Veteran pacer Chris Woakes and Andrew Flintoff’s son Rocky Flintoff were named in the 14-member England Lions squad for the upcoming two four-day matches against India A, starting May 30 in Canterbury.
Woakes, 36, missed the recent one-off Test due to an ankle injury that delayed his start to the summer. These fixtures now present a crucial opportunity for him to regain match fitness and push for inclusion in the squad for the India series in June.
Somerset’s James Rew, who was added to the senior squad for the Zimbabwe Test, will lead the Lions. The squad features promising players including legspinner Rehan Ahmed—available only for the first match before joining the T20I squad for the West Indies series—and batsman Dan Mousley. Jordan Cox, originally selected ahead of Rew for the Zimbabwe Test but sidelined by an abdominal strain, is expected to return for the second Lions match in Northampton starting June 6.
In contrast, there will be no immediate red-ball return for Jofra Archer. He had been pencilled in for the second fixture at Wantage Road but has been ruled out due to a right-thumb injury sustained during the IPL.
England’s selectors have named a strong 15-man Lions squad for the two four-day matches, beginning May 30. In a shift from recent tour-match policies, the squad includes several players in contention for senior Test roles. Among them are opener Ben McKinney, a former Under-19 graduate who could challenge Zak Crawley, and left-arm seamer Josh Hull, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last summer.
Notably, Rehan Ahmed’s younger brother Farhan also earns a call-up, following a string of impressive performances for Nottinghamshire with his offspin.
Woakes is the most experienced member of the group. Despite his age, he remains a vital figure in English conditions, having claimed 19 wickets at 18.15 in the 2023 Ashes to earn the Compton-Miller Medal, followed by 24 more at 20.25 last summer after stepping into a leadership role in the absence of James Anderson.
His place in the XI is now under pressure from Essex’s Sam Cook, who is expected to 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