As expected the first warm-up match between England XI and India A ended in a draw. It is very difficult to get a result in a three day match, but the English team will agree that they were tested in the match and would be a bit worried about how most of their batsmen played against against part-time spinners.

India A will be happy with the way they played especially Yuvraj Singh who did well with both bat and ball. Before the match started there was talks of competition between Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh and based on this match, Yuvraj surely has a better chance to play in the first Test.

There were some impressive performances from both teams and some pretty week ones, let’s have a look at some of them.

India A:

Hits:

Yuvraj Singh: He had a brilliant outing with both bat and ball. Yuvraj in the first innings came into bat at number four position and played an important knock of 59. He looked settled and looked good against the English bowlers. With the ball he was phenomenal, h wiis first wicket of his old nemesis Kevin Pietersen and he went on to take his first five wicket haul in domestic circuit.

Manoj Tiwary: He was the top-scorer for India A in the first innings and looked the best batsmen in the team. He came into bat after India A lost two quick wickets, soon he lost Yuvraj and the onus was on him to take the team to a good score. He gelled well with the lower-order batsman and scored an impressive 93.

Abhinav Mukund: He looked very impressive at the top of the order. Mukund played well against the new ball and played an attacking innings. He scored 73 runs of just 83 balls hitting 16 fours in his innings.

Flops:

Suresh Raina: Raina before the match said that he was looking to score big runs to put his name forward for that number six spot, but his performance in the match was not good. Raina could only score 20 runs in the first innings.

England XI:

Alastair Cook: Cook has been great for England in the past few seasons and he started his Indian campaign in style. He looked comfortable against all the bowlers and looked at home. He scored a brilliant 119.

Samit Patel: England team management will be particularly happy with his performance. England team will love to have a second spinner in the side and Patel playing at number six provides them that option. He scored 104 beautiful runs and should take a lot of confidence from his innings.

Flops:

Kevin Pietersen: He is making a comeback into the English squad and all eyes will be on him whenever he will walk out to bat. Pietersen is a big man in the England batting line-up and they need him to fire. He got out to Yuvraj once again and his trouble against the left-arm spinners is known to everyone.

By Indian Sports News Network