England Lions have recalled Nottinghamshire batsman Ben Duckett to both four-day and one-day squads for their tour of India early next year while three players have earned their first call-ups to England’s second string.
Fast-bowlers Tom Bailey and Zak Chappell, from Lancashire and Nottinghamshire respectively, will be playing for the Lions for the first time while Notts spinner Matt Carter has also received his maiden call-up for the List A squad. The Lions will play five 50-over matches and two unofficial Tests against India A in January and February.
One of those who has played at senior level is Duckett, who played Test and ODI cricket for England during the winter of 2016. Although the southpaw did well in the ODI series against Bangladesh, he struggled in the longest format and was dropped during the series against India. He returned to the Lions squad the following winter but was reprimanded after pouring a drink over James Anderson’s head in a bar in Perth when the Lions met up with England’s Ashes squad.
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Although the incident was superfluous, Duckett was fined, suspended for the rest of the Lions tour and given a final warning. He will accompany in the ‘Test’ squad by off-spinner Dom Bess and batsman Ollie Pope, who both made their full Test debuts for England last summer. Sam Billings, who led the Lions in the UAE, Jamie Porter, and Jamie Overton are also included in the four-day squad while Bess, Surrey’s Amar Virdi and Sussex’s Danny Briggs will provide the spin threat on pitches which should give them plenty of assistance.
The Lions will be coached by Andy Flower, returning to his role after standing in for Andrew Strauss as Director of England Cricket when the latter took leave to care for his wife, Ruth, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Now that Ashley Giles has been appointed as the full-time replacement of Strauss, Flower will continue in his Lions role.
England Lions 50-overs squad:
Dom Bess, Sam Billings, Danny Briggs, Matthew Carter, Zak Chappell, Joe Clarke, Alex Davies, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Sam Hain, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Jamie Porter
England Lions four-day squad:
Tom Bailey, Dom Bess, Sam Billings, Danny Briggs, Zak Chappell, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Sam Hain, Max Holden, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Jamie Porter, Amar Virdi
Schedule:
January 23: 1st 50-over match v India A, Thiruvananthapuram
January 25: 2nd 50-over match v India A, Thiruvananthapuram
January 27: 3rd 50-over match v India A, Thiruvananthapuram
January 29: 4th 50-over match v India A, Thiruvananthapuram
January 31: 5th 50-over match v India A, Thiruvananthapuram
February 7-10: 1st A Test v India A, Wayanad
February 13-16: 2nd A Test v India A, Wayanad
