England Lions Test and ODI squads named for upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. In some cases that includes enabling players to play in domestic franchise cricket.
Three-day warm-up match in Colombo on 25 January:-
The red-ball tour will begin with a three-day warm-up match in Colombo on January 25, before two four-day Tests against Sri Lanka A in Galle.
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The white-ball team will then play three ODIs against Sri Lanka A in Colombo, with the opening match on 15 February.
Four players have been selected in both teams – Tom Abel, Sam Cooke, Matt Fisher and Tom Hartley – taking a total of 28 players selected across both formats.
The Test squad includes a strong representation from the England Lions training camp which took place in the United Arab Emirates before Christmas, and includes three Test-capped players – Alex Lees, Hameed Haseeb and Fisher.
The ODI squad provides a return to action for Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse, as they were both part of the pacer’s rehab program during the UAE camp.
ICC Under-19 World Cup final in Antigua:-
The squad also includes Jacob Bethel, Tom Perst and James Ray, who were part of the England Under-19 team that reached the final of the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Antigua.
Bethel and Ray, who are both currently playing grade cricket in Australia, will join the England Under-19 squad for two youth Tests in Australia this month before joining the Lions ODI squad.
Mo Bobat, Performance Director, ECB, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to expose the players to the challenges of playing A-team cricket in the sub-continent, which will be fantastic for their development.
“The series also gives us a chance to watch the players ahead of this year’s World Cup as well as the next winter Test series in India.
We map their Growth Opportunities:-
“Teams have been selected with careful consideration of each player’s individual programme. We have worked closely with the counties to understand the best interests of the players as we map out their development opportunities.
“The ODI team takes into account the strength in depth that we have in a number of key roles in England men’s white-ball teams and a number of players will join us directly from cricket, having been playing in Australia, elsewhere in the South. Africa or UAE.
“After a hugely exciting and successful first half of winter for our Test and Twenty20 teams, I am sure the Lions players will be suitably motivated to make the most of this opportunity.”
The ECB is set to confirm the head coach and captains for each team ahead of the series. While selection is subject to the England Lions achieving minimum fitness standards.
The 16-player Lions Test squad:-
Tom Abel (Somerset), Josh Bohannon (Lancashire), Jack Carson (Sussex), Sam Cooke (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire). Nathan Gilchrist (Kent), Tom Haines (Sussex), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Jack Haynes (Worcestershire). Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Alex Lees (Durham), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Robinson (Durham), Jamie Smith (Surrey), and Josh Tong (Worcestershire).
The 16-player Lions ODI squad:–
Tom Abel (Somerset), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethel (Warwickshire). Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cooke (Essex), Jordan Cox (Kent). Mason Crane (Hampshire), Matt Critchley (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Sam Hahn (Warwickshire). Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Tom Lamonby (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Tom Purst (Hampshire), James Ray (Somerset), and Luke Wood (Lancashire).
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England Lions tour of Sri Lanka Schedule:-
- Three-day warm-up match: SLC Board XI v England Lions; 25-27 January, RPICS Colombo
- 1st four-day Test: Sri Lanka A v England Lions; 31 January – 3 February, GICS Galle
- 2nd four-day Test: Sri Lanka A v England Lions; 7-10 February, GICS Galle
- 1st ODI: Sri Lanka A v England Lions; February 15, RPICS Colombo
- 2nd ODI: Sri Lanka A v England Lions, 18 February, RPICS Colombo
- 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka A v England Lions, 21 February, RPICS Colombo.
