India A kicks off their tour of England today, May 30, with the first unofficial Test against the England Lions. Among the squad are two established Indian Test players, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who will be using this match as preparation ahead of India’s main five-Test series in England, set to start on June 20.
While Jaiswal and Nitish headline the clash, several other players aiming for Test selection will also feature in this two-match series against the England Lions before the senior Indian team arrives. Bengal’s Abhimanyu Easwaran will captain the side, supported by promising talents including Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, Akash Deep, and Shardul Thakur.
These tour matches hold particular significance for Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair, both of whom have recently re-entered the Indian team setup. After strong domestic seasons and impressive performances in the Indian Premier League, expectations are high for these players as India embarks on a new chapter following the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
From England’s perspective, there are concerns about the fitness of Jordan Cox, who missed the recent one-off Test against Zimbabwe due to an abdominal muscle injury.
The England Lions will be led by 21-year-old James Rew, who has enjoyed an outstanding season in the County Championship, boasting an average of 55. Test regulars such as spinner Rehan Ahmed and all-rounder Chris Woakes are also part of the squad, and their early form will be crucial as England prepares for the upcoming series.
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Squads
India A: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.
England Lions: James Rew (C), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes, Max Holden.
Match Details
The England Lions vs India A 1st unofficial Test match will be played from May 30 to June 2. The match will take place at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury.
Live Streaming Details
England Lions vs India A 1st unofficial Test will be streamed on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) website and app. There is no live telecast in India.
Match Timing
The England Lions vs India A 1st unofficial Test match will start at 11 AM local time (3:30 PM IST).
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