series at home against Bangladesh, what you might call a perfect build-up.
The ongoing lament from touring teams around the world, and an obvious reason for their failures – that they have entered a foreign series inadequately prepared and acclimatised – is, therefore, already pencilled in. Modelled on England's preparation for their success in India in 2012, Australia's arrangements are an attempt to make a silk purse of the sow's ear that has been handed to them by the congested international calendar.
The final meanderings of the Australia-Pakistan Test series in Sydney are a part of that story. Pakistan came here underprepared, and never caught up with a resurgent host. Lack of preparation has, simultaneously, undermined Sri Lanka in South Africa. With such half-baked scheduling, nobody wonders anymore why cricket teams fail so often overseas. The wonder is that any succeed.
For many of the Australian players, this is their last taste of first-class cricket for the summer. Some of Pakistan's play at the SCG has barely merited first-class, let alone Test match, status.
![Struggle: Pakistan's Yasir Shah has battled away for wickets this series in Australia.](/web/20170108161944im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/i/5/7/t/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gtnbm8.png/1483744257680.jpg)
They lost the series in two calamitous batting sessions in Brisbane and Melbourne, but the reason those two sessions were so pivotal was that they were never able to win a single session with the ball.
By Friday afternoon in Sydney their performance in the field had hit its nadir. Mohammed Amir was absent with injury and his teammates were absent in spirit. An impaired Yasir Shah, the second fastest man to 100 Test wickets, was the fastest to concede 100 runs after being handed the new ball by his captain.
Sadly, he was also handed his backside by David Warner, who produced the most exciting batting since the last time he batted. As in his history-making innings on Tuesday, Warner streaked along with orthodox cricket shots until, funnily enough, the wild slash that got him out. He had made a mere 55 runs from 27 balls.
When he is in this mood, they're going to have to put a moving yellow line in front of his score to show how close he is to world record pace.
Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Peter Hanscomb all profited from some centre-wicket practice, but this was merely range hitting and target setting, no kind of preparation for Ashwin, Jadeja and company.
More may be learnt from Australia's bowling on the last day. At least one of Pakistan's batsmen has managed to provide resistance in each match, albeit in shifts. Azhar Ali has been magnificent throughout. Asad Shafiq's century in Brisbane was the innings of the season.
In the first innings in Sydney it was Younis Khan, left stranded by his teammates on 9964 Test runs. Some Pakistani batsman can be expected to challenge Smith and his bowlers to bring out their best on Saturday.
The balance of Australia's attack in India will depend to some extent on the pitches, but their default position is to play to their strong suit, which is pace.
Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe may, then, be competing against each other, on a dry and wearing Sydney surface, for one spinning position in Pune. Both have acquitted themselves well in Sydney so far, though Josh Hazlewood was again the premier Australian bowler, a pointer to where Australia continue to place most of their trust.
How Smith uses his spinners, how he sets fields for them – in short, how much belief he shows in them - will have an impact upon their confidence for India. How Matthew Wade gloves the ball will also be a litmus test. There is something at stake for all of these individuals on the final day in Sydney.
It's not bowling at Virat Kohli in India, but, insufficient though it is, too little too soon, it's the last real match preparation the Australian team will get.