India A Begins England Tour with Unofficial Test Against England Lions

India A's Tour of England Begins

Today, May 30, marks the start of India A's tour in England, kicking off with their first unofficial Test against the England Lions. The squad features notable Indian Test players Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who are gearing up for the main five-Test series scheduled to commence on June 20.

While Jaiswal and Nitish are the focal points of this match, several other players vying for Test selection will also participate in this two-match series against the England Lions prior to the arrival of the senior Indian team. Abhimanyu Easwaran from Bengal will lead the team, supported by emerging talents like Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, Akash Deep, and Shardul Thakur.

Significance of the Tour Matches

These matches are particularly crucial for Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair, who have recently made their way back into the Indian team setup. Following impressive performances in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League, expectations are high for these players as India enters a new phase after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

England Lions' Squad and Concerns

From the England side, there are worries regarding the fitness of Jordan Cox, who was unable to participate in the recent one-off Test against Zimbabwe due to an abdominal injury.

The England Lions will be captained by 21-year-old James Rew, who has had a stellar season in the County Championship with an average of 55. The squad also includes regular Test players like spinner Rehan Ahmed and all-rounder Chris Woakes, whose early performances will be vital as England prepares for the upcoming series.

Squads Overview

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 first unofficial Test match between the England Lions and India A is scheduled from May 30 to June 2 at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury.

Live Streaming Information

Fans can watch the England Lions vs India A 1st unofficial Test live on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) website and app. However, there will be no live telecast available in India.

Match Timing

The match will commence at 11 AM local time, which corresponds to 3:30 PM IST.