The England Lions have taken a commanding position against India A in their four-day Test match, reaching 527/7 on the third day. While Mukesh Kumar delivered a noteworthy spell in the morning, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled to make an impact, allowing England to forge strong partnerships. Tom Haines and Dan Mousley capitalized, scoring centuries.
Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy, both vying for the seamer all-rounder role in the Test squad, had underwhelming performances. Mukesh Kumar (3/75 in 21 overs) stood out with the old Dukes ball, but the rest of the Indian bowling attack lacked inspiration. On a flat pitch, the Indian bowlers struggled, and Abhimanyu Easwaran's captaincy was also criticized. Shardul (1/90 in 21 overs) and Reddy (0/57 in 11 overs) bowled a combined 32 overs but failed to trouble Tom Haines (171) and Dan Mousley (113).
Reddy needed two spells to find his rhythm, while Shardul's performance was uninspiring. They bowled at average speeds between 75 mph (120 kmph) and 78 mph (125 kmph). Shardul took a wicket, but Sarfaraz Khan made a brilliant one-handed catch at first slip to dismiss Haines. It's unclear if they were instructed to bowl at less than full intensity. It is also not clear if the senior team management was able to assess who could consistently bowl 10-12 overs a day in English conditions based on this match.
In response to India A's 557, England Lions showcased a strong batting performance. Tom Haines (171) and Max Holden (101) set a solid foundation, and Dan Mousley (113) contributed significantly. The partnership between Haines and Holden added 181 runs.
On Day 2, India A declared at 557. Karun Nair made 204, and Dhruv Jurel scored 94. Josh Hull and Zaman Akhter took three wickets each for England. In response, England Lions ended Day 2 at 237/2, trailing by 320 runs. Haines remained unbeaten at 103.
On Day 1, India A reached 409/3, with Karun Nair at 186 not out and Dhruv Jurel at 82 not out. Sarfaraz Khan fell short of his century, scoring 92.
Going into Day 2, India A aimed for their batsmen to reach milestones and for Nitish Kumar Reddy to gain time in the middle, as he is likely to start the first Test in Headingley. Reddy was dismissed for 7 off 22 deliveries, and Shardul Thakur came to the crease. Shardul, returning to the Indian team, aimed to contribute with the bat.
During England Lions' innings, Anshul dropped Emilio Gay, and Sarfaraz Khan dropped Haines. Haines and Holden formed a crucial partnership. Holden reached his fifty off 47 balls.
