England Lions squad named for Aussie fixture at Canterbury

THE England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the England Lions XI to play Australia in a two-day match at The St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury starting on Saturday August 15.

The team, which will be captained by Glamorgan“s Jamie Dalrymple, has been selected from counties not involved in the Twenty20 Finals Day or NatWest Pro40 matches that clash with this fixture.

The England Lions XI is as follows:

Jamie Dalrymple – Captain (Glamorgan)
Michael Carberry (Hampshire)
Stephen Moore (Worcestershire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Andrew Gale (Yorkshire)
Stephen Davies (Worcestershire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
James Harris (Glamorgan)
Steve Kirby (Gloucestershire)
Gary Keedy (Lancashire)

Having missed out at Headingley Carnegie the inclusion of Jonathan Trott has given the Warwickshire batsmen an opportunity to further stake a claim for a place in the squad ahead of the 5th npower Test Match at the Brit Oval.

The announcement also sees a return to the England Lions for former Kent batsman Michael Carberry. The Hampshire opening batsmen has already scored four centuries this season is currently averaging 67 in first-class cricket with a season high score of 204. Steve Kirby is also recalled after enjoying a good season for Gloucestershire with 41 first-class wickets at an average of 20.41.

There is also a first appearance in a Lions shirt for Glamorgan“s promising fast bowler James Harris and Dewsbury born Yorkshireman Andrew Gale.

Geoff Miller, ECB National Selector said: “The Lions have been given an opportunity to take on Australia again this summer following Kent’s progress to the Twenty20 Finals day. The Lions provided strong opposition for Australia in the tour match earlier this summer and this fixture will provide selectors with an opportunity to look at a number of established players who have impressed in county cricket this year.

“It is also a chance for the likes of Andrew Gale, James Harris and Chris Woakes to show the selectors how they will cope when they come up against a top-class international team such as Australia.”

Picture: Australia working hard for the big game in Kent – courtesy of Getty Images