Australia batsman Travis Head said they will look to test their skills against India’s “unbelievable” bowling attack and put the visitors under pressure during the first warm-up game starting here on Sunday.

Before the two teams face off in a much-anticipated four-Test series starting on December 17, Australia A are scheduled to play two three-day tour games against India A, which features Test specialists. The 26-year-old Head, who was part of the 2018 Test series, will lead the Australia A side in the first three-day warm-up game.

“Nice to have some memories and stuff from that series, but (they are) an unbelievable bowling attack and been well supported throughout the whole attack,” Head said at a virtual news conference.

“...You get through the new ball and someone like (Mohammed) Shami comes on and he’s just so relentless on his length. There was just no rest, you had to be on for every bowler.

“That is expected of Test cricket but that was my first real look at a quality attack like that. Those next spells are as strong as their first.”

Mayank Agarwal is set to open the innings for India A but there is a question mark over his partner — Prithvi Shaw or Shubman Gill. While Shaw was preferred in the New Zealand series, he struggled for consistency in the IPL. Gill, on the other hand, scored 440 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders and also looked in good touch in the third ODI.

In the wicketkeeper’s slot, it will be Wriddhiman Saha versus Rishabh Pant. For Saha, who had injured both his hamstrings during the IPL, it will be a test to show his fitness. Pant has been India’s No.1 choice in overseas Tests but he was dropped from the limited overs series and will have to deliver the goods to seal the keeper’s slot.

With skipper Virat Kohli going on paternity leave after the opening Test and the injured Rohit Sharma too uncertain, the onus will be on Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari to show the way. Rahane, the man who will lead India in the absence of Kohli, will look for a good outing. Pujara and Vihari too will be itching to go out in the middle having last played a competitive game in the pre-Covid days.

While the first warm-up will be a red-ball affair, the second practice match, scheduled to begin from December 11, will be played with a pink ball.