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The European Central Bank has announced the formation of an intensive training squad for the England Lions national team to participate in a winter training camp in the United Arab Emirates next month. Ten players were drafted into the Second Division squad for the first time.
Focusing on spinners in the short-term is vital given the lack of options following Moeen Ali’s Test retirement at the end of the Ashes, and with Adil Rashid focusing solely on white-ball cricket. Key player Jack Leach continues his recovery from the back stress fracture he suffered at the start of the summer.
Players and counties were consulted on selection, with many players not selected due to either pre-existing commitments or other opportunities abroad deemed more beneficial to their individual needs.
Mo Popat, England Men’s Performance Director, said: “At the end of an enjoyable season and after close dialogue with players and counties, it is exciting to confirm our squad will travel to Abu Dhabi for a training camp later this year.
“The camp will provide an excellent opportunity for the players to develop their red-ball game and will allow us to learn more about them as people and players.
“In selecting the squad, we carefully considered England’s short- and long-term needs in Test cricket, particularly with the challenges of the sub-continent in mind.
“It’s a very large group and it’s great to be able to support the players’ development in this way for what should be a fun camp.”
The training and guidance group accompanying the ceremony will be announced in due course.
England Lions training kit: Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), George Balderson (Lancashire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Josh Bohannon (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Jack Carson (Sussex), James Coles (Sussex), Josh De Caires (Middlesex). Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Tom Laws (Surrey), Dan Moseley (Warwickshire), Callum Parkinson (Durham), Matthew Potts (Durham), Rishi Patel (Leicestershire), Ollie Price . (Gloucestershire), James Reo (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Durham), Josh Tonge (Nottinghamshire), John Turner (Hampshire).