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India begin their tour of England this week with a three day game against Somerset at Taunton.
With the first test just over a week away, India will be hoping for valuable game time during the match as they look to get themselves in decent shape ahead of a much anticipated series.
Taunton is renowned for favouring the batsman, so the tourists will see the game as a great chance for their batsman to get some time at the crease.
With just the one warm-up match before the opening test at Lords, India need to adapt to English conditions quickly and get focused on the job in hand.
An added incentive for the Indians is the fact that Andrew Strauss is playing for Somerset.
The England skipper, who normally plays for Middlesex, has made the temporary switch in order to get himself into form ahead of the test series.
This is a bold move from Strauss and the pressure will be on him during the three days at Taunton. He needs the runs to justify playing, while India will be determined to get the edge on him physiologically.
After struggling against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer though, averaging just over six in three test matches, Strauss had to do something.
Playing in this game is more beneficial than sitting around waiting for the first test to come along. Even if he only manages 30-odd against India, it will do him the world of good.
Elsewhere, the match is of course important for India’s players. There are some that are guaranteed a place in the side that will be looking for some form, while others are fighting it out for a starting berth at Lords.
As for Somerset’s main focus, it will simply be to put on a good show for what is expected to be a large crowd at Taunton. Some of their younger players will want to prove their worth against a side as good as India too.
If they can score a century or take a few wickets against the best side in the world, it will not go unnoticed by the selectors and will do their international ambitions no harm at all.
Overall, there is a lot to play for in the game between Somerset and India, even if the result itself is largely insignificant.
It all gets underway on Friday 15th July at 11am with good weather expected.
