The veteran stimulator Chris Woakes and the son of Andrew Flintoff Rocky Flintoff were named in the 14-member group of England Lions for the upcoming two-day matches against India and, starting on May 30 in Canterbury.
Woakes, 36 years old, missed a recent one -time test due to ankle injury that delayed its beginning until the summer. These accessories are now a key opportunity for him to get the fitness of matches and enforce the inclusion in the team for India in June.
Somerset’s James Rew, who was added to the senior team for Zimbabwe, will lead the lions. Squad contains promising players, including the Legspinner Rehan Ahmed – available only for the first match before joining the T20i for the West India series – and Batsman Dan Mousley. Jordan Cox, originally selected before the Rew for Zimbabwe, is expected to be pushed off with the abdominal strain, will return to the second Lions match in Northampton from 6 June.
On the other hand, there will be no immediate return of the red ball for Jofra Archer. He was a pencil on the second accessory on Walgeage Road, but was expelled due to the injuries of the true suffered during the IPL.
England Selectors named the strong 15-man Lvion group for two four-day matches, starting with 30 May. In the shift since recent tour policies, several players include several players in the Senior test role competition. Among them are the opener Ben McKinney, a former graduate under the age of 19, who could invite Zak Crawley, and the left arm of the sailor Josh Hull, who made his debut against Sri Lanka last summer.
Especially the younger brother of Rehan Ahmed Farhan also earns a challenge, after a number of impressive performances for Nottinghamshire with his offspin.
Woakes is the most experienced member of the group. Despite his age, he remains essential in English conditions when he claimed 19 goals at Ashes at 18.15 to win the Compton-Miller Medal, followed by another 24 in 20.25 last summer after joining James Anderson.
His place in XI is now under the pressure of Sam Cooka Essex, which should make his debut in the Zimbabwe test.
England Lions Squad: James Rew (C), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
May 21, 2025
