The ECB has unveiled its England Lions training squad for a winter training camp in the UAE, introducing ten fresh faces to the second-tier setup for the first time.
As England’s Test side gears up for a demanding five-match series in India come January, the Lions have turned to spin-heavy selections for their upcoming expedition. Notably, they’ve called upon the services of Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed, who made his Test debut against Pakistan last winter, and the promising offspinner from Middlesex, Josh De Caires, marking his inaugural appearance for the Lions after a stellar performance that yielded 27 Division One wickets at an impressive 25.59 average.
The roster also boasts exciting talents such as Tom Lawes, who played a pivotal role in Surrey’s County Championship triumph with a remarkable 30 dismissals, and Somerset’s James Rew, who earned the PCA Young Player of the Year award, courtesy of his five centuries and a tally of 1086 runs. Complementing the spin-centric approach, the squad includes established fast bowlers like Matthew Fisher, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse, all of whom have previously donned the international cap.
The primary objective of this three-week training camp is to both reward outstanding performances from the previous season and assess the depth of England’s talent pool, aligning it with the team’s future requirements for the subcontinent tour scheduled for early 2024. Promising left-arm orthodox bowler Tom Hartley from Lancashire and Sussex’s Jack Carson, an off-break specialist, could well be in contention for the Test tour, given their remarkable performances.
With Moeen Ali’s retirement from Test cricket following the Ashes and Adil Rashid’s exclusive focus on white-ball formats, the emphasis on nurturing spinners is imperative. Jack Leach, the lead spinner, continues his recovery from a back stress fracture sustained earlier in the season.
The selection process involved consultations with both players and counties, considering individual needs and overseas opportunities. England’s performance director, Mo Bobat, expressed his enthusiasm, highlighting the importance of the camp in shaping future Test prospects, particularly with subcontinent challenges in mind. The coaching and mentoring team accompanying the squad will be announced in due course.
England Lions Complete Squad for UAE Tour:
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), George Balderson (Lancashire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Josh Bohannon (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Jack Carson (Sussex), James Coles (Sussex), Josh De Caires (Middlesex), Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Callum Parkinson (Durham), Matthew Potts (Durham), Rishi Patel (Leicestershire), Ollie Price (Gloucestershire), James Rew (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Durham), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), John Turner (Hampshire)
Also, see:
Top bowlers in World Cup 2023 so far
