Salisbury out to prove a point

England A 283

India Youth XI 152-5

This is a crucial tour for Ian Salisbury. He will be 25 later this month and is very keen to regain the Test place he lost following last winter's tour of the West Indies.

Shoulder injury problems which have dogged the Sussex leg spinner during the last couple of years have now faded away and he knows he must perform in India if he is to resurrect his senior England career.

Therefore his frustration in Bombay yesterday, when the England A captain Alan Wells held him back for more than three hours, was both understandable and evident Salisbury, the A team's senior spinner, grew visibly more impatient as his fellow slow bowlers,Richard Stemp and Paul Weekes, wheeled away through a long, hot afternoon.

But when he was finally thrown the ball, deep into the final session, Salisbury responded by taking 2 for 25 in an impressive spell of 10 overs.

He struck a crucial blow by removing Amol Muzumdar, India's latest batting discovery, for 68, and in proving a point made sure the A team kept on top in their opening four-day match.

(England A won toss)

ENGLAND A - First Innings (Overnight: 221-6)

D G Cork c Dighe b Vij 69

I D K Salisbury c Dighe b Kamal 18

P A Nixon run out 6

G Chapple c Singh b Rao 8

R D Stemp not out 7

Extras (b7 lb15 w3 nb10) 35

Total (116.4 overs) 283

Fall: 1-15 2-49 3-108 4-125 5-125 6-217 7-251 8-268 9-268.

Bowling: Mhambrey 24-9-46-2; Siddiqui 21-3-46-1; Kamal 22-3-55-3; Rao 20.4-6-49-2; Vij 29-9-65-1.

INDIAN YOUTH XI Z Bharuchia c & b Cork 5

J Singh c Ramprakash b Weekes 12

A Muzumdar c Wells b Salisbury 68

V V S Laxman lbw b Stemp 10

S Sharath c Knight b Salisbury 17

S Dighe not out 16

O Kamal not out 15

Extras (b1 lb4 nb4) 9

Total (for 5, 68 overs) 152

Fall: 1-14 2-42 3-75 4-119 5-120.

To bat: P Mhambrey, I Siddiqui, B V Vij, B Rao.

Bowling: Cork 6-1-23-1; Chapple 12-6-17-0; Stemp 19-4-31-1; Weekes 21-3-51-1; Salisbury 10-3-25-2