Mumbai: India A vs England warm-up match has much more importance than serving as a practice game for players from both England and India. The four match Test series is very important for both sides and the three warm-up matches will serve as a perfect platform for both teams.

England will be hoping to get a good start as they will know that the Indian team will be itching to avenge the embarrassing series defeat they suffered last year.

For India this practice game is important because at least one player from this playing eleven will play in Ahmadabad in the first Test. The number six spot is open after VVS Laxman’s retirement and the two contenders for that place, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina are playing in this match.

Yuvraj has not played a Test match for quite a long time and was picked in the squad on the back of a brilliant double-hundred in Duleep Trophy. Suresh Raina who is the captain of India A was given a chance against New Zealand but he disappointed. Raina was also a part of the Indian team that lost against England and his performance in that series was horrendous.        

England team was practicing in the UAE before they arrive here and will be happy to get their campaign on the Indian soil. They will be disgusted with the fact that they won’t face any spinners in the match because that is the thing that will certainly test them. English players have always struggled against spinners in sub-continent and would have loved to face some quality spin before going against the Indians in the first Test match.

Their new captain Alastair Cook will be looking to get a hold of the proceedings, he is a mature cricketer and has been leading England in limited overs from some time now, but to lead a team in India is a different story.

English players like Kevin Pietersen and their fast bowlers Anderson, Broad and Finn are their key players and they will be hoping for a good show here.

By Indian Sports News Network