BCCI reveals plans to improve India's overseas Test record

Playing on overseas conditions has been a burning issue in Indian cricket over the years. Though they have been impressive in the limited-overs formats, their performances in Tests haven’t quite been up to the mark. They managed to win a game against South Africa at Johannesburg, however, prior to that, they have struggled to find their feet. Subsequently, they lost the series with one match remaining.

Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri, the head coach, and captain Virat Kohli criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India for not providing them enough preparation time before the series. The team’s upcoming Test series will be against England which will start from August 1 in Birmingham, the venue for the opening game of the series.

A-tours before senior tours

However, this time around, The Board has taken a major step for India’s preparation for the sterling Tests that lies ahead. Prior to the series, the India A team, featuring the likes of Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, will be playing matches against the counties as well as the England Lions (A). The side will be under the tutelage of Rahul Dravid, the Under-19 World Cup winning coach.

Moreover, India will tour Australia later this year for Test, ODI, and T20I series. However, the Cricket Australia has refused and hence, the A team, which will include senior players for the Australian tour,  would be playing a series against New Zealand on their home ground. A member of the BCCI recently interacted with the media and talked about the new plan.

“The board had no choice than to request New Zealand to have an ‘A’ series around that time. It won’t be as similar conditions like Australia but it will help Indian players to get used to the overseas conditions. So mostly India A will have two-three days games followed by one-dayers in New Zealand,” the official was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The board meeting which zeroed in on the decision consisted of the likes of Bharat Arun, India’s bowling coach, Sanjay Bangar, the batting coach, Paras Mhambrey and Abhay Sharma along with Saba Karim, the new general manager of cricket operations of the BCCI.

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