 "Yashasvi Jaiswal defiantly remains at his crease despite getting trapped LBW by Chris Woakes on Day 1 of the second unofficial Test between India A and England Lions. Image credit: Screengrab of video posted on X")
Senior wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul had headlined the opening day of the second unofficial Test between India A and England Lions in Northampton, producing a sparkling 116 that helped the visitors end the day on 319/7 after the Lions elected to field. Rahul was by no means the only regular member of the Indian Test team in action at the County Ground on Friday, having opening the India A innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The 23-year-old left-handed batter has been a first-choice opener in the Test format ever since he got his career off to a dream start in the summer of 2023. Jaiswal, however, is on his first tour of England, and the selectors as well as team management might have wanted him to get used to the English conditions and the Dukes ball before the five-match Test series against Ben Stokes’ Englishmen gets underway on 20 June in Headingley.
Jaiswal stands his ground after getting dismissed by a Woakes in-swinger
Jaiswal’s tour of England, however, was off to an indifferent start as he was dismissed for 17 off 26 deliveries after getting trapped LBW by seam-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes, who has been included in England’s squad for the first Test . The Mumbai batter was just getting started with a couple of boundaries when he was given the marching orders with India A losing their first wicket with 28 on the board.
While Woakes began celebrating with his teammates after getting rid of the Indian opener with an in-swinging delivery, Jaiswal wasn’t entirely convinced and stood at his crease perplexed for a bit, making a gesture towards Rahul that appeared to suggest that the ball perhaps did a bit too much and was missing leg.
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Impact Shorts
More ShortsHowever, with no Decision Review System in place for the game, Jaiswal had little option but to accept his fate and walk back to the dressing room, hoping for a long stay in the second innings – should that happen in what is a four-day game.
India A, meanwhile, were bundled out for 348 shortly after resuming their innings on the second day, with Woakes finishing as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/60. While Rahul was the standout Indian batter, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel (52) scored a half-century while Karun Nair and Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with 40 and 34 respectively.