The two-match series between England Lions and India A kicks off on May 30. Here are all the live updates from the first match of the series in Canterbury.
India and England will face off in a five-Test series from June 20 – as is customary these days, India's A team will play against their counterparts from the home team. This has been the case during their last two tours as well; against Australia last November, and against South Africa in December 2023. Ahead of the home series against England in 2024, the Lions came to India.
India announced an 18-member squad for the A series, captained by Abhimanyu Easwaran, whose 14 years on the domestic circuit are yet to result in a Test cap. Two members of the main squad, new Test captain Shubman Gill and his IPL opening partner B Sai Sudharsan, are set to join the squad for the second match of the tour.
Find the full India A squad for the England tour here.
The Lions, meanwhile, will be led by record-breaking Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew. Brothers Rehan and Farhan Ahmed have both been called up to the same England squad for the very first time. On the eve of the series (May 29), three changes were made as replacements were named for Sonny Baker, Chris Woakes and George Hill.
The full Lions squad is available here.
Follow the live score here:
1st unofficial Test, England Lions vs India A
vs
- Ball by ball Over
England Lions vs India A, first unofficial Test: Live updates
Fifty for Karun Nair!
On a comeback bid, the 33-year-old has ticked off another box with a gritty fifty against the Lions
Karun and Safaraz continue to rebuild
India A have now crossed 100
Lunch: India on 86-2
Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan continue their vigil. Nair has made it a point to play the ball late
Sarfaraz off to brisk start
The Indian middle-order batter, not picked for the Tests, will have a point to prove
Jaiswal gone, Sarfaraz in
The India opener falls to a wild slog. Sarfaraz is in at four
50 up for India A
Jaiswal looking steady, with support from Karun
Easwaran is gone!
Dismissed by Josh Hull, the 6'7'' left-arm seamer for eight.
India XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish KR, Shardul Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar
Abhimanyu Easwaran and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening
Remember Easwaran, India A captain, is yet to feature in a Test
India A batting first
England Lions won the toss and chose to field
KL Rahul to reportedly join A team on June 3
Looking for some game time, he is likely to feature in the second A game. Earlier, Shubman Gill was supposed to play as well, but withdrew.
What time will the match start?
The first England Lions vs India A Unofficial Test will begin at 11am local time, which converts to 3:30pm India time.
Shubman Gill will lead an 18-member Indian squad in the England Tests.
England Lions squad, full list
James Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Zaman Akhter, Henry Crocombe, Max Holden, Sonny Baker*, Chris Woakes*.
*second match only
India A squad, full list
Abhimanyu Easwaran (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (vc) (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (wk), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey, Shubman Gill*, Sai Sudharsan*.
*second match only
What is the tour schedule for England Lions vs India A?
Two matches are scheduled for this series:
1st unofficial Test: May 30 - June 2
2nd unofficial Test: June 6 - June 9
Following these two games, India A will take on the main Indian squad in a practice match ahead of the England Test series.
