India A Progress Watch Thread

[carnish]

With India A scheduled to play in a lot of tournaments in the next season, lets use this thread to keep track of all that is happening with our A team. Schedule of India A tour of South Africa:

Aug 06 --- 1st ODI SAF A vs AUS A Pretoria Aug 08 --- 2nd ODI AUS A vs IND A Pretoria Aug 09 --- 3rd ODI SAF A vs IND A Pretoria Aug 10 --- 4th ODI AUS A vs SAF A Pretoria Aug 11 --- 5th ODI IND A vs AUS A Pretoria Aug 12 --- 6th ODI IND A vs SAF A Pretoria Aug 14 --- Final Pretoria Sat Aug 17 - Tue Aug 20 4-day Test 1st Test Match Rustenburg Sat Aug 24 - Tue Aug 27 4-day Test 2nd Test Match Pretoria

Schedule of New Zealand A in India:

New Zealand A vs India A --- 3-day match 28 Aug-30 Aug Vizag New Zealand A vs India A --- 4-day match 2 Sep-5 Sep Vizag New Zealand A vs India A --- 1st ODI match 8 Sep Vizag New Zealand A vs India A --- 2nd ODI match 10 Sep Vizag New Zealand A vs India A --- 3rd ODI match 12 Sep Vizag

Schedule of West Indies A in India:

West Indies A vs India A --- Sep 17 --- Only T20 - Shimoga West Indies A vs India A --- Sep 19 --- 1st ODI - Shimoga West Indies A vs India A --- Sep 21 --- 2nd ODI - Shimoga West Indies A vs India A --- Sep 24 --- 3rd ODI - Mysore West Indies A vs India A --- Sep 27-30 --- 1st 4-Day Match - Mysore West Indies A vs India A --- Oct 04-07 --- 2nd 4-Day Match - Hubli West Indies A vs India A --- Oct 10-13 --- 3rd 4-Day Match - Bangalore

[saneindian]

The Zim ODI series ends on 3rd Aug Then we have the A tour to SA where we play our first list 1 match on 9th Aug and the 2nd FC match ends on 27th Aug. And they have scheduled another FC match with NZ A from 28th Aug? For this NZ A series, they will have to pick a completely different A side from the one they have picked for SA A tour.

[carnish]

The Zim ODI series ends on 3rd Aug Then we have the A tour to SA where we play our first list 1 match on 9th Aug and the 2nd FC match ends on 27th Aug. And they have scheduled another FC match with NZ A from 28th Aug? For this NZ A series, they will have to pick a completely different A side from the one they have picked for SA A tour.

God knows ... Thats what I found on NZC website.

[superstar]

This is being played inside india. Anyone can thrash NZ in this conditions. India B should be selected.

[carnish]

New Zealand A tour of India 2013 This is actually done according to previously decided schedule in response to our A tours to New Zealand and West Indies last year. Apparently, this article also mentions West Indies A might also be coming to play in India. More exposure tours for India A

[carnish]

BTW, this is the schedule of India A tour of South Africa. Tue 06 ODI 1st ODI SAF A vs AUS A Pretoria Thu 08 ODI 2nd ODI AUS A vs IND A Pretoria Fri 09 ODI 3rd ODI SAF A vs IND A Pretoria Sat 10 ODI 4th ODI AUS A vs SAF A Pretoria Sun 11 ODI 5th ODI IND A vs AUS A Pretoria Mon 12 ODI 6th ODI IND A vs SAF A Pretoria Wed 14 ODI Final Pretoria Sat 17 - Tue 20 4-day Test 1st Test Match Rustenburg Sat 24 - Tue 27 4-day Test 2nd Test Match Pretoria

[carnish]

New Zealand A Squads Announced

New Zealand A will begin a six week tour of India and Sri Lanka beginning in late August, with 18 players named to play in the two series. The team travels to Vizag in India on August 25, where they will play a Three Day Match, a Four Day Match and three One Dayers against India A. They will continue on to Sri Lanka where they will face Sri Lanka A in two Four Day matches and three One Dayers. Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder and James Neesham will only be available for the two long format matches against India A, before being released to the Otago Volts for the Champions League. Anton Devcich, Andrew Ellis and Scott Kuggeleijn will replace them. New Zealand A squad:

Corey Anderson (Northern Knights) Todd Astle (Canterbury Wizards) Derek de Boorder (Otago Volts) Doug Bracewell (Central Districts) Neil Broom (Otago Volts) Carl Cachopa (Central Districts) Mark Gillespie (Wellington Firebirds) Matthew Henry (Canterbury Wizards) Tom Latham (Canterbury Wizards) James Neesham (Otago Volts) Adam Milne (Central Districts) Daryl Mitchell (Northern Knights) Colin Munro (Auckland Aces) Luke Ronchi (Wellington Firebirds) Ish Sodhi (Northern Knights) To replace Otago players at end of long format matches against India A: Anton Devcich (Northern Knights) Andrew Ellis (Canterbury Wizards) Scott Kuggeleijn (Northern Knights)

NZC General Manager of National Selection Kim Littlejohn said: “These tours are crucial to the development of players on the fringe of BLACKCAPS selection, both improving depth and creating competition for places.” “It’s a very strong New Zealand A squad with a lot of experience on the international scene. The likes of Doug Bracewell, Neil Broom and Mark Gillespie have all played at Test level and will benefit from further time facing international teams. “Players like Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi and Matthew Henry are all exciting prospects for the future, and this offers them an opportunity to continue their development and understand the demands of cricket at a higher level.” ”The experience of playing in sub-continent conditions will be of immense value for all these players and we’re confident they’ll grasp this opportunity with both hands.” http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news/international/1/new-zealand-a-to-tour-india-and-sri-lanka--squad-announced/10856/article.aspx

[rkt.india]

Here is Matthew Henry. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qnT7NjdB1I]Matt Henry - Five for 23 on debut as a replacement - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k8akGA96NY]Matt Henry Ford Trophy - YouTube[/ame]

[carnish]

Thread updated with all the schedules of India A in the coming months. Read OP for details. Thanks.

[Bleed-Blue]

:hatsoff:To the new selectors for arranging this many A tours

[carnish]

:hatsoff:To the new selectors for arranging this many A tours

Selectors don't schedule matches, Its the work of the Fixtures committee. In any case, these tournaments were announced since Mid-2012.

[carnish]

India ‘A' squad to South Africa:

Cheteshwar Pujara (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Parvez Rasool, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shami Ahmed, Stuart Binny, Ishwar Pandey, Jaydev Unadkat, Siddarth Kaul.

[carnish]

South Africa A Squad for Tests vs India A and Australia A

Justin Ontong (capt), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, Marchant de Lange, Dean Elgar, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Rilee Rossouw, Thami Tsolekile, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Stiaan van Zyl, Hardus Viljoen.

South Africa A Squad for Triangular vs India A and Australia A

Justin Ontong (capt), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Ayabulela Gqamane, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Richard Levi, Rilee Rossouw, Yaseen Vallie, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Dane Vilas, Hardus Viljoen.

[saneindian]

Lots of FC matches before the domestic season. 2 in SA, 2 vs NZ a and 3 vs WI A. Add another 4-5 rounds ofRanji and a couple of Duleep Trophy matches before the SA tests, enough opportunity for all fringe players to do well and get noticed.

[Chandan]

Lots of FC matches before the domestic season. 2 in SA' date=' 2 vs NZ a and 3 vs WI A. Add another 4-5 rounds ofRanji and a couple of Duleep Trophy matches before the SA tests, enough opportunity for all fringe players to do well and get noticed.[/quote'] Get noticed for what? How many tests are India playing this season? I read that even NZ tour is curtailed to just 2 tests for the Asia Cup. BCCI looks to trim next year’s NZ tour Do we have any test series apart from SA and NZ? If not, mean only 5 tests in the 2013-14 season for us which is disgusting! Sorry for getting away from the topic of the thread!

[carnish]

Get noticed for what? How many tests are India playing this season? I read that even NZ tour is curtailed to just 2 tests for the Asia Cup. BCCI looks to trim next year’s NZ tour Do we have any test series apart from SA and NZ? If not, mean only 5 tests in the 2013-14 season for us which is disgusting! Sorry for getting away from the topic of the thread!

He was talking about Fringe Players getting noticed for chances next year when we play 12 tests ... 5 in England, 4 in Australia and 3 @ home vs West Indies.

[saneindian]

Get noticed for what? How many tests are India playing this season? I read that even NZ tour is curtailed to just 2 tests for the Asia Cup. BCCI looks to trim next year’s NZ tour Do we have any test series apart from SA and NZ? If not, mean only 5 tests in the 2013-14 season for us which is disgusting! Sorry for getting away from the topic of the thread!

Am not so cynical on the state of affairs. We play SA in 3 tests, NZ 2 tests, Eng 5 tests, WI 3 tests at home and then 4 more tests in Australia till 2015 WC- thats 17 tests in the next 18 months, quite a good number I say. Could have played a few more tests this season but thats fine, we have been regularly playing 10-11 tests every year (with BCCI being flexible in converting long ODI series to accommodate test matches which is good enough). On the A tours, for the fringe players more A matches give them a perspective on how good they are for international cricket and will only help us in the future( If not immediately, in the next 6-9 months when we have a few injuries in the national side).

[carnish]

ACC Emerging Teams Cup @ Singapore

Schedule:

17 Aug Singapore v Bangladesh U-23 at Kallang Afghanistan v Nepal at SCC 18 Aug India U-23 v Pakistan U-23 at Kallang Bangladesh U-23 v Sri Lanka U-23 at SCC 19 Aug Singapore v UAE at Kallang Afghanistan v Pakistan U-23 at SCC 20 Aug Sri Lanka U-23 v UAE at Kallang India U-23 v Nepal at SCC 21 Aug Singapore v Sri Lanka U-23 at Kallang Nepal v Pakistan U-23 22 Aug Afghanistan v India U-23 at Kallang Bangladesh U-23 v UAE at SCC 23 Aug SF1: A1 v B2 at Kallang SF2: A2 v B1 at SCC 25 Aug Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

[Bleed-Blue]

India 'A' tour would benefit fringe players, says coach Lalchand Rajput

Mumbai: Terming India A's upcoming tour of South Africa as a tough challenge, team coach Lalchand Rajput on Wednesday said it would also provide a good opportunity for fringe players to earn a berth in the senior team which is set to travel to the same country later this year. "The tour to South Africa is a tough one. Everyone knows that Australia or South Africa is a tough tour. The 'A' tour is an opportunity for players who are in and out of the team (to impress the selectors) because if you perform well in it then you get selected for the India team," said the former Test opener here. Rajput, who was felicitated by the Dadar Parsi Zoroastrian Cricket Club, pointed out how Cheteshwar Pujara , who will be leading the team, did well in the West Indies last year as captain of the 'A' team and immediately found a berth in the national senior squad. "Cheteshwar Pujara went last year to the West Indies where he did well and immediately came into the Indian team. When we went to New Zealand, Bhuvneshwar Kumar did well, Mohammed Shami and (Ambati) Rayudu also did well on that tour and now they are in the Indian team. "This tour is important. Players also realise that if they do well in the 'A' tour then the next step is the Indian team, so it is an important tour," he added. Rajput said the players, who are not touring Zimbabwe currently, will have a short camp in Bangalore from tomorrow before reaching South Africa on August 4 ahead of the team's opening game of the tri-series on August 8 against Australia A. "Ten players are already playing in Zimbabwe, so they must be match fit and would be coming directly from there to South Africa. I am going to meet the other six players in Bangalore tomorrow. We will have a 2 to 3-day camp and then leave on August 3 and meet the other players on August 4." Rajput stressed that the team would take one series at a time, by concentrating on the tri-series first and then turning its focus on the two four-day games against the hosts. "Triangular series is important because of two big teams Australia and South Africa. That will be a big challenge. After that we have two 'Tests'. So we will focus on one series at a time. The players are coming from Zimbabwe, so that should also help us," Rajput said. The former Mumbai cricketer said the tour would also enable Pujara to grow as captain. "I have seen Cheteshwar captaining the India A team in the West Indies. He is a fantastic player. As a captain, he is learning by experience. I think this tour will help him to mature as a captain." Rajput, who was the coach when India won the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa, said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has matured since that triumph. "Dhoni is captain cool. I am seeing him since 2007 and he has matured. He keeps doing something new and is a good thinker. He takes decision based on his gut feeling. He takes the decision according to the situation and that is why he is a successful captain. He never shows any emotion and that is the main attribute of being a captain." On comparisons made between Sourav Ganguly and Dhoni, he said, "Sourav Ganguly was an aggressive captain, while Dhoni is a cool captain. But we always look at the results. Sourav Ganguly definitely gets the credit for changing the mentality and bringing in the aggressiveness." He defended Virat Kohli, leading the Indian team in Dhoni's absence, for refusing to walk despite being given out by the third umpire in the ongoing ODI series in Zimbabwe. "When you are young the rush of the blood is always there. I have seen him since under-19 and he is a stubborn cricketer, who doesn't want to give away his wicket easily. There are very few players who hate losing their wicket. He may have felt it was not out and it was in the heat of the moment. "As a captain, yes, when the third umpire had given his decision then he shouldn't have (waited) but he must have also realised it later that what he did was not right. I think we should leave this topic there itself and not drag it further," he said. Rajput hailed the selectors' decision to go with a young squad for the Zimbabwe tour and said the bowlers have done well in the ongoing series, which India has already won. "Selectors have done a good job by sending young players and when you get the opportunity to play at the international level, you must grab it with both hands. "(Spinner) Amit Mishra, who wasn't part the team last year, has done very well and selectors would now have to think (a lot) about leaving him out of the team. (Jaydev) Unadkat and Shami (both pacers) have also done well similarly. "The selectors are looking at consistency and that can be achieved only by playing these matches. This is a good exposure for them and by doing this Indian team will get good players," he said.

[Bleed-Blue]

Sourav Ganguly hails BCCI's initiative for India 'A' team's tour to South Africa

Kolkata: Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday hailed the BCCI's intiative for India 'A' team's tour to South Africa ahead of the gruelling Test series. "A team is going ahead of the Test series, so that's a good preparation. This team has a potential," Ganguly told reporters after attening CAB's annual general meeting here today. Cheteshwar Pujara-led India 'A' will compete in a one-day tri-series also involving Australia 'A' before two four-day games beginning August 8. Asked about Virat Kohli's captaincy in the ongoing Zimbabwe ODI series, Ganguly said the Delhi youngster has a long way to go. "It was just for the Zimbabwe series. First let him become captain, then we will say." Ganguly further predicted that England, with a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, would retain the high-voltage series against Australia. A member of the Bengal cricket development committee, Ganguly further wished new coach Ashok Malhotra best wishes for the upcoming season. "I'm yet to speak to him. I just want to wish him good luck and hope the team plays well."