Confident India A set to take on England Lions

India A, under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, takes on England Lions in a five-match One Day Internationals and two four-day Tests.

Published : Jan 22, 2019 21:49 IST , THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Ajinkya Rahane will lead India A team against England Lions.
Ajinkya Rahane will lead India A team against England Lions.
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Ajinkya Rahane will lead India A team against England Lions.

The cricket bandwagon continues with its relentless trail, the exhilarating series win over the Australians by the Indian team still fresh in the memories of the countless fans of the game.

The stage, now, is set for the India A squad, under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane to carry the good tidings ahead as it takes on England Lions in a five-match One Day Internationals and two four-day Tests starting here on Wednesday. While all the one-dayers are to be played at the Sports Hub, Kariyavattom, the two Tests are to be held in Krishnagiri (Wayanad) and Mysuru.

Read: India needs Dhoni at the World Cup, says Gautam Gambhir

The BCCI selection committee has named two different squads, one for the initial three ODIs and another for the remaining two, led by Ankit Bawne. Essentially meaning that it is serious with the preparations of the Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup, though that this series clashing with the final stages of the Ranji Trophy does mean that some of the deserving talent will miss these matches.

POPEGETTY
Ollie Pope will be key for England Lions alongside captain Sam Billings.


On the eve of the first ODI, Rahane was confident that the team under him will be able to put it across the young Lions from England, stating that as professional cricketers it was a job well unto them to play in different conditions while giving their best for the country. “In that sense, it is going to be an exciting series in which the skills of both the teams will put to test,:” said Rahane after a tough training grind on Tuesday.

The English team which has been in the city for well over a week now, despite being on a losing streak in both the warm up games against the Board President’s XI over the last weekend too feels that it cannot be written off in a hurry though in tough conditions. The England Lions’ captain, Sam Billings and Head Coach, Andy Flower said that the series was a platform to perform up to the potential and look out for positives with  an eye towards the future.

The remaining ODIs, apart from the one on Wednesday, are to be played on January 25, 27, 29 and 31.

The teams:

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