England wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter said on Monday that playing for Somerset in the recent Champions League Twenty20 tournament will help him when England start their limited overs series against India on Friday.
"There is no better preparation for a tough series than having time out in the middle as I did for Somerset in the Champions League," he told reporters. "Being able to spend time in the middle was a great thing for me."
Kieswetter said playing against the world's top domestic sides and reaching the Champions League semifinals was a good experience.
"Even though the tempo will be different in the series, there is nothing to beat match practice," said the 23-year-old, who has played 23 one-day internationals and 13 twenty20 games for England.
"I have been in and out of the England team and am keen to seal a place for myself. I would like to keep opening and give the team steady starts," said Kieswetter, who suffered an arm injury during the Champions League but is fit to play.
Kieswetter said the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium pitch, on which England plays it second practice game against a Hyderabad XI on Tuesday ahead of Friday's one-day international, would be good for batting.
"The wicket looks like a 280-300 run one. There will be plenty of runs on it and we are ready for the challenge. We have all our bases covered and look forward for the series to start," he added.
England won their first practice game against the Hyderabad team by 56 runs on Saturday.
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