India A to tour Australia for quadrangular series

[[JUGRAJ SINGH]]

Some of India's most talented young players will showcase their precocious skills in Queensland later this year during matches against Australia and South Africa 'A' teams.

India have been revealed as the second international team to tour Australia for the 'A' series in north Queensland starting in late July. Cricket Australia (CA) announced India A would take on Australia A, South Africa A and Cricket Australia's National Performance Squad in a 50-over quadrangular series in August and September, which will feature 18 matches across Townsville and Mackay. They will then meet Australia A in two unofficial Tests at Brisbane's Allan Border Field in September.

Pat Howard, CA's general manager of team performance, said the series was crucial for "developing and growing the depth of talent in our pathways".

"Players in the Australia A and National Performance Squad have been identified as having the potential to play for their country and the national selectors will be watching this series with interest," he said. "India and South Africa are strong competitors with wide-ranging skills to challenge our players and build their experience against high-quality opposition," he said.

A similar 'A' series in 2014 also included India A, while Australia A travelled to India last year for two four-day matches and a triangular 50-over series. Both series also featured South Africa A.

Australia A will boast a wealth of talent, highlighted by batsmen Chris Lynn and Travis Head. Test players include Ashton Agar, Moises Henriques and Pat Cummins, who will be making his long-awaited return from a lengthy injury layoff.

Australia A squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, Pat Cummins, Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Sam Heazlett, Moises Henriques, Jake Lehmann, Chris Lynn, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Joel Paris, Matt Renshaw, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Chris Tremain, Dan Worrall, Sam Whiteman.

Fixtures

Four-day matches

30 July - 2 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

6 August - 9 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

One-day Series

13 August, South Africa A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

14 August, Australia A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

16 August, Australia A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

17 August, South Africa A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

20 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

21 August, India A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

24 August, NPS v Australia A, Harrup Park, Mackay

25 August, South Africa A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay

27 August, NPS v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay

28 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Harrup Park, Mackay

30 August, Australia A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay

31 August, South Africa A v NPS, Harrup Park, Mackay

3 September; Final 3 v 4, Harrup Park, Mackay

4 September, Final 1 v 2, Harrup Park, Mackay

Four-day matches

8-11 September, Australia A v India A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

15-18 September, Australia A v India A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane