India join winter 'A' series

India have been revealed as the second international team who will tour Australia for this winter's 'A' series in north Queensland.

Cricket Australia announced India A would take on Australia A, South Africa A and CA's National Performance Squad in a 50-over quadrangular series in August and September, which will feature 18 matches across Townsville and Mackay.

They will then meet Australia A in two unofficial Tests at Brisbane's Allan Border Field in September.

CA's General Manager of Team Performance, Pat Howard said the inclusion of India A would add another dimension to the series, which is shaping up as important sounding board ahead of a summer that features series against South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

"This is an important series for developing and growing the depth of talent in our pathways," Howard said.

"Players in the Australia A and National Performance Squad have been identified as having the potential to play for their country and the national selectors will be watching this series with interest.

"India and South Africa are strong competitors with wide-ranging skills to challenge our players and build their experience against high-quality opposition."

A similar 'A' series in 2014 also included India A, while Australia A travelled to India last year for two four-day matches and a triangular 50-over series. Both series also featured South Africa A.

The 'A' team's tour of India last winter reignited the international careers of batsmen Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns, who were dominant in the one-day series, and spinner Steve O'Keefe who snared 14 wickets in the two unofficial Tests.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins isset to make his return from a lower lumbar bone stress fracture in the 50-over quad-series, selected in a strong 24-man Australia A squad that includes fellow senior team bowlers Kane Richardson, Scott Boland, Joel Paris and spinners Ashton Agar and Cameron Boyce.

Australia A's batting line-up will feature rising South Australia guns Travis Head and Jake Lehmann, Queenslanders Chris Lynn, Matt Renshaw and Sam Heazlett plus Victorians Travis Dean and Peter Handscomb.

Bupa National Cricket Centre head coach Troy Cooley will coach Australia A, while Graeme Hick and former Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris will mentor the NPS squad, which is yet to be named.

Australia A squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, Pat Cummins, Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Sam Heazlett, Moises Henriques, Jake Lehmann, Chris Lynn, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Joel Paris, Matt Renshaw, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Chris Tremain, Dan Worrall, Sam Whiteman.

Fixtures

Four-day matches 

30 July – 2 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
6 August – 9 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

One-day Series

13 August, South Africa A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
14 August, Australia A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
16 August, Australia A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
17 August, South Africa A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
20 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
21 August, India A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
24 August, NPS v Australia A, Harrup Park, Mackay
25 August, South Africa A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
27 August, NPS v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
28 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Harrup Park, Mackay
30 August, Australia A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
31 August, South Africa A v NPS, Harrup Park, Mackay
3 September; Final 3 v 4, Harrup Park, Mackay
4 September, Final 1 v 2, Harrup Park, Mackay

Four-day matches

8-11 September, Australia A v India A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
15-18 September, Australia A v India A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane