England Men’s Lions have confirmed a 16-player squad for their upcoming tour of Australia in January, with Durham’s Ben McKinney included.
The England A tour features two four-day matches against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane, followed by a first-class Test against Australia A in Sydney.
The squad includes five players – Shoaib Bashir, Pat Brown, Tom Hartley, Josh Tongue and Pat Brown – who have all represented England at senior level.
Following strong domestic campaigns in the County Championship, Essex seamer Sam Cook, Warwickshire top-order batter Alex Davies and Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew bring valuable experience to the squad. Davies, 30, who took over the captaincy at Warwickshire last season, averaged over 50 in the Championship and amassed more than 1,000 runs, including four centuries.
A key figure in Essex’s bowling attack, Cook has been a regular in Lions squads in recent years. His consistent performances saw him take 43 Championship wickets in 2024 at an average of 17.30.
Rew, 20, continues to excel as a wicketkeeper-batter in Championship cricket. He recorded 45 dismissals in 2024 and averaged 36 with the bat, including two centuries.
Lancashire teenager Rocky Flintoff is a notable inclusion. The 16-year-old received a late call-up to the Lions squad earlier this month during the training camp in South Africa, where he featured in the four-day match against South Africa A. Flintoff impressed in domestic cricket last summer, making his professional debut for Lancashire and becoming a consistent performer for the England Young Lions over the past 12 months.
The squad will be coached by Andrew Flintoff, supported by Neil Killeen, Richard Dawson and Graeme Swann. Australian batting coach Trent Woodhill has also been brought in as a consultant for the tour.
England Men’s Performance Director, Ed Barney, said: “We have rewarded players who have proven themselves at this level and those with significant potential. Matches and tours of Australia are always important and we relish the opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition. This tour allows us to evaluate performances, refine preparation and continue working with some of the best emerging talent in the country.
“I’m also delighted to see Josh Tongue returning to competitive cricket. Josh has had a challenging time with injuries but is progressing well and will benefit from this tour as he steps up his preparation. We hope this marks the start of a prosperous and impactful return to cricket for him in 2025.
“Josh Hull continues his rehabilitation from injury and will travel with the squad as part of his development and return-to-bowling programme.”
The tour party departs on 3 January.
England Men’s Lions Squad:
Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Pat Brown (Derbyshire), James Coles (Sussex), Sam Cook (Essex), Alex Davies (Warwickshire), Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire), Ben McKinney (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire), Mitch Stanley (Lancashire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), John Turner (Hampshire)
England Lions Tour Schedule:
Four-day match: Cricket Australia XI v England Lions, 14-17 January 2025, Shaw Park, Brisbane
Four-day match: Cricket Australia XI v England Lions, 22-25 January 2025, AB Field, Brisbane
Unofficial Four-day Test: Australia A v England Lions, 30 January – 2 February 2025, Cricket Central, Olympic Park, Sydney