Joseph to replace Khan in Lions Squad

From Charles Randall in New Zealand

THE Kent fast bowler Robbie Joseph has been called up to the England
Lions squad in New Zealand to replace Ravi Bopara and Amjad Khan, who
will both travel to the West Indies to join up with the England Test
squad as cover for Andrew Flintoff.

Joseph, a member of the England Performance Programme in India last
November, has been playing for the Leeward Islands in the West Indies
domestic championship. He will now travel to Christchurch to join the
England Lions as they prepare to face New Zealand A in a series of
Test and one-day matches starting on March 1 in Queenstown.

Commenting on Robbie Joseph’s call-up, David Parsons, the ECB’s
national performance director, said: "Robbie has been part of the
England Performance Programme since the training camps in India and
Abu Dhabi before Christmas and was very unfortunate to miss out on
selection for the original squad to tour New Zealand.

"We’re looking forward to his arrival and believe his presence will
bolster what is already a very exciting bowling attack. On behalf of
the ECB I would also like to place on record our grateful thanks to
the Leeward Islands Cricket Association and Antigua and Barbuda
Cricket Association for their assistance in enabling Robbie to join us
in New Zealand."

The Lions are to play four warm-up one-day matches against Emerging
New Zealand at Lincoln University before travelling to Queenstown.

Picture supplied by Anthony Roberts.