Ashwin suffers hand injury during net sessions

The first Test begins in Birmingham on August 1 and spinners are likely to play a key role, considering the hot conditions, suitable for Indian bowlers.

India's premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin today suffered a minor hand injury and as a precautionary measure did not take the field on the second day of the ongoing three-day practice game against Essex. 

Ashwin was hit on the right hand during a net session this morning. To avoid any further damage, Ashwin decided not to bowl, bat or field today. The Indian team management said that the physio has taken a look and deduced that it was only a minor injury.

Ashwin later bowled in the nets during the lunch break today.

India were all out for 395 in 100.2 overs with Dinesh Karthik top-scoring for the visitors with his 82-run knock. The Indian seamers had to toil hard against a resurgent Essex batting line-up, managing to get only five wickets on a green top in the second day of the of their only practice match.

At stumps, Essex were 237 for 5, trailing India by 158 runs with the experienced James Foster (23) and Paul Walter at the crease.

The first Test begins in Birmingham on August 1 and spinners are likely to play a key role, considering the hot conditions, suitable for Indian bowlers.