India choose to face India 'A' in 2 warm-up matches in England before five-Test series in August

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

India will face India A in two four-day warm-up games ahead of their five-Test series in England this summer when the two sides travel to England later this year. The first practice games will begin on July 21 at Wantage Road and the second at Grace Road on July 28, with Leicestershire being confirmed as hosts of the fixtures on Wednesday.

The India cricket team is scheduled to tour England in August and September to play five Test matches, beginning with the opening game at Nottingham on August 4.

“Some of the world’s finest international cricketers will be on show at The County Ground this summer as we welcome India and India A,” Northamptonshire County Cricket Club said in a statement late on Wednesday.

“Ahead of India’s five-Test series against England in August, Virat Kohli’s Indian side take on India A in a four-day warm-up fixture that promises to be a showcase of high-quality cricket.”

The second warm-up match is scheduled in Leicestershire on July 28.

“The Indian tour party will then travel to Leicestershire the following week for a second warm-up fixture beginning the 28th of July,” the statement said.

The second (August 12-16) and fourth Tests (September 2-6) will be held in London, while the third (August 25-29) and fifth (September 10-14) Tests are scheduled in Leeds and Manchester.

England is currently in India to play four Tests, beginning in Chennai on February 5. It will be followed by five T20Is and three ODIs. England will play the first 2 Tests in Chennai before moving to Ahmedabad for the 3rd Test, which will be a day-night fixture.

The other international cricket teams who will be visiting England next summer have all opted to schedule warm-up fixtures against the counties

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...e-for-england-tour-in-2021-1763520-2021-01-28

 

[Spidy201]

India:
Gill
Agarwal
Rahul
Kohli(c)
Vihari
Pant(wk)
Pandya
Ashwin
Bhuvi
Bumrah
Yadav

India A
Rohit
Shaw
Pujara
Rahane(c)
Iyer
Sunder
Jadeja
Saha(wk)
Ishant
Siraj
Shami

Hard to pick which side would win.

 

[MP2011]

Why are we playing 4 tests against England at home when we played 5 tests last time we toured England? Also, why are we playing 5 tests AGAIN when we tour them later this year?

Why is BCCI so submissive even now? Is Ganguly's persona just fake or is there any substance in it?

 

[Bhaijaan]

Big 3 should always play 5 test series.

Let's be honest, they inspire whole cricket fraternity with their level of play.

 

[pillionrider]

What if Rahane's team beats Kohlis

He's got Rohit after all, but the other side seems to have been stacked to win.

 

[wrongun]

Why are we playing 4 tests against England at home when we played 5 tests last time we toured England? Also, why are we playing 5 tests AGAIN when we tour them later this year?

Why is BCCI so submissive even now? Is Ganguly's persona just fake or is there any substance in it?

You don't seem to realise the amount of Tests played in a series & their location is usually the prerogative of the home team to decide. So if India is only hosting 4 matches, it is because the BCCI chose to schedule only 4.

 

[MP2011]

You don't seem to realise the amount of Tests played in a series & their location is usually the prerogative of the home team to decide. So if India is only hosting 4 matches, it is because the BCCI chose to schedule only 4.

Have got this cleared on the other thread.

 

[dani2k]

IF (and don't think I am counting my chicks before the eggs hatch - I am making my statement base on current evidence ) India makes to the finals of the WTC, that match would happen BEFORE the scheduled games with India A right? If that is the case, it makes sense taking India A to England so that a match could be arranged at short notice. Given that the county season would be on we cannot expect the ICC to arrange a match with an opposition of good quality (counties want to have their best players available for their matches which is fair enough).

The ever changing COVID situation also doesnt help at all and it makes a lot of sense having two teams from the same bio bubble play each other as it minimizes a lot of other risks. Great move BCCI!

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

If that is the case, it makes sense taking India A to England so that a match could be arranged at short notice. Given that the county season would be on we cannot expect the ICC to arrange a match with an opposition of good quality (counties want to have their best players available for their matches which is fair enough).

India 'A' will have 3 matches against first-class teams in England before they face India in those 2 warm-up matches. So India 'A' would get used to the conditions by then.

Batting let us down the last time. The likes of Rahane and Pujara will need to step up.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Why are we playing 4 tests against England at home when we played 5 tests last time we toured England? Also, why are we playing 5 tests AGAIN when we tour them later this year?

Why is BCCI so submissive even now? Is Ganguly's persona just fake or is there any substance in it?

More T20s were scheduled after culling one test as a result to make up for losses of lost bilaterals due to covid. It was done with both boards agreement.

 

[gani999]

India 'A' will have 3 matches against first-class teams in England before they face India in those 2 warm-up matches. So India 'A' would get used to the conditions by then.

Batting let us down the last time. The likes of Rahane and Pujara will need to step up.

Don't worry. They'll get good practise and step up.

If India C can thrash Australia in the Gabba then I expect that India A would be quite a formidable opposition.

 

[MP2011]

More T20s were scheduled after culling one test as a result to make up for losses of lost bilaterals due to covid. It was done with both boards agreement.

lol, with all the moolah at BCCI's disposal despite the dent in it due to Covid, I think they could have well absorbed the losses incurred.

Btw, have so far got to read 2 reasons for culling of this test,

1) This being a T20 WC year, we needed more practice in T20s,
2) With our earnings being curtailed due to Covid, we needed to sacrifice a test for extra T20s which we readily did.

Which one is true?

 

[Cricfan4eva]

lol, with all the moolah at BCCI's disposal despite the dent in it due to Covid, I think they could have well absorbed the losses incurred.

Btw, have so far got to read 2 reasons for culling of this test,

1) This being a T20 WC year, we needed more practice in T20s,
2) With our earnings being curtailed due to Covid, we needed to sacrifice a test for extra T20s which we readily did.

Which one is true?

Both can be true.

Pre Covid, ODI/T20 leg was to be played last year before India's tour to Aus. And 5 tests were to be played during this phase.

However, since that couldn't happen, they had to include all 3 formats in the tour. So one can make a fair assumption that T20 is important with this being a T20 WC year and also more ad revenues in T20 than tests.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Don't worry. They'll get good practise and step up.

If India C can thrash Australia in the Gabba then I expect that India A would be quite a formidable opposition.

Would be interesting to see how Shubman Gill does in England.

 

[silentkiller187]

How does the gate receipts work out, if fans are allowed into the grounds there will be a lot of demand from Indian fans and dare I say it could see grounds selling out. Could be a master stroke if BCCI get a share, more lucrative than playing against county teams

 

[JaDed]

This is so weird honestly, India to play India A in England will we select based on that lol?

 

[Pakhs]

Good decision but how serious players will take these games?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

India A is favorite to win that match.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Good decision but how serious players will take these games?

More serious than county teams that don't even play their best XI.

 

[Pakhs]

More serious than county teams that don't even play their best XI.

Yes but atleast you have to win those just so you dont get embarrassed. In Australia Kohli even refused to play such a game saying he doesn't need it if I remember correctly.

 

[avihash]

India A is favorite to win that match.

All thanks to ipl, India D just thrashed Australia in their home. This one will definitely be a good match.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Yes but atleast you have to win those just so you dont get embarrassed. In Australia Kohli even refused to play such a game saying he doesn't need it if I remember correctly.

It would be pretty embarrassing if they lost to their 'A' side. The 'A' side players would be looking to prove themselves too.

 

[Pakhs]

It would be pretty embarrassing if they lost to their 'A' side. The 'A' side players would be looking to prove themselves too.

Okay well they must know what they are doing.

 

[giri26]

This is a good move which teams with strong bench should do too. Recently the practice games have been a joke. They give the touring teams false sense of hope ahead of the actual series. Neither the pitches nor the opposition is strong enough to give the touring sides any valuable practice. There is a reason Virat refused a practice game.

I remember Pakistan's 2018 New Zealand LO tour when they played a team who had a bunch of nobodies on a flat deck. Pakistan scored 300+ and won easily. The actual game pitches were green and New Zealand absolutely hammered Pakistan 5-0 with the latter getting bowled out for 70 odd in one of the games.

 

[JaDed]

India A will get hammered.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Usually English county sides play super weak XIs when they play touring sides. Playing India A will probably mean you end up playing a more competitive match vs playing a county XI. You could even drop some first team regulars into the ‘A’ team to make it more even.

 

[U$ofA]

India:
Gill
Agarwal
Rahul
Kohli(c)
Vihari
Pant(wk)
Pandya
Ashwin
Bhuvi
Bumrah
Yadav

India A
Rohit
Shaw
Pujara
Rahane(c)
Iyer
Sunder
Jadeja
Saha(wk)
Ishant
Siraj
Shami

Hard to pick which side would win.

Looks like the Indian team has two people competing for every spot in the playing eleven. That is a good problem to have.

 

[BaankeJi]

This indirectly is indicting counties. It is basically calling them out for their shameless deception.

 

[RajBan]

This indirectly is indicting counties. It is basically calling them out for their shameless deception.

That is much needed for ECB as well. They created heavily bowler friendly conditions last time to tilt it in their favour. It's a shame that we did prepare and apply us well. Hope we do better this time.

 

[Shafi]

I think India A are capable of whitewash England.

 

[Shafi]

Don't worry. They'll get good practise and step up.

If India C can thrash Australia in the Gabba then I expect that India A would be quite a formidable opposition.

May be first match India should field their B team if they loose then A team.

 

[Rightarmfast]

India A will get hammered.

Not really. India A bowlers will be almost as deadly as some from the international teams. They will make life difficult for India batsmen.

 

[Last Monetarist]

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have agreed to postpone this summer's men's India A tour.

The India Men’s team will instead tour with a larger squad to prepare for, and use during, the five-match LV= Insurance Test Series.

India’s warm-up schedule will now comprise two intra-squad four-day matches, which will replace the two previously planned four-day fixtures between India Men and India A in July. Venues for those two intra-squad matches are to be confirmed.

Following further discussions with the boards of New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan it has been agreed to cancel their scheduled men’s tour matches against first-class counties. New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s men’s teams will instead play intra-squad matches to allow them suitable preparation for their international fixtures this summer.

These agreements will allow the ECB to focus on delivering the safest possible environment for all international cricket matches scheduled to take place over the summer.

ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “We are looking forward to staging a memorable summer of men’s and women’s international cricket when fans are set to return to venues.

“Ensuring the safest possible environment for international cricket is our first priority and we are appreciative for the understanding of our fellow boards.

“We look forward to welcoming a men’s India A tour at a later date after this summer and when restrictions have eased. It will provide a valuable opportunity for players from both countries to experience high-quality cricket and to showcase the talent within our England Lions team and first-class counties.”

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Are the squads for main and A team announced already? If so, would performances of IPL have any weight on this? Hope no injuries or burnout in IPL. Also is the squad games before the WTC finals or after?
Hope there is a plan to get to eng early and accumatise to conditions, rather than parties and ad shoots and the odd incidental match in the IPL which no one will remember after a few hours, something I am sure the NZ board will recognize and pull their players out early.

 

[RajBan]

Are the squads for main and A team announced already? If so, would performances of IPL have any weight on this? Hope no injuries or burnout in IPL. Also is the squad games before the WTC finals or after?
Hope there is a plan to get to eng early and accumatise to conditions, rather than parties and ad shoots and the odd incidental match in the IPL which no one will remember after a few hours, something I am sure the NZ board will recognize and pull their players out early.

IPL has no bearing on Test squad selection for England, or that's what I hope.

However almost all the Tests players barring Pujara, and Rahane are regulars for their respective IPL teams

Likely India + India A squad

Rohit, Gill, Shaw, Panchal

Pujara, Rahane, Kohli, Vihari, Agarwal, Iswaran

Pant , Saha, Pandya, Ashwin, Sundar, Jadeja , Thakur

Siraj , Bumrah, Ishant, Shami, Bhuvi, Tyagi, Saini

 

[RajBan]

Not really. India A bowlers will be almost as deadly as some from the international teams. They will make life difficult for India batsmen.

They will likely play Siraj and Bhuvi in the A team. In Eng conditions they can run through the first 11.

 

[sivanand82]

Where is Umesh?

 

[amit]

I would pick these XIs. Hoping that match is still counted as India vs India A and is a FC match too

India

Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli (c)
Hanuma Vihari
Rishabh Pant (w)
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ishant Sharma
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammad Shami

India A

Mayank Agarwal
Prithvi Shaw
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Ajinkya Rahane (c)
Manish Pandey
Wriddhiman Saha (w)
Washington Sundar
Axar Patel
Shardul Thakur
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar
Mohammad Siraj

Reserves: Devdutt Paddikal, Anmolpreet Singh, Saurabh Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Warrier