YESTERDAY'S pouring rain was not in the plan, but Australian lawn bowls team officials were otherwise pleased with their second three-day camp at Marlin Coast.

The Australian team to contest next month’s eight-nation test event in Delhi, at the same venue which will stage the Commonwealth Games in October, was chosen after yesterday’s conclusion to the camp.

Pictures: Cairns lawn bowls

Assistant coach Bryce Stewart said the camp, which followed a previous visit to the Marlin Coast club in January, had exposed the players to similar conditions and the same carpet surface that they would encounter in Delhi.

Stewart said even the rain, which quickly pooled on the surface yesterday, had given the players the chance to show their adaptability.

"We didn’t want the rain, we wanted the humidity, the heat and to play on this surface," he said during one of yesterday’s showers.

"(But) every rink you play on is different. This one will be different now, it will be quicker because of the rain."

Stewart said the steamy conditions on Monday and Tuesday had been more akin to what team officials had hoped for, giving them the chance to view player performance in the heat and to test various methods of player hydration.

Stewart was confident Australia would perform strongly at the eight-nation event against teams representing New Zealand, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, South Africa and hosts India.

"I believe we’ve got the best six ladies in the world and the best six men also," he said.

"It’s now up to them whether they adapt to the conditions, which is something they have to work out."

Head coach Rex Johnston said playing on the outdoor carpet greens was an ongoing challenge for the Australian players.

"Not many of them have played on carpet before and they’re still coming to grips with it," he said.

"But at least we have the opportunity to practise on it whereas other countries will not."

Johnston said security evaluation of the team’s Delhi accommodation and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where lawn bowls will be contested, had convinced players that next month’s tour was safe to make.

Stewart said there was a strong chance the team would return to Cairns prior to the Commonwealth Games.

He said the team selected yesterday was not necessarily that which would represent Australia at the Games, but those selected were favoured to do so.

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