Ravichandran Ashwin could play a county game for Surrey before England Tests

India would soon lock horns against England in a five-Test series for the Pataudi Trophy from August 4. Meanwhile, ahead of the same veteran off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin is looking to warm himself up with a country game for Surrey.

Team Newsable

London, First Published Jul 7, 2021, 2:19 PM IST

After failing to get the job done in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, India would be looking to get things started for the 2021-23 season on a good note, as it takes on England in a five-Test series for the Pataudi Trophy, beginning August 4. For the same, the Indians would be looking to warm up in the best possible manner.

While India is not scheduled to play any warm-up or tour game, it would ideally rely on intense net sessions and intra-squad warm-up matches to prepare for the same. In the meantime, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is likely to play a county game with Surrey as a part of his preparations for the Test series, reports ESPNCricinfo.

Also, as per reports, India has seemingly requested a couple of warm-up games. It seems like India was unhappy with the lack of enough practise games ahead of the WTC final. However, India's only reluctance regarding practice matches of late is that the host sides field a weaker XI not to allow the visitor to have an adequate warm-up before a series.

ALSO READ: Pataudi Trophy 2021: England could field unchanged XI in all Tests as rest-and-rotation policy ends

"Well, that doesn't depend on us. We obviously wanted first-class games, which I believe have not been given to us. I don't know what the reasons for that are. But yeah, other than that, I think our preparation time will be ample for us to be ready for the first Test," Indian skipper Virat Kohli had said after the WTC final defeat.

Nonetheless, Ashwin's decision to play a county would boost him and India, especially after he wasn't entirely effective in the WTC Final. Also, Surrey would be bolstered by Ashwin's presence. Although the county sides can have a maximum of two overseas players, with Surrey having Hashim Amla and Kyle Jamieson, the latter's injury could be Ashwin's gain.

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Last Updated Jul 7, 2021, 2:20 PM IST

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Ravichandran Ashwin could play a county game for Surrey before England Tests

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