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Tremain lauds Indian batting prospects

Australia A seamer impressed by likes of Shubman Gill following one-day final defeat to India B

Australia A seamer Chris Tremain says the Australia A tour is proving a fruitful reconnaissance mission, despite the one-day side's humbling nine-wicket defeat to India B in the final.

Australia, South Africa and India have been involved in regular A series tours in recent years, alternating between countries, primarily designed to give players on the fringe of the senior national teams an opportunity to both develop their games and push for higher honours against quality opposition.

And while the one-day component of the tour was a longer-term project for Australia A, the forthcoming four-day games are firmly focused on developing a Test team for the coming Tests against the Pakistan team in the UAE.

Tremain, who missed the 50-over final but is expected to play a key role in Sunday's first four-day fixture, said players had learned plenty about white-ball cricket in subcontinental conditions from the locals.

No ball drama as India B romp to series victory

"I enjoy looking at how they approach their game and looking for a way we can adapt when we play against them," Tremain told SEN radio.

"I don't think it's as easy as looking at the one game and having a day off and trying to replicate it a day later, it's have a little reconnaissance mission this tour and take back all this information about how they play their game.

"And then next time we come over, we've got a good couple of months of preparing and adapting our game to mirror what they can do."

Australia A were humbled by India B in the 50-over series final by nine wickets, with a batting collapse that saw the last six wickets fall for just 33 runs restricting a solid start as Australia were bowled out for 225.

In response, India B captain Manish Pandey hit an unbeaten 73, while an unbeaten 66 from Shubman Gill saw the locals chase down the target with 81 balls to spare.

Pandey, who scored his maiden one-day international century at the SCG in early 2016, went through the tournament unbeaten, posting scores of 95, 21, 117, and 73 to finish the series with 306 runs.

Perfect Pandey wins India fifth ODI

And Gill, the 18-year-old Punjab opener, "hit the ball like no one I'd ever seen before" said Tremain.

"They have so much talent over here that you can't fit it all into the one XI," the Victoria quick said.

"It is a little bit of an eye-opener to see they do have such great options, especially the young guys, and especially in white-ball cricket.

"These kids, from ages 13, 14 are growing up with T20 cricket and a lot of white-ball cricket. Their tactics and the way they play their game is really superior to a lot of countries around the world, because they play so much."

Head leads way in Australia A victory

The Australians unearthed some talent of their own, with Jack Wildermuth and Marnus Labuschagne putting in impressive performances early in their international careers, while other relative newcomers Alex Carey made a fifty in the final and D'Arcy Short showed improvement on his second trip to India, including a knock of 72 in the final.

The noted international-calibre batters like Travis Head, Matt Renshaw and Usman Khawaja all made significant contributions in the foreign conditions.

Strike bowler Billy Stanlake struggled to adapt but vowed to learn from the trip while Jhye Richardson did his reputation no harm with an incisive new ball burst to claim three wickets in the opening match.

Spinners Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson each made important contributions at various stages.

India A down Aussies in quad series opener

The Australians were soundly beaten in the tour's opening match against India A, but rebounded strongly in their next game to beat South Africa A.

The first meeting with India B proved a classic, with an Usman Khawaja century and 20 runs in the final over from Jack Wildermuth, including a six off the final ball, claiming a win that set up a rematch in the final.

The final was lopsided, with Stanlake left to rue a rare no ball that cost the Australians an early wicket after a stunning one-handed grab by Wildermuth.

"An unbelievable catch … But I did bowl a no ball and ruined it for him unfortunately," Stanlake told cricket.com.au.

"Jack's a pretty exciting prospect, we've seen what he can do at training. So for him to go out there and do it in a tough situation at the international level, it was very exciting to see.

"I never normally bowl no balls, that's why I was so surprised when the umpire said he was checking, I've normally got a lot of room.

"It was disappointing because it was such a great catch and it would have been handy to get that early wicket.

"With a new batter in, you never know what can happen. It was very disappointing to bowl a no ball. I feel like we could have built some momentum from that."

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