Yardy focussed on Bangladesh challenge

The England A squad arrived in Bangladesh on Thursday with the twin aims of braving the local conditions and playing some quality cricket. With the World Cup getting underway next month and England's senior team unsettled by one or two nagging injuries, the A-squad members who have been undergoing practice sessions at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur know full well that an impressive showing on this trip could lead to higher honours before the English season gets underway in April.

Nevertheless, Michael Yardy, England A's captain, was adamant that the sole focus for his team-mates was the current engagements. "Obviously I wanted to play in the World Cup," said Yardy during a media conference in Mirpur. "But here I am in Bangladesh with the England A side, and I see this as an opportunity to play in a different country and different condition. I am quite happy with it

"It's true that in case of an injury someone can be called up from here to join the World Cup squad," he added. "But remember this is not just about the World Cup. These players are eager to play in Tests and one-day internationals for England in future. So this tour is a learning experience for all of us. Hopefully when we will visit the subcontinent with the national team we will utilise this experience. First of all we came here to play some good cricket. Beside that we want to experience the condition, enjoy the country on and off the pitch."

Yardy is a familiar foe of the Bangladesh players, having cracked a massive 257 for Sussex at Hove, during a warm-up for the Test tour in 2005 at Hove. "Obviously I remember that innings," he recalled. "That is my highest first-class score. That was my day. I have the experience of playing against Bangladesh while they were touring England a few seasons ago. That was a very talented squad which had some promising batsmen and quality spinners. I am sure that this time we are going to face another talented side."

Having already appeared for the England one-day side last year, Yardy is determined to win his way back to the main side. "On this tour I want to lead the team well and set an example by playing good cricket. Besides that I want to get back in the national squad as early as possible. For that I have to score some big runs on this tour."

The coach, Peter Moores, was confident that his side had the ingredients to do well. "We came here with a big and balanced squad. We have a very talented legspinner [Adil Rashid] and also have some players who have the experience of playing at the highest level like Matt Prior, Yardy and Stuart Broad. So we have got a nice mixed group. These boys are quite ready to show that they are capable of stepping into the next level and that is to play for the national team."

Will Jefferson launches one out of the Mirpur nets © Getty Images

Moores also defended the presence of only one specialist spinner in the squad. "We also have two part timers in Yardy [left-arm spin] and Alex Loudon [offspinner] who can also bat. So we've got quite a few options. We have the chance to field three spinners in a match. Besides that we have a good seam attack. Broad has just got back from Australia with the triumphant CB series team. Another pacer Graham Onions can bowl with some pace. We want to have a good time and hopefully identify some future England players and win some matches, obviously."

Moores added that his side would have their work cut out on a tricky tour. "We know about your passion for the game," he told the local Bangladeshi journalists, "and we are very aware that this will not be an easy tour for us because it is very difficult to beat Bangladesh in their backyard. The conditions are obviously different from ours. The first part of any tour for the touring side is to get used to the conditions."

The team's manager, Guy Jackson, who had toured Bangladesh last month to inspect the facilities, said they couldn't have asked for more. "The facility is absolutely superb," he said of the Mirpur stadium. "You have fantastic international stadiums and the indoor facilities are equally good. In terms of potential and facilities I think Bangladesh are a sleeping giant. Now we are looking forward to the challenge of playing good competitive cricket here."

England A kick off their tour with a three-day practice game against the BCB National Cricket Academy side at the Bangladesh Institute of Sports (BKSP), starting on Saturday. They return to Mirpur for the first of two four-day matches against Bangladesh A (Feb 22-25) and then travel to Bogra for the second four-dayer (Mar 1-4), followed by the first of three one-day matches (Mar. 7). They wrap up their tour with the remaining one-dayers against Bangladesh A at Mirpur on March 9 and 11.