The Australia A team has been announced for the tour of India. During this tour, a total of two unofficial Test matches, each lasting four days, will be played between India A and Australia A. These matches will be held at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Sports News: Cricket Australia has announced its Australia A squad for the upcoming tour against India A. The tour will feature two four-day unofficial Test matches and three One Day International (ODI) matches between the two teams. This tour is considered a golden opportunity for young and emerging players to prove themselves on the international stage.
Where Will the Matches Be Held in India?
Cricket enthusiasts will be excited to know that both four-day Test matches will be held at the prestigious Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The subsequent ODI series will be held at the historic Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The tour will commence in September 2025 and conclude on September 26th. Just one week later, on October 4th, Australia's domestic cricket season, the Sheffield Shield, is scheduled to begin.
Cricket Australia has clarified that this tour is particularly important in preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be held in India in 2027. The board's focus is on developing players who can succeed in subcontinental conditions like those found in India in the future.
Key Highlights of the Test Squad
Sam Konstas, who was recently a part of Australia's senior Test team, has been included in this A team. However, his path to retaining a place in the senior team now appears difficult. Talented young players such as Cooper Connolly, Nathan McSweeney, and Todd Murphy have also been included in the team. These players are already performing well in domestic cricket and will now have the opportunity to prove themselves in challenging conditions like those in India.
ODI Team: Full of Youthful Energy
The ODI squad has been selected with the future in mind. No player in this team is older than 26 years, while five players are under the age of 21. This decision makes it clear that Cricket Australia is now giving young talents opportunities in the limited-overs format as well, preparing them for the international level.
The duration of this tour has been carefully determined keeping the Sheffield Shield schedule in mind. Most of the red-ball players will return to their country immediately after the India tour so that they can participate in the first round of the domestic season.
Australia A Team
Four-Day Team: Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, and Liam Scott.
ODI Team: Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, and Caleb Widler.
Australia A Tour of India
- September 16-19: First Four-Day Match, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
- September 23-26: Second Four-Day Match, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
- September 30: First One-Day Match, Green Park, Kanpur
- October 3: Second One-Day Match, Green Park, Kanpur
- October 5: Third One-Day Match, Green Park, Kanpur
