Durham fast bowler Mark Wood has been added to the England Lions squad for the Tri-Series against the A-teams of Sri Lanka and Pakistan which starts in Cheltenham next Monday.
The Durham and England fast bowler is in the early stages of his comeback after an operation on his left ankle in April, having taken his first wicket of the season in a NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Leicestershire Foxes last Sunday.
He was invited to join the England practice session at Lord’s on Tuesday afternoon and will play in a second Blast game for Durham at home to Northants Steelbacks at the Emirates Riverside on Friday night before linking up with the Lions.
“The England medical staff have been working closely with Mark and Durham throughout, and a series of 50-over matches with the Lions offers a good opportunity for him to take the next steps in his return to cricket,” explained James Whitaker, the National Selector.
“He is a great example of a player who came through the Lions with an outstanding tour of South Africa in the winter of 2014-15 to make his Test debut last summer, and his inclusion should give a boost to this Lions squad, as well as giving him the chance to work with the younger bowlers in the squad.”
England Lions squad for Tri-Series, July 18-25
Dawid Malan (Middlesex, captain),
Tri-Series Fixtures
Monday July 18 – Pakistan A v Sri Lanka A (Cheltenham)
Tuesday July 19 – England Lions v Pakistan A (Cheltenham)
Thursday July 21 – England Lions v Sri Lanka A (Northampton)
Friday July 22 – Pakistan A v Sri Lanka A (Northampton)
Sunday July 24 – England Lions v Pakistan A (Canterbury)
Monday July 25 – England Lions v Sri Lanka A (Canterbury)