Date-stamped : 07 Jan95 - 14:28 England "A" v Indian Youth, Tour Match played at Wankhede Stadium, Bombay, 3-6 January 1995 ====> Prematch STERN TEST LIKELY FOR ENGLISH HOPEFULS The England "A" squad, led by Sussex righthand batsman Alan Wells, would have their first inkling of the sort of opposition and slow-paced turning pitches they would encounter on their tour to India when they take on the Indian Youth XI in the four-day match here from tomorrow. ====> Day 1, 3 Jan 95 Eng A 1st inns 221/6 in 91 overs The Indian Youth XI let the visiting England A squad off the hook through some ill-directed bowling and shoddy catching on the opening day of their 4-day clash at the Wankhede Stadium here today. (Thanks : misc.news.southasia) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 1, MORE Cork revels in the battle. Dominic Cork cast aside his disappointment at being overlooked as replacement for the injured Craig White in Australia with a purposeful half century for the England A team against India Youth in Bombay. The Derbyshire all-rounder's unbeaten 52, plus a determined 59 from Mark Ramprakash and gutsy 33 from Paul Weekes, helped England to 221 for six on the first day of their opening four-day fixture. At 125 for five, however, it did not look as though Alan Wells' second string could answer the uplifting news of England's Ashes fightback in Sydney with a stirring performance of their own. But 23 year-old Cork said: "I like those sort of situations - it tends to bring out the best in me. I like a battle and it was good to play with a fair amount of pressure on. I haven't heard anything from the England management during the last few days about going to Australia, it seems they wanted a batsman (Neil Fairbrother), but as far as I'm concerned I'm out here with the A team to work hard and show what I can do. "I have to make it at Test level as an all-rounder, so it was a pleasing start - especially as the ball was moving around quite a bit in the air and off the pitch. As a bowler I was quite happy to see that." Ramprakash's Test average, 16.69 from 14 matches, has left him with much to prove on this two-month tour as he aims to rebuild his senior career. His success was just as welcome as Cork's, the 25 year-old Middlesex batsman's responsible and skilful innings over more than three hours a fine advert for his technique. (Thanks : The Daily Mail) Contributed by John.Hall (John@jhall.demon.co.uk) ====> Day 1, MORE Mark Ramprakash and Dominic Cork, two players who have their sights on higher honours, hit half-centuries as England A battled to 221 for six against India Youth. Ramprakash's 59 held things together at the start of the A team's open four-day fixture and Cork's unbeaten 52 dominated a superb final session. Paul Weekes, the Middlesex all-rounder, contributed a gutsy 33 to a 92-run sixth-wicket stand with Cork and helped ensure Ramprakash's hard work was not wasted. Ramprakash, who at 25 finds his senior England career on hold after 14 Tests said: "It's always nice to get runs at the start of a tour and obviously this was an important innings for me and for the side. "It was good to spend a fair time in the middle too after my duck in our one-day warm- up match. "The ball was moving around a lot in the air early on and there was always something in the pitch for both seam and spin. It's a good cricket wicket. They also bowled extremely well throughout the day and there wasn't too much available to hit." Ramprakash, joined in a steadying 59-run partnership for the third wicket by captain Alan Wells after the openers were dismissed with only 49 runs on th board, batted for more than three hours and faced 168 balls. He struck six fours including a huge cover drive off highly-rated paceman Paras Mhambrey in the morning session. The A team vice-captain eventually fell lbw to Iqbal Siddiqui, another up-and-coming fast bowler. But Cork, clearly relishing the fight, took advantage of a let-off by Zubin Barucha in the slips before he had scored and set about attacking the Indians. He mixed seven boundaries with a number of quick singles in an effort to increase the scoring rate. The 23-year- old Derbyshire all-rounder, who has faced 95 deliveries, had to endure a nasty crack on his right thumb from an Obaid Kamal lifter. (Thanks : The Daily Telegraph) Contributed by Barath.Sundar (sundab@*its.rpi.edu) ====> Day 2, 4 Jan 95 Ian Salisbury was forced to wait before ensuring England A were in control of their tour opener against an Indian Youth side. Slow bowlers Richard Stemp and Paul Weekes put on a tight display but Salisbury, frustrated at being held back until the 50th over, made the crucial breakthroughs. He produced two superb deliveries to reduce the home side from 119-3 to 120-5 and narrowly missed other wickets as the Indian youngsters struggled to 152-5 at close. England A had been all out for 283. (Thanks : BBC Ceefax) Contributed by Syed.M.Ali (sma@dcs.ed.ac.uk) ====> Day 2, MORE Salisbury quick to prove point Ian Salisbury worked his frustration out on the Indian batsmen here yesterday after waiting for more than three hours to bowl. The Sussex leg spinner took two for 25 in 10 superb overs to leave an India Youth XI struggling on 152 for five in response to England A's total of 283 in the opening four-day match of their tour. Salisbury, the A team's senior spinner, had grown visibly more impatient as he watched his fellow slow bowlers, Richard Stemp and Paul Weekes, work their way through a long hot afternoon. Salisbury, who toured India with England's senior team two years ago, was finally given the ball by his captain Alan Wells in the final session of the day, and struck a crucial blow by removing Amol Muzumdar, India's latest batting discovery, for 68. Muzumdar, a high-class player who toured England with the India Under-19 team last summer, edged a fizzing, climbing leg-break to slip before saying he was puzzled by Salisbury's non-appearance until the 49th over, when the Indians were 102 for three. This is a crucial tour for Salisbury, 25 this month and keen to regain the Test place he lost after last winter's tour of the West Indies. The shoulder injuries which have dogged him during the last couple of years have healed and he knows he must perform in India if he is to resurrect his senior international career. He certainly started well, and in the last hour could have added a couple more wickets. Wells, also Salisbury's captain at Sussex, defended his decision to keep the spinner waiting. He said: "Ian likes to bowl when the ball is a little bit older anyway - being held back was no reflection on him at all. "Stemp and Weekes put pressure on their batsmen and whenever things are going your way you are loath to change. With three spinners in the side I have great variety and when he came on Ian also bowled well." (Thanks : Daily Telegraph) Contributed by John.Hall (John@jhall.demon.co.uk) ====> Day 3, 5 Jan 95 Ian Salisbury took four wickets in 18 balls on the third day to put England A on course for victory against India Youth XI. The leg-spinner finished with 6-48 as the Indians were dismissed for 199 to give the tourists a first innings lead of 84 runs. England had stretched that lead to 216 as by tea they struggled to 132-6. Yorkshire slow left-armer Richard Stemp finally broke a stand of 63 between Samir Dighe and Obaid Kamal before Salisbury took over (Thanks : BBC Ceefax) Contributed by Syed.M.Ali (sma@dcs.ed.ac.uk)