New Zealand A tour of India 2013

[Chandan]

Nayar, Latham lead hopefuls Wisden India staff | Visakhapatnam | 27 August 2013 New Zealand A will kick off their tour of the subcontinent when they take on India A, led by Abhishek Nayar, in a three-day fixture beginning at the Port Stadium on Wednesday (August 28). There is a greater international flavour to the New Zealand camp, with as many as six members having represented the senior team in the limited-overs format, while four of them – Doug Bracewell, Mark Gillespie, Todd Astle and Colin Munro – have played Test cricket. But nothing can put things into perspective better than the fact that most players in the New Zealand A squad weren’t even born when the senior team last won a Test in India, in 1988. While that record could stay intact for some time, given New Zealand aren’t likely to tour India any time soon, the tour will provide valuable experience for a lot of the players. With the national team touring Bangladesh in October-November, good performances here could open the doors for selection. The squad hasn’t had enough time to completely adjust to the conditions, given that they landed in Visakhapatnam only on Sunday night. Understandably, after a number of fitness drills, the net session at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Tuesday saw a number of spinners lining up to bowl at the New Zealand batsmen. Two extensive training camps in Queensland, Australia, for the Tom Latham-led side focusing on different skills preceded the tour, and should stand them in good stead. Bracewell is easily the most recognisable member of the squad. The experience of 16 Tests including two in India makes him the spearhead of the pace attack, also consisting of Gillespie, the 33-year-old who has played five Tests and 32 One-Day Internationals. Ish Sodhi, the Ludhiana-born leg-spinner, is the only member from the Under-19 World Cup squad of 2012 in this party. While New Zealand’s focus is on the tour of Bangladesh, several members of the India A squad have the opportunity to make a name for themselves, given that the West Indies A will play three four-day games, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 game, all in Karnataka, starting from the second half of next month. A number of players are coming into the tournament on the back of a pretty exhaustive conditioning camp in Bangalore. Unmukt Chand and Manprit Juneja, part of the India Under-23 team that won the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Singapore, didn’t train but were confirmed to be a part of the playing XI by Sanjay Bangar, the coach. With Vijay Zol also having being on tours to Australia and Sri Lanka in the recent past, the top order looks solid. CM Gautam, the only wicketkeeper in the squad, and Nayar too are coming into the match on the back of a series of matches. While Gautam led KSCA XI in the Safi Darashah tournament in Bangalore, Nayar played six weeks of club cricket in the United Kingdom. Dhawal Kulkarni, the experienced paceman, will lead the bowling attack with Aniket Choudhay, Shrikant Wagh and Imtiaz Ahmed fighting for other fast-bowling spots. The spin component will come from among Rakesh Dhruv, Jalaj Saxena and Sarabjit Ladda. Teams (from): India A: Abhishek Nayar (capt) , Dhawal Kulkarni, Jiwanjot Singh, Unmukt Chand, Manpreet Juneja Vijay Zol, VA Jagadeesh, CM Gautam (wk), Imtiaz Ahmed, Aniket Choudhary, Shrikant Wagh, Jalaj Saxena, Rakesh Dhruv, Sarabjit Ladda New Zealand A: Tom Latham (capt), Corey Anderson, Carl Cachopa, Neil Broom, Derak de Boorder, James Neesham, Mark Gillespie, Luke Ronchi, Matthew Henry, Doug Bracewell, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Todd Astle, Ish Sodhi, Anton Devcich, Andrew Ellis, Scott Kuggelijin. Tour Fixtures 1st unofficial Test: India A v NZ A at Visakhapatnam Aug 28-30, 2013 (09:30 local | 04:00 GMT) 2nd unofficial Test: India A v NZ A at Visakhapatnam Sep 2-5, 2013 (09:30 local | 04:00 GMT) 1st unofficial ODI: India A v NZ A at Visakhapatnam Sep 8, 2013 (09:00 local | 03:30 GMT) 2nd unofficial ODI: India A v NZ A at Visakhapatnam Sep 10, 2013 (09:00 local | 03:30 GMT) 3rd unofficial ODI: India A v NZ A at Visakhapatnam Sep 12, 2013 (09:00 local | 03:30 GMT)

[rkt.india]

Vijay Zol makes it to India A squad

Vijay Zol, the 18-year-old Maharashtra batsman, has been named in the India A squad for the long-format matches against the touring New Zealand A team. Zol, who has not played a first-class match thus far, has been prolific at the Under-19 level, scoring consecutive centuries against Sri Lanka in the recent youth-Test series. The team for the two unofficial Tests - one three-day and one four-day match - will be led by Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar and includes a number of young players; Punjab batsman Jiwanjot Singh, Delhi's Unmukt Chand, Gujarat's Manprit Juneja and Madhya Pradesh spinner Jalaj Saxena among others. The squad for the three unofficial ODIs also includes consistent performers from the domestic scene. The side, led by Chand, the former Under-19 captain, also includes Robin Uthappa, who last played an ODI for India in 2008. All the matches of the series are scheduled to be played in Visakhapatnam and the tour kicks off with the three-day match starting August 31. India A Test squad: Abhishek Nayar (capt), Jiwanjot Singh, Unmukt Chand, Vijay Zol, Manprit Juneja, V. Jagdish, C.M. Gautham (wk), Dhawal Kulkarni, Imtiaz Ahmed, Aniket Choudhary, Shrikant Wagh, Jalaj Saxena, Rakesh Dhruv, Sarabjeet Ladda. India A ODI squad: Unmukt Chand (capt), Robin Uthappa, Aditya Tare (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Mandeep Singh, Ashok Menaria, Sanju Vishwanadh, Sachin Baby, Dhawal Kulkarni, Basant Mohanty, Sandeep Sharma, Shrikant Wagh, Rahul Sharma, Jalaj Saxena

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/659875.html

[Lord]

good :hatsoff:

[JaFanatic]

where is ishank jaggi in the one day squad :hitler:

[rkt.india]

No Pankaj, No Suyal and Shukla either while Aniket Chaudhary is selected

[Lord]

No Pankaj' date=' No Suyal and Shukla either while Aniket Chaudhary is selected[/quote'] I also don't know why Rakesh Dhruv manages to get selected repeatedly.He's already 32 and has an average FC record.Iqbal Abdullah is much better prospect and should be groomed

[rkt.india]

I also don't know why Rakesh Dhruv manages to get selected repeatedly.He's already 32 and has an average FC record.Iqbal Abdullah is much better prospect and should be groomed

yeah that is perplexing too.

[Sooda]

Dhruv had a good season last year, based on that. Not like there is a plethora of spin options Pankaj not being there is most dissapointing but that aside The pace attack of the longer format side is good. Theres a few players in that Limited overs squad who should have been in the A team in S Africa- Uthappa, Jadhav and Mandeep. Even Wagh. Seems like Mukund has been forgotten about despite being A team captain not long ago. I know he had an average domestic season but he has showed enough grit in test cricket to be B team opener at least.

[India-KXIP fan]

Jiwanjot makes it!! :yay: Disappointing they think Mandeep is only for ODI's though

[Lord]

Dhruv had a good season last year, based on that. Not like there is a plethora of spin options Pankaj not being there is most dissapointing but that aside The pace attack of the longer format side is good. Theres a few players in that Limited overs squad who should have been in the A team in S Africa- Uthappa, Jadhav and Mandeep. Even Wagh. Seems like Mukund has been forgotten about despite being A team captain not long ago. I know he had an average domestic season but he has showed enough grit in test cricket to be B team opener at least.

but I think A tours should be used for youngsters.32 yr olds in A tour doesnt serve any purpose imo. About options we have Vishal Joshi,Abdulla,Bhargav Bhatt etc.

[G_B_]

so this is India B in reality.

[msb1991]

Very odd squads.

[saneindian]

So Mukund who was our last A side captain cant even find a place in the India B squad! Mandeep and Menaria were also part of main A squad till NZ A tour, not even in the India B FC squad now. But some good selections. Also Gambhir, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Bhajji, Praveen Kumar, Mithoon, Awana, Yusuf Pathan etc have no place in A or B sides. Only way for a comeback is to have a good domestic season.

[G_B_]

well clearly with a new selector Patil will have players he likes and players he is not too sure of.

[saneindian]

Looking at the all the squads and removing the common players across squads India main squad: Dhoni, Kohli , Dhawan, Rohit, DK, Raina, Jadeja, Mishra, Ashwin, Shami , VK, Ishant , Bhuvi, Umesh India A squad to SA: Pujara (capt.), Vijay, Rayudu, Rahane, Saha, Rasool, Nadeem, Binny, Ishwar, Unadkat, Sid Kaul India A vs NZ A : Nayar (capt), Jiwanjot, Chand, Zol, Juneja, Jagdish, Gautham (wk), Dhawal, Imtiaz, Aniket , Wagh, Jalaj, Dhruv, Ladda. India A ODI squad for NZ A : Uthappa, Tare (wk), Jadhav, Mandeep , Menaria, Sanju Samson, Sachin Baby, , Basant Mohanty, Sandeep, Rahul Sharma Those not in any squad but int'l players- Gambhir, Sehwag, Sachin, Yuvraj, Bhajji, Zaheer, Parthiv, Praveen , Munaf, RP , Mithoon, Tiway, Varun Aaron Thats a total of 60+ players!! Huge pool being created!! maybe we need to whittle it down to about 35 odd players and give them more such opportunities.

[BeautifulGame]

Robin Uttappa will play under Chand :cantstop: But very good selections mostly.

[saneindian]

Now from the above lists Openers - Dhawan, Vijay, Jiwanjot, Chand, Rohit and Uthappa MO batsmen - Pujara, Sachin, Kohli, Raina, Rahane Rayudu, ZOl, Juneja, Jagdish, Jadhav, Sachin Baby, Mandeep and Menaria Keepers- Dhoni, DK, Saha, Gautam, Samson & Tare All rounders - Binny, Jalaj Spinners- Jadeja, Mishra, Ashwin, Rasool, Nadeem, Ladda, Dhruv, Rahul Sharma Pacers - Bhuvi, Umesh, Ishant, VK, Shami, Unadkat, Ishwar, Sid Kaul, Dhawal, Imtiaz, Aniket, Mohanty, Sandeep Those not in any squad but int'l players- Gambhir, Sehwag, Sachin, Yuvraj, Tiway, Parthiv, Bhajji, Zaheer, Praveen , Munaf, RP , Mithoon, Varun Aaron

[saneindian]

Our last India A match vs NZ A last year http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/569306.html The three centurions from the match - Mukund, Mandeep and Menaria not even in India B FC squad. Players from that A squad not in any of present squads- Mukund, Anustup Mazumdar, Surya Yadav, Naman Ojha, Rituraj Singh, Akshay Darekar

[Lord]

^ shows inconsistency by selectors :headshake:

[saneindian]

^ shows inconsistency by selectors :headshake:

Having written that post looked at stats for last domestic season. All those dropped Mukund, Mandeep, Menaria, Anustup, Darekar, Surya, Rituraj have had very poor domestic season. So in a way justified. But Mukund being totally ignored is surprising. With some technical adjustments, he could really click at the international level. Showed enough guts in the chances he got.