India 'A' to tour New Zealand in September 2012

[Sidhoni]

India 'A' team, which is currently touring the West Indies, will be going to New Zealand in the month of September. According to sources, the itinerary will be finalized soon for the tour which will be about three-week long. "We are in the process of deciding the number of matches and working on whether the team will play four-day game or three-day ones. The itinerary will be ready in a week or so," a top BCCI official told TOI on Tuesday. The India 'A' team is scheduled to play three four-day matches, three one-dayers and two T20s in the West Indies. The New Zealand tour will be the last one of this season for the team. By the time, the players are back from New Zealand, the domestic season will be upon them. Sources said that BCCI is planning to send the A team on tours every year between the end of IPL and start of the domestic season. "We will try to make two tours for sure every season. After all, the 'A' team is the feeder line for the senior team," the official added. Sources said that Indian selectors are closely monitoring the performance of the players in the West Indies ahead of the selection in the Test side. India will be playing 10 Test matches between August and March.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/India-A-team-to-tour-New-Zealand/articleshow/13858266.cms EDIT: Mukund to lead India A in New Zealand Sidharth Monga August 10, 2012 Wriddhiman Saha has been replaced by Naman Ojha as the wicketkeeper in the squad Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund, who averaged 7.66 on India A's tour of the West Indies, has been selected to captain the 16-member India A squad for their tour of New Zealand in September and October. Robin Bist, who got one innings on that West Indies tour, Parvinder Awana, who got one match, and Wriddhiman Saha, easily the second-best choice as wicketkeeper in the country, all suddenly find themselves out of reckoning. Cheteshwar Pujara, Ashok Dinda, Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary and Rohit Sharma have been picked for either Tests or the World Twenty20, and are hence unavailable. Apart from Abhinav, spinners Akshay Darekar, Jalaj Saxena, Rahul Sharma, and quicks Shami Ahmed and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the only survivors from what was an average West Indies tour. India's Under-19 captain, Unmukt Chand, who has been impressive with his batting in some crunch situations in U-19 games, was duly rewarded with a place on the tour. Rajasthan's Ashok Menaria, who scored 462 runs at 77 in last year's Ranji Trophy, was rewarded with a place in the side, but he will miss team-mate Bist, who was the leading run-getter in the tournament. Naman Ojha, who averaged 61 in Ranji Trophy, replaced Saha as the wicketkeeper. Ambati Rayudu finally finds himself in a representative side after his return from the ICL. Vinay Kumar found himself demoted one level, and will be the leader of this attack. Praveen Kumar continued to be out of favour even for the A tour. Punjab's Mandeep Singh, Bengal's Anustup Majumdar and Mumbai's Suryakumar Yadav took the remaining batting slots. Seamers Rituraj Singh of Rajasthan and Jaydev Unadkat of Saurashtra were left-field picks. Rituraj has played just five first-class games, but averages 18 for his 27 wickets. Unadkat had failed to impress on his Test debut, and got 26 wickets in Ranji Trophy at an average of 27. India A squad: Abhinav Mukund (capt.), Naman Ojha (wk), Mandeep Singh, Anustup Majumdar, Unmukt Chand, Ashok Menaria, Ambati Rayudu, Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akshay Darekar, Vinay Kumar, Shami Ahmed, Jalaj Saxena, Rahul Sharma, Rituraj Singh and Jaydev Unadkat SCHEDULE: Tue Sep 18 1st unofficial ODI - New Zealand A v India A Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Thu Sep 20 2nd unofficial ODI - New Zealand A v India A Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Sat Sep 22- 3rd unofficial ODI - New Zealand A v India A Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Mon Sep 24 Only unofficial T20I - New Zealand A v India A Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Thu Sep 27 - Sun Sep 30 21:30 GMT (prev day) | 09:30 local | 03:00 IST 1st unofficial Test - New Zealand A v India A Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Wed Oct 3 - Sat Oct 6 21:30 GMT (prev day) | 10:30 local | 03:00 IST 2nd unofficial Test - New Zealand A v India A Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

[Needforspeed]

"We will try to make two tours for sure every season. After all, the 'A' team is the feeder line for the senior team," the official added.

First positive step to address our 8-0 drubbing.

[Old guy]

good news :nice: this will really help some players develop their game and bowlers find length in different conditions they wont struggle like yadav did in australia.. when they come into main team

[Sidhoni]

^Yadav struggled in Aus? O.o

[Old guy]

^Yadav struggled in Aus? O.o

yes to get his length full.. which he whenever did he looked deadly and when he didnt he was spanked

[vipin]

That team should have Mandeep Singh replacing Cheteshwar Pujara (Who shall be in the test team by than).

[Sidhoni]

yes to get his length full.. which he whenever did he looked deadly and when he didnt he was spanked

I thought you were talking overall.

[Old guy]

I thought you were talking overall.

no.. he did fine.. but had he toured before on serious tour (i know he ws part of some a tour but it was played on diff grounds not internationals also prob with quality of opposition players.. ) he wouldve done better and he would not have to learn and change his length in test matches..u need to be prepared before tests..

[Bluewater]

That team should have Mandeep Singh replacing Cheteshwar Pujara (Who shall be in the test team by than).

Lets hope

[jj_28]

Any idea where they will play? This team should have Mukund, Rahane, Unmukt Chand, Mandeep singh NO Dhawan and Pujara with the Test team

[Needforspeed]

They should give chance Surya Kumar Yadav , and Naman Ojha (wk) also

[Sooda]

Any idea where they will play? This team should have Mukund, Rahane, Unmukt Chand, Mandeep singh NO Dhawan and Pujara with the Test team

Yes, except Unmukt is still young and if there is an EPT this year he should play there, maybe play A team next year after another season of FC. Id send Tanmay Srivastava, Mandeep and maybe S Yadav- and Pankaj Singh, as you say hopefully Pujara and Rohit for sure will be in test squad by then

[gakgupta]

How about continuous A tours for India?? Since there is a long gap between domestic and internatioonal standards, which was quite evident from the recently concluded west indies tour and domestic structure is not revamped enough, how about having continuous A tours .....may be 4 to 5 in a year? These series included both away and home. Obvious Challenges would be 1) Convincing countries across the world to have such series often. Now, getting 2 A tours itself seems to be challenge. Well, with all the money in the world, they can easily convince any board for A tours. Also, we could invite them for a home series and it will be win win situation. 2) Even considering travelling to countries like Ireland and zimbabwe and play with the main stream team rather than A teams. 3)To manage the work load of the players, let them not play the domestic games at all. Yeah....domestic standard might hit a bit but since it's not up to the mark....who cares. This side should have a fielding, bowling and batting coaches. As the identified set of 15 to 16 players will be playing under a same coach, they have a better chance of improving Idea or purpose of this structure shouldn't be just to identify the talent but also to horn the skills. Most important would be to have the retired or about to retire players like Rahul Darvid, Ganguly or Laxman to lead them. This will give youngsters to learn work ethics from these great legends Yeah....this structure would cost BCCI, lots of money but this is more like a investment for better future

[MCcricket]

In general BCCI should send a bigger squad also seperate set of players suitable to odi and test, like Australia also players returning from injury can come in if they are strong fit and are looking good like Suyal, VRV, Tyagi to see where they are at, I think the W I tour has been good in terms of players being tested also to see where they are at. Mukund has had a horrible tour and he was our first choice opener for some time, imaging picking him up with his current game on tours of SA, OZ, England.Shami NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT SERIOUSLY, Anwar Ahmed, Abu Nechim, should have ben in the team also a very good experience for spinners to learn how to bowl in different conditions. I would add Mandeep Anwar Ahmed Abu Nechim VRV Murali Irfan Pathan as he can be a good test all rounder can play fast bowlers as well as any one in our team also we can check his bowling with the red cherry. Suyal Iqbal Abdullah can be a good spinner and an all rounder also identify and groom young batters who have the technique and temperament to make it big in test's,not neccessarily looking at stats alone, but players who can play on the back foot and handle short stuff and are young.

[rkt.india]

Yes' date=' except Unmukt is still young and if there is an EPT this year he should play there, maybe play A team next year after another season of FC. Id send Tanmay Srivastava, Mandeep and maybe S Yadav- and Pankaj Singh, as you say hopefully Pujara and Rohit for sure will be in test squad by then[/quote'] dont think EPT will be played this year due to U19 Wc on same venues around the same time.

[ShebbySB]

Wht's abt the India-A team that is going to tour New Zealand?Was that announced?

[jeeves]

whatever happened to wriddhiman saha? he played decently in australia? would have been an interesting choice in place of Raina in the test squad

[Hell Raiser]

INDIA Ã side has also been named. Abhinav Mukund - Captain Ashok Menaria - Vice-Captain Naman Ojha Mandeep Singh Anustup Majumdar Ambati Rayudu Bhuvneshwar Kumar Akshay Darekar Vinay Kumar Mohammed Shami Surya Kumar Yadav Jalaj Saxena Rahul Sharma Rituraj Singh Jaydev Unadkat Unmukt Chand Good to see Mandeep and chand in the side. And legendary Vk has also made it.

[Number]

India A - tour of NZ in September/October. squad announced http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Mukund-to-lead-India-A-in-New-Zealand/articleshow/15436184.cms the squad has been announced. The Squad: Abhinav Mukund (captain), Ashok Menaria (vice-captain), Naman Ojha, Mandeep Singh, Anustup Majumdar, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akshay Darekar, Vinay Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Surya Kumar Yadav, Jalaj Saxena, Rahul Sharma, Rituraj Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Unmukt Chand. :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: Good : Unmukt, Mandeep and Surya, all 3 in the squad.:two_thumbs_up: Bad : 2 superslow fast bowlers. Umadkat and Vinny. Don't see any point why Vinay should be on A tours. ffs he is 29 yrs old now. :facepalm: . Some IPL stars.

[rkt.india]

INDIA ŽÃ side has also been named. Abhinav Mukund - Captain Ashok Menaria - Vice-Captain Naman Ojha Mandeep Singh Anustup Majumdar Ambati Rayudu Bhuvneshwar Kumar Akshay Darekar Vinay Kumar Mohammed Shami Surya Kumar Yadav Jalaj Saxena Rahul Sharma Rituraj Singh Jaydev Unadkat Unmukt Chand Good to see Mandeep and chand in the side. And legendary Vk has also made it.

If Rituraj can refine his bowling action a bit, he can be a great find. Swings the ball a lot. And Naman OJha is there in place of Saha I Know because of Jagdale and Hirwani. Why Unadkat? Why not Awana or Suyal or Kulkarni? Vinay too should not have been there. There is nothing we dont already about Vinay or is a future prospect. Shami, Awana, Kulkarni, Rituraj should have been the pacers.