Bangladesh-India \\\'unofficial Test\\\' from Sunday

Bangladesh A and India A teams will begin their one-off 'unofficial Test' match on Sunday. The match will be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, India. After a disappointing unofficial ODI series against India A team, the second string Bangladesh will be looking forward to retireve some lost pride by trying o win the only ‘unofficial Test’ – a three-day affair. The match will kick off at 10.30am (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Earlier, Bangladesh lost their unofficial ODI series 1-2 and also suffered four-wicket defeat to Karnataka in a three-day practice match.
Bangalore match is important for Dhawan to test his fitness, at least four other players will be looking to stake their claims for international matches later in the long home season. Arguably Karun Nair, Naman Ohja, Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Arun have more at stake than the others. Ojha was 32 years old when Wridhhiman Saha injured himself in Sri Lanka. The Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper could have been forgiven for not being too optimistic about his international future at that point, but the injury to Saha has now given him a brief opening. Ojha's Test debut showed he had worked on his wicketkeeping, and there were brief glimpses of a batsman who can counterattack. Jadeja, about whom it was said clearly in an earlier press conference that he had been dropped, has been handed a brief opening too. In the past Jadeja has shown that on a turning track he is well more than a handful.

An in-form Jadeja, though, can more than fill that third spinner's vacancy in Tests. He will have to show the selectors he is close to that form.

If Jadeja is looking to rediscover his accuracy, Aaron is looking to discover it. Among those who have bowled a minimum of 350 balls in Test cricket, Aaron has the worst economy rate. Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri like him, but he will have to show he is more than just a few really good and quick deliveries. That he can string together good spells.

With Ishant Sharma banned and Mohammed Shami not sure he will be back by then, Aaron could stake solid claim for the Mohali Test here. Aaron plays domestic cricket for Jharkhand, but Chinnaswamy Stadium is spiritually his home ground, and unfortunately because of all the injuries the adjoining NCA almost his home.

Aaron has been with the Indian team for a while now, but he has spent more time on the bench than in the XI. Karnataka batsman Nair experienced being on that bench when he was sent in as cover for an injury-ridden side in Sri Lanka. He now knows the selectors have some faith in him. He will want increments in that faith. For the others, too, there is no better time than just before the start of an international season to start putting in reminders to the selectors. Bangladesh A are no small opposition either, according to BSS.
- biplab