Haines century, quick Holden fifty leads strong Lions reply

Tom Haines and Emilio Gay have kept England Lions ticking along nicely in Canterbury after Anshul Kamboj struck early, sending back Ben McKinney. Both batters have had their chances. Gay was dropped on 9 by Dhruv Jurel and Haines on 11 in the slip cordon by Sarfaraz Khan. Gay has looked fluent and has struck five fours in his unbeaten 28 while Haines is 25 not out. India A have used four bowlers so far, with only Kamboj being successful. Harshit Rana has conceded 34 in his five overs. England Lions still trail India A by 482 runs.

Ben McKinney, the tall Durham left-hand opener, had timed a lovely square-driven four off Mukesh Kumar from the Pavilion end. While Mukesh had been taking time to find his line and rhythm, his new-ball partner Kamboj, operating from the Nackington Road end, had settled down quickly as if he was bowling back at his home ground of Lahli in native Haryana in North India. Kamboj is a strong unit, broad-shouldered, just about 6 feet tall and was picked in the Indian Test squad for his ability to bang the ball hard on lengths and utilise the seam.

Unlike Mukesh, Kamboj offered no width and forced the batters to play every ball as he attacked the top of the off stump. McKinney had been beaten by one such delivery, the first of Kamboj’s third over (sixth of the innings), even if he was covering the off stump. Next delivery, Kamboj delivered from close to the stumps, pitched on the top band of good length, on middle stump and then seamed away to sneak past the outside edge of McKinney’s bat and send the off stump cartwheeling. It was the first bowled dismissal of the match. The Indian fans erupted in joy across the ground as Kamboj sent an early warning to the opposition.

From Nagraj Gollapudi: Aggressive cameos from Shardul Thakur, Harsh Dubey and Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj helped India A finish on 557 in their first innings. For England Lions, Josh Hull and Zaman Akhter picked up three wickets apiece. The focus will now quickly shift to India’s fast bowlers, especially the two allrounders – Thakur and Reddy.

India A continue to bat post lunch, so the signal is clear that they want to bat once and put on a huge score. Harsh Dubey falls in the first over after the break, edging Josh Hull to the wicketkeeper James Rew. It was a back of a length delivery that bounced a bit more than what Dubey anticipated. He fails to get on top of the bounce as he attempts a cut and hands Rew his fifth catch of the innings.

Lunch India A 533 for 7 (Nair 204, Jurel 94, Sarfaraz 92, Akhter 2-73, Jack 2-75) vs England Lions

Harsh Dubey and Anshul Kamboj have added an unbroken 39-run stand for the eighth wicket and pushed India’s score to 533 for 7 at lunch on the second day. England Lions struck four times on the second day but runs came at a fair clip for the visitors, who piled up 124 runs in 29 overs at a run rate of 4.27. The Dhruv Jurel-Karun Nair stand ended on 195 relatively early in the day, with Jurel caught at slip. Nitish Kumar Reddy came and went but Nair went on to record his fourth first-class double-century. He fell soon after, giving Zaman Akhter his first wicket. Shardul Thakur struck 27 off 32 balls, his innings studded with four fours, before he became Zaman’s second wicket. At 494 for 7, it seemed Lions would run through the India A tail, but Dubey and Kamboj have since held fort. Will India A declare, or do they want to bat once and bat big?

Nagraj informs that no India A bowlers are warming up so it looks like they will bat through.

Sampath Bandarupalli sends in this stat, which puts Nair in elite company: Karun Nair is the fifth Indian to score multiple first-class double-centuries in England. Polly Umrigar (6), Cheteshwar Pujara (4), Vijay Merchant (2) and Mohammad Azharuddin (2) are the others. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi also had five 200s, but all by 1934, when he was an England Test cricketer.

From Nagraj Gollapudi: Nair’s over seven-hour vigil, though, soon came to an end as Zaman Akhter used the slope to land the ball on the seam and kick up and in, forcing an inside edge en route to Rew, who picked his third catch. Nair had shown patience, composure and solid defensive technique during his 435-minute innings lasting 281 balls. His runs came at a good clip, with his innings including 26 fours and a six.

Wearing No. 3 on his shirt, people might expect Nair to be in the race for the No. 3 position, though he might be slotted into the middle order as well. Nair, though, will be less inclined to get carried away and would want to make his case stronger during the second game against Lions, starting from June 6 in Northampton. For now, though, he was content walking back with pride as Lions players rushed to him to congratulate him on a good innings.

From Nagraj Gollapudi: Raising the bat has become a habit for Nair in recent times. He had already celebrated his 50, 100, 150 and this morning, three balls after Jack nabbed Reddy, Nair pulled him comfortably for a four and recorded his fourth double-century in first-class cricket. With him continuing to bat, it is likely that India A want to bat just once and score big and give their fast bowlers, especially the two allrounders – Reddy and Shardul Thakur – enough time to hit the straps.

Nagraj Gollapudi sends this from Canterbury: Nitish Kumar Reddy will be livid with himself for his impatience to look to score of virtually every ball. On 5, the delivery from Dale seamed into his back leg and Reddy was lucky to get away despite a strong appeal from Lions’ fast bowler. In the following over, trying to push an on-drive with hard hands, he was lucky to get away as the inside edge thudded into the pads. However, soon after, when Eddie Jack pitched a delivery short of a length, Reddy attempted to square drive and offered a simple catch to James Rew. Probably the message from the India A management was to look for quick runs, but Reddy would need to correct quite a few things in his technique in dealing with the seam on England pitches as he gets ready for the Test series where he is in contention for a lower-order spot.

From Nagraj Gollapudi, who is settled in nice and early: Would Karun Nair reach his double century first or would Dhruv Jurel beat his senior partner en route to his own century? That was the first question on a sunny Saturday for the steadily filling St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. Unfortunately for Jurel, though, six short of the landmark, he got sucked into playing what seemed like a fuller-length delivery, only to offer a thick edge brilliantly pouched by second slip.

Jurel has been amongst the most impressive young batters to emerge in the last two years and has shown his temperament and daring during England’s tour of India last year, where he made his debut and was player of the match in the Ranchi Test. Never shy to play the shot, Jurel went for a drive against a delivery from Ajeet Singh Dale that pitched on that teasing length where the batter feels it is full, but it is a wee bit short. Jurel’s mistake, though, was playing away from the pitch of the delivery and he paid the price.

In a new era for men's Test cricket in India, there is a fair intrigue around the composition of their batting line-up for the five-match series against England starting next month. Nair made a strong case for his inclusion for his first Test match since 2017. He struck a mammoth century to finish unbeaten on 186.

Sarfaraz and Jurel also provided timely reminder of what they bring to the side in these conditions. Against a largely inexperienced Lions bowling attack, they made merry. Sarfaraz would feel he missed out after being dismissed on 92. Jurel is unbeaten on 82 and has a century for the taking.

The story of the day was Nair, who has pushed his case for Test selection, writes Nagraj Gollapudi, who was in Canterbury.

Dhruv Jurel has looked compact from the moment he walked in. He has cashed in on any width offered and used the crease well against spin. The short balls too haven't bothered him. He looks in sublime touch, the shot to get to his half-century is testimony to that. He went onto the back foot against the length ball on the fifth stump and punched it through cover to get to fifty off 68 balls.

From Nagraj Gollapudi:

Karun Nair bit his lip at the first mistake he had committed when, 11 runs away from what would be his 24th first-class century, he played at a delivery that he could have possibly left alone from Ajeet Singh Dale. But Emilio Gay, at second slip, failed to pouch an easy catch offering Nair the opportunity he encashed happily post the tea break by raising his bat to celebrate the landmark.

While the Lions’ bowling attack is barely experienced, the century is significant for Nair, who will be contention for the middle-order slot in the first Test in Leeds.

From Nagraj Gollapudi:

He would have walked back post the tea break assured in his mind of getting to the century. However, eight short of the ton, Sarfaraz wafted at what was an innocuous straight delivery that was going down leg side. The bottom edge was brilliantly picked up neatly by Lions captain and wicketkeeper James Rew low to his left. It was a loose shot and while Sarfaraz would blame the break, he would also be the first to admi it was entirely an avoidable error. While Sarfaraz is not part of the Test squad, a big century overseas is always is good to keep the selectors interested.

Tea India A 227 for 2 (Sarfaraz 92*, Nair 91*) vs England Lions

A long toil for the Lions bowlers. Nair and Sarfaraz ground them. There weren't too many extravagant strokes. Sarfaraz opened up towards the end of that session. He first lofted Rehan over his head and then slog-swept offspinner Dan Mousley over midwicket. There also featured a Zaman Akhter over where he hit three fours - all through the arc between point and third. A chanceless innings from Sarfaraz so far.

Nair wouldn't have survived the session if second slip had managed to hang on to the edge off Ajeet Singh Dale. Nair was on 89 then and it was the final over of the session.

This has been a proper toil for the Lions bowlers. Nair and Sarfaraz have been happy to take their time and are in no rush. Nair got to his half-century inside the first hour in 85 balls. Sarfaraz survived a few nervy moments - a couple of deliveries by Hull from around the stumps kept low - before he got to his fifty in 84 balls. The two have also added a century stand. What's stood out from Sarfaraz is that he has curbed his natural instinct to attack. Only off his 93rd ball did he actually force an attacking shot - against Rehan Ahmed's legspin back over his head.

From Matt Roller:

Jofra Archer is in Canterbury, chatting with England managing director Rob Key on the boundary’s edge. England initially hoped that he’d make his red-ball comeback in one of these Lions fixtures, but the thumb injury he sustained at the IPL has pushed that back, and he has some heavy strapping on it this afternoon.

Key told Sky Sports last week that Archer’s injury – which ruled him out of England’s ongoing ODI series against West Indies – had set him back by “a couple of weeks”. Key said: “The whole plan with Jofra was more about getting four-day cricket into him… He’ll probably play the Championship games for Sussex [at the end of June]. He’ll be ready, we thought around the second Test; it might be the third Test now, but we’ll wait and see. It’s nothing too serious.”

Brydon Carse (toe) and Chris Woakes (ankle) both missed England’s Test against Zimbabwe during their own comebacks, but have since returned to play Championship cricket. Carse took 1 for 39 – and an outstanding catch at deep square leg – in England’s win over West Indies yesterday, while Woakes is due to play for the Lions in Northampton next week. England also insist that Gus Atkinson will be fit for the first Test against India despite a hamstring strain.

From Nagraj Gollapudi:

It has been 20 years since it suffered a violent death. Great words and poems have been written about it. Cowdrey wished, as his last act on earth, to hit a four towards this legend, which survived both the World Wars to live and tell its own tale. Before it started ailing around 1998, batters were challenged to clear it – eventually only three managed in its 200-plus year lifetime. Eventually when it died, confronted by a gale force wind, multitude of obits and condolence poured from across the world. Keating aptly noted, the “gushing” obits befitted a mini Royal.

I am talking about the Canterbury Lime, which has its own space in history of cricket.

PS: The book in the picture is from the sports shop inside Spitfire Ground

Lunch India A 86 for 2 (Nair 26*, Sarfaraz 17*, Jack 1-16) vs England Lions

Nair and Sarfaraz Khan snatched back any psychological edge England Lions might have momentarily gained with Jaiswal’s wicket. Nair was watchful, but not letting go of any scoring opportunities, picking some fluent cover driven fours. Sarfaraz, too, got into rhythm quickly as Lions’ bowlers fed him either hit-me lengths or bowled too wide.

Here's Nagraj Gollapudi from Canterbury:

It has been ten days since Jaiswal played in Rajasthan Royals’ final match of IPL 2025, hitting 19-ball 36 with seven boundaries including two sixes. With the India A games overlapping with the rescheduled IPL playoffs, there’s always the danger of taking time in making the necessary shift, both in mind and technique. On Friday, Jaiswal had shown enough restraint to not go chasing at balls. Of course, if the delivery was bad, as the hip-high short delivery from Hull early on was, Jaiswal did the needful to spank it high over deep square leg for the first six of the morning.

Post the first drinks-break, though, Jaiswal was challenged by the discipline of Zaman Akhter, who bowled lengths that forced the left-hander to play and miss. Did that affect him? Probably. Against a length delivery that was angling away towards fifth stump from Eddie Jack, who was bowling from the Nackington Road end, Jaiswal went for a wild slog and was easily caught behind.

After left-arm quick Josh Hull trapped Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw early, Karun Nair walked in at No. 3 and has looked solid. He hasn't been in T20 mode, as seen at the nets yesterday, but has been solid with a compact technique. He has played late, let the ball come to him. His only four thus far came when right-arm quick Ajeet Singh Dale strayed on his pad.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, at the other end, has batted like someone who's played Test cricket recently. The confidence reflects in his flying start. He picked a short one from Hull early to pull it over deep midwicket. Importantly, the pair has seen off the opening spell from the new-ball bowlers.

Matt Roller is in Canterbury for the 1st unofficial Test between England Lions and India A: India’s Test series in England will run into August but the tour is already up and running at the end of May.

There’s a smallish crowd in at Canterbury for the first day of a four, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran opening up for an India A team with 56 Test caps between them; Jaiswal is among seven capped players in their XI. They are up against an inexperienced England Lions XI, with only six caps (five for Rehan Ahmed, one for Josh Hull).

Hull has shared the new ball with Gloucestershire’s Ajeet Singh Dale, who induced an early outside edge from Jaiswal which was missed at third slip. The Lions’ squad for this fixture initially featured Chris Woakes, but he will now only play in the second India A fixture at Northampton after a successful recent comeback for Warwickshire.

Jasprit Bumrah wants to get his hands on the Dukes balls and play in swinging conditions in England: "Playing in England is always a different challenge," Bumrah told Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 cricket YouTube channel. "I always love bowling with the Dukes ball. But I don't know how much the Dukes ball is doing right now because there's always constant changes to the ball. But the weather, the swinging conditions. And then when the ball becomes soft, there's always a challenge. So I always look forward to playing in England.

"England are playing an interesting style of cricket which is interesting because I don't really understand it too much," he added. "But as a bowling unit, we always feel confident that when the batters are being ultra-aggressive, on a given day, anybody could run through and get wickets."

Full story: Bumrah talks workload management, Olympics ambitions

Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhimanyu Easwaran hit the nets on the eve of India A’s four-day match against England Lions in Canterbury. Nagraj Gollapudi says tomorrow’s game – which is also likely to feature Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Khaleel Ahmed and Aakash Deep - is the start of an audition for a couple of spots in India’s Test team for the upcoming five-match series against England.

Karun Nair last played for India more than eight years ago. But a solid Ranji Trophy season for Vidarbha, for whom he scored 863 runs at an average of 53.93, and a couple of good county cricket stints helped him make a comeback in the Test side for the five-match series in England.

Currently, he is with India A in Canterbury, preparing for the first four-day game against England Lions that starts on Friday. Here's a sneak peek of his net session.

Ricky Ponting reckons Arshdeep Singh could make his Test debut for India this summer in England. Ponting is Arshdeep’s coach at Punjab Kings in the IPL; they are playing Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a place in the IPL final this evening.

"He'll play in the Test series over there,” Ponting told PTI. “Bumrah Siraj, you know, to have a left-arm option there as well, I think it'd be outstanding. And you think of any English conditions, the way that Arshdeep bowls, he presents the seam as good as anybody, right-arm or left-arm, that's currently playing the game.

"I think he could play the first Test over there and he wouldn't let anybody down. I think it's the right time for him as well. He is in his sort of mid-20s, probably right now at the peak of his powers, I think it'd be a great selection for India in those Test matches."

Arshdeep had received his maiden call-up to the India Test squad for the five-match series in England. The other quicks in the 18-man squad are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep and Shardul Thakur.