Rocky Flintoff: Andrew Flintoff’s son named in England Lions squad
Off-spinner Bashir has played 15 Test matches since making his England debut on the tour of India in February. His inclusion is an opportunity to gain experience in Australia before becoming England’s first-choice spinner in the Ashes.
Left-arm spinner Hartley has featured in all five Test matches in India in early 2024 but has not been part of the England squad since the T20 World Cup. Pace bowler Tongue is on his way back to fitness for the 2023 Ashes home series after being out of action for over a year due to a chest injury.
Pace bowlers John Turner and Pat Brown also played for England’s senior white-ball cricket team.
Warwickshire skipper Alex Davies, 30, and prolific Essex seamer Sam Cook, 27, offer a wealth of experience. Promising Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman James Rew has been a regular for the Lions of late.
In addition to Flintoff, there are many players who have played less than 10 first-class games, including bowler John Turner and batsmen Ben McKinney, Freddie Mac Freddie McCann and Hamza Shaikh.
Pace bowlers Sonny Baker and Mitchell Stanley, from Hampshire and Lancashire respectively, are yet to make their debuts.
Left-arm seamer Josh Hull, who made his debut against Sri Lanka in September, will return from a quadriceps injury but was not included in the official squad.
