The India Cricket Team is scheduled to tour England later this year to play a five-Test series in August-September, starting with the tour opening Test at Nottingham on August 4, 2021.
The tourists will play two practice matches in England before taking on the hosts in the forthcoming four-Test series starting August 4 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
Well, Team India, in an unprecedented build-up schedule for the forthcoming overseas Test series, will play two four-day practice games against the India 'A' side, the first being scheduled at The County Ground in Northamptonshire, which will be played at the Wantage Road from July 21-24.
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Northamptonshire County Cricket Club said in a statement on Twitter on Wednesday (January 27): “Some of the world's finest international cricketers will be on show at The County Ground this summer as we welcome India and India A.”
The statement further reads: “Ahead of India's five-Test series against England in August, Virat Kohli's Indian side take on India A in a four-day warm-up fixture that promises to be a showcase of high-quality cricket.”
Meanwhile, the Indian touring contingent will then travel to Leicestershire after the first practice match in Northamptonshire to play their second warm-up match to be played at Grace Road from July 28-31, 2021.
Northamptonshire CCC stated: “The Indian tour party will then travel to Leicestershire the following week for a second warm-up fixture beginning the 28th of July.”
Tickets for the two India vs India A fixtures will go on sale in March. Leicestershire chair Mehmooda Duke said: "It will be a unique opportunity for cricket fans from across the region to see these global stars in action over four days in their final warm-up game before the Test series with England. We expect demand for tickets to be huge."
India A also have fixtures against Derbyshire and Essex pencilled in as part of their tour to England, as well as a four-day warm-up match against a 'First-Class Counties Select XI' at Grace Road from July 12, with the details of that fixtures unconfirmed.
Noteworthy, the England team is currently in India to play four Tests, five T20Is, and 3 ODIs with the tour starting with the first Test on February 5 in Chennai.
Here’s the complete schedule –
Aug 04 - Aug 08 – 1st Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Aug 12 - Aug 16 – 2nd Test at Lord's, London
Aug 25 - Aug 29 – 3rd Test at Headingley, Leeds
Sep 02 - Sep 06 – 4th Test at Kennington Oval, London
Sep 10 - Sep 14 – 5th Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
(With PTI/ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
