The first unofficial Test between England Lions and India A kicked off at the historic St. Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, marking the beginning of India’s tour of England. The visitors suffered an early setback as skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran was dismissed cheaply for just 8 runs off 17 deliveries by left-arm pacer Josh Hull. Easwaran’s early departure put India A under pressure early on after England Lions captain James Rew won the toss and decided to field first on a green-top wicket.
Jaiswal, Karun Nair Steady the Ship
Despite the early jolt, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal looked confident at the crease, continuing his aggressive stroke play. He was joined by experienced middle-order batter Karun Nair, who is making a return to the red-ball format with hopes of staking a claim for a senior team recall. The duo showed composure and intent to build a strong partnership and stabilize the innings.
The ongoing match is crucial not only for the India A squad but also for selectors keeping a close eye on performances for future Test selections. Several young talents are eager to impress in English conditions, especially with a high-profile five-match Test series between India and England starting June 20.
A member of the India A coaching staff noted,
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔.”
The unofficial series includes two four-day matches and an intra-squad game, offering valuable match time and exposure for both sides. The performances in these fixtures could influence squad decisions for the senior Test squad.
India A now hopes that Jaiswal and Nair can convert their promising start into a big partnership and lead a strong first-innings total.
Also Read: ‘RCB Will Win IPL 2025’: Shane Watson Predicts Kohli’s Big Moment
