The first batch of Australian cricketers for the upcoming four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting Feb 22, will fly to India later this week to acclimatise with the conditions, Cricket Australia (CA) announced Monday.

CA said the first batch of eight cricketers will leave Feb 7 and the remaining nine players will depart in two seperate groups by Feb 11.  "The players in the 17-man squad will travel to India in three separate groups in an effort to find the best balance for players," said national selector John Inverarity.

"It is planned to have Jackson Bird, Ed Cowan, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Steve Smith travel to India on 7 February. Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade will depart on 9 February, as will David Warner who is unavailable for the remainder of the Australian international summer as he recovers from his thumb injury."

"The remaining six players  will travel on 11 February at the conclusion of the ongoing series against West Indies."