Australia A will host India A for two-match red-ball matches from October 31 - Here’s everything you need to know about the AUS-A vs IND-A 2024 squads, including injury updates.
When will the Australia A vs India A 2024 unofficial Test series be played?
The first match will be played between October 31 and November 3 in Mackay, while the last unofficial Test is scheduled between November 7 and 10 in Melbourne. After the series, India A will play a three-day intra-squad practice match from November 15 to 17 in Perth, against India before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under.
What's the latest team news for Australia A vs India A 2024 unofficial Tests?
For Australia A, 19-year-old Sam Konstas from New South Wales has been added to the squad. Konstas lit up the domestic circuit by becoming the youngest to score twin centuries in the same Sheffield Shield game since Ricky Ponting achieved the feat in 1993.
The series could be an audition for the teenage sensation to stake a claim on Australia’s opening spot especially when Cameron Green is ruled out of the summer due to an injury and Steve Smith has expressed his desire to bat lower down the order. Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, both of whom have been selected, are also in the mix. The squad also features fringe Australia Test players Todd Murphy and Scott Boland.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead India A, with Abhimanyu Easwaran as his deputy. Gaikwad, who recorded scores of 86, 0 and 145 for Maharashtra in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy so far, is one of the top contenders to be India’s backup opener for the tour. Hence, the unofficial Tests preceding the Border Gavaskar Trophy have gained immense significance, especially when captain Rohit Sharma could miss the first two Tests due to personal reasons. Experienced Easwaran could be another potential candidate along with Sai Sudharsan, who recently smashed a double hundred for Tamil Nadu.
Ishan Kishan has also made a comeback to the India A side after being omitted from BCCI's central contract last year for not prioritising first-class matches. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently made a stellar start to his T20I career, has been picked as well. He is one of the three all-rounders alongside Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar. Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Dayal are the four pacers in the squad.
Also read: Five takeaways from India A squad to tour Australia
Australia A v India A 2024 Test squads: Full team lists
Australia A
Nathan McSweeney (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Jordan Buckingham, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Davies, Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Mark Steketee, Beau Webster
Introducing our Australia A four-day squad to take on India A next month at Mackay and the MCG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GCeNMWR4R9
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) October 14, 2024
India A
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Devdutt Padikkal, Ricky Bhui, Baba Indrajith, Ishan Kishan (wk), Abishek Porel (wk), Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal, Navdeep Saini, Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian
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