The India A top order got some much-needed batting practice on the final day of the four-day game against England Lions at Canterbury.
Both sides scored in excess of 550 in their first innings and after conceding a first-innings lead of 30 in the drawn fixture, Abhimanyu Easwaran (68), Yashasvi Jaiswal (64), Dhruv Jurel (53 not out) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (52 not out) did their chances no harm as the visitors compiled a score of 241/2 in just 41 overs before proceedings came to a close.
Jurel’s half-century followed his first-innings knock of 94 while the other three batsmen had managed low scores in the first dig. Other than skipper Easwaran, the other three batters scored at strike rates of at least a run a ball. The time in the middle would be useful going into the second ‘Test’, starting in Northampton on Friday, June 6. These games are seen as a precursor and preparation for the five-Test series starting in Headingley on June 20.
The track at Canterbury presented few demons for the batters, and the Lions amassed 587 in their first innings, replying to India A’s 557.
After an underwhelming Indian Premier League season for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the quick-fire fifty would be a morale-booster for Reddy. He is likely to be part of the playing XI for the first Test against England after his impressive performances during his first Test series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he scored his maiden Test hundred.
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli calling time on their Test careers, spots in the batting order are up for grabs. It is imperative, therefore, that the contenders for these places get used to English conditions and acquire a few runs under their belts.
Karun Nair, making a comeback to the Indian set-up after a long time, made a double hundred in the first innings, and Sarfaraz Khan, who didn’t get an opportunity Down Under despite a big hundred in the preceding home series against New Zealand, threw his hat in the ring with a knock of 92. So the team management considered it fit to give the other batters a chance to get some centre-wicket time.
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The match was of little consequence as a contest in itself, but the Indian think tank would be a bit concerned with the bowling effort with Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, Shardul Thakur and Reddy returning ordinary figures. Mukesh Kumar was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/92 from 25 overs. With no Mohammed Shami in the Test tour party, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and probably Prasidh Krishna will need some good pace back-up in the gruelling series, in which no pacer is expected to feature in all five matches.
Brief Scores: India A 557 and 241/2 in 41 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 64, Abhimanyu Easwaran 68, Dhruv Jurel 53 not out, Nitish Kumar Reddy 52 not out) drew with England Lions 587 (Tom Haines 171, Max Holden 101, Dan Mousley 113, Mukesh Kumar 3/92)