The opening unofficial Test between India A and England Lions at Canterbury, held from May 30 to June 2, 2025, marked a significant start to India A tour of England. This fixture, often seen as a proving ground for emerging talent, provided both sides with a valuable opportunity to test their bench strength and acclimatize to English conditions. The match unfolded as a high-scoring affair, with both teams’ batters dominating proceedings and the bowlers enduring long, testing spells. Ultimately, the contest ended in a draw, but not before several standout performances set the tone for the remainder of the series.
India A’s batting brilliance on a run-filled track against England Lions
India A’s batters made the most of a flat, batter-friendly surface at The Spitfire Ground. After being put in to bat, the visitors posted a mammoth 557 in their first innings. Karun Nair was the star, crafting a sublime double century (204 off 281 balls), anchoring the innings with composure and class. He found able support from Sarfaraz Khan (92) and Dhruv Jurel (94), both of whom played aggressive, confident knocks to propel India A to a commanding total.
England Lions responded in kind, amassing 587 in their first innings and seizing a slender 30-run lead. Tom Haines (171), Max Holden (101), and Dan Mousley (113) all notched centuries, making the Indian bowlers toil for every wicket. The pitch offered little to the bowlers, and the batters capitalized, with partnerships flourishing and boundaries flowing freely.
In their second outing, India A’s top order continued their impressive form. Yashasvi Jaiswal (64 off 60), Abhimanyu Easwaran (68), Dhruv Jurel (53*), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (52*) all registered brisk half-centuries, racing to 241/2 in just 41 overs before the match was called off with 25 overs still left in the day. The ease with which the batters scored underscored the dominance of the willow throughout the match and provided India A’s camp with plenty of confidence heading into the next fixture.
Bowlers toil as 1st unofficial Test match ends in a draw
While the batters feasted, the bowlers from both sides endured a gruelling examination. For India A, Mukesh Kumar was the pick, claiming three wickets in the first innings, including a crucial burst that briefly checked England Lions’ momentum. Shardul Thakur and Nair chipped in with two and one wickets respectively, but breakthroughs were hard to come by on a surface offering little assistance.
Harsh Dubey, despite bowling with control and variation, went wicketless for much of the Lions’ innings, highlighting the challenge faced by spinners on the placid track. England Lions’ bowlers, too, found themselves at the receiving end of relentless batting, with Zaman Akhter and Josh Hull picking up three wickets apiece but unable to stem the run flow.
The match, ultimately, was a run-fest that showcased the depth and quality of batting talent on both sides. While the bowlers toiled admirably, the conditions heavily favored the batters, and the game ended in a draw with both teams having gained valuable match practice and several players enhancing their reputations.