England Lions squad for one day series vs South Africa A

England Lions squad to face South Africa A in a three match ODI series at Trent Bridge (June 1st), and Northampton (June 3rd and 5th)

Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Ben Duckett (Northants)
Daniel Bell Drummond (Kent)
James Vince (Hampshire - captain)
Liam Livingstone (Lancs)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Ben Foakes (Surrey, wk)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Tom Curran (Surrey)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
George Garton (Sussex)

A very strong looking 13 man squad that! Would imagine if the Currans, Livingstone, Vince, Duckett can put in some strong performances in this series they will get a go against the West Indies in the one day stuff at the end of the summer (when surely they'll rest the likes of Root, Stokes etc).

3 part time leggies and a Liam Dawson.

Sums up Englands spin cupboard.

Think Parry's unlucky not to be given a go to be honest

Not heard much about George Garton. Anyone seen him play and able to comment?

Plays for Sussex i believe, not always a regular but holds a pretty good line and length, a suprise selection

No Tom Helm either? I've seen very little of him, but some people more knowledgable about County Cricket than me rate him very highly.

JDizzle wrote:No Tom Helm either? I've seen very little of him, but some people more knowledgable about County Cricket than me rate him very highly.

JD - I've heard it suggested that the ECB try and restrict themselves during our summer season to 2 players from a county when making Lions call ups so as to limit disruption to any particular county. Although Surrey have 3 players in the squad, they won't miss any county games during this period. That's unlike Middlesex who are playing at this time and will lose Finn and Malan to the Lions. That may have counted against Helm this time.

Olly asked me about Helm when I watched him in the RL 50 at the Oval last week. I actually first saw him four years ago bowling for Middlesex seconds at Guildford and he caught my eye in that game. I managed to track down an old post in which I then described him as ''sharp''. I also saw him in the Championship at Lord's on Sunday. In both the recent games I saw, he opened the bowling and started pretty well but with no luck and then fell away a bit. That said, he's clearly rated by the Middlesex faithful and a lot more than Finn whose direction was all over the shop on Sunday.

guildfordbat wrote:

JDizzle wrote:No Tom Helm either? I've seen very little of him, but some people more knowledgable about County Cricket than me rate him very highly.

JD - I've heard it suggested that the ECB try and restrict themselves during our summer season to 2 players from a county when making Lions call ups so as to limit disruption to any particular county. Although Surrey have 3 players in the squad, they won't miss any county games during this period. That's unlike Middlesex who are playing at this time and will lose Finn and Malan to the Lions. That may have counted against Helm this time.

Olly asked me about Helm when I watched him in the RL 50 at the Oval last week. I actually first saw him four years ago bowling for Middlesex seconds at Guildford and he caught my eye in that game. I managed to track down an old post in which I then described him as ''sharp''. I also saw him in the Championship at Lord's on Sunday. In both the recent games I saw, he opened the bowling and started pretty well but with no luck and then fell away a bit. That said, he's clearly rated by the Middlesex faithful and a lot more than Finn whose direction was all over the shop on Sunday.

Hi GB, thanks for that info. I didn't realise the ECB tried to implement that, surprisingly sensible from them! There is a debate to be had as to whether Helm would benefit more playing for the Lions than Finn, given Finn's career is treading water a bit at the moment - but it is not a major issue.

Certainly would be a common trend for younger bowlers in general, but more specifically young fast bowlers, to struggle coming back and bowling second, third and fourth spells in a day potentially. Something you really can only learn from experience. But given your description of him, and what I have heard about him from elsewhere, it certainly seems like he has the extra gear that might trouble international players and hopefully the consistency will come with more overs under his belt.

Serious England lions team today:

Dawid Malan
Ben Duckett
Daniel Bell-Drummond
James Vince(c)
Liam Livingstone
Liam Dawson
Ben Foakes(wk)
Sam Curran
Craig Overton
Tom Curran
Steven Finn

If not totally crashing, South Africa A fall heavily from 137/2 in the 25th to 268 all out from 49. Always very poor to waste an over.

Wickets shared round. 3 for Finn although - as usual? - he was the most expensive. Another tidy return from Dawson, 2/41 from his 10. He seems like the West Brom of cricket - not quite good enough for the top tier, too good for the level immediately below.

Think that's a bit harsh, Guildford. He hasn't really been given a chance with England. With Moeen and Rashid in the team. Should one of those get injured he wouldn't let them down IMO. He was also 'man of the series' in the North vs South games.

Sorry, Jimbo. I've just reread my post. What I meant to convey was that's the danger for him in how he will be perceived. Without him having an opportunity, a fair judgement can't be made ... but there doesn't seem much opportunity coming his way at the highest level even though he probably now more than deserves it. If it does, I certainly feel he'll need to take it quickly as I'm not sure it will come around too often.

Guildford i get what you mean.

I genuinely think the Lions could hold their own in the champions trophy proper

Just the 349 for the Lions today. Livingstone with a blistering hundred. Malan with another contribution and some useful late runs from Overton and Tom Curran.

jimbohammers wrote:Just the 349 for the Lions today. Livingstone with a blistering hundred. Malan with another contribution and some useful late runs from Overton and Tom Curran.

Jimbo - followed by a fourfer for your man Dawson. 4/41 off 10. Very much the postman - he keeps delivering.

You're not wrong, Guildford! Think Vince captains him well too, bowls him at the right time every game (it seems that way anyway!)

Another really comfortable win for the lions. Would like to see them play a series vs England...

jimbohammers wrote:Think that's a bit harsh, Guildford. He hasn't really been given a chance with England. With Moeen and Rashid in the team. Should one of those get injured he wouldn't let them down IMO. He was also 'man of the series' in the North vs South games.

...and lets not forget he has a higher test batting average than bowling average which makes him a proper all rounder right

3rd and final game today at Northampton. 2pm start

Called off. England win the series 2-0

England Lions easily beat South Africa A in the 4 day match they just concluded - Stoneman and Jennings made 50's in both innings, Foakes making a century in the 1st dig.

Wickets fairly evenly spread around - Porter picked up 3 in each innings, Jamie Overton 2 first innings and 3 second innings, Sam Curran 2 in each innings.

Have heard rumours they're seriously looking at Jamie Overton for the upcoming tour of Australia - obviously his pace and height will interest them greatly down under.

Also this is the England Lions squad to face the same opposition in a 3 day game at Worcester this week - note no Surrey or Notts players included due to the clash with the Royal London One Day Cup final (ie. no Stoneman or Currans)

Keaton Jennings (Durham)
Sam Robson (Middlesex)
Tom Westley (Essex)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire, capt)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Joe Clarke (Worcestershire)
Sam Billings (Kent, wk)
Jamie Overton (Somerset)
Tom Helm (Middlesex)
George Garton (Sussex)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Mason Crane (Hampshire).

Interesting to see Robson and Ballance back into contention. Deservedly so in both cases

That is interesting and rather undoes some points I made in the discussion a few days ago!
Another chance for Livingstone as well.

And Billings .... poor Foakes doesnt get a look in.

Goose - Foakes wasn't considered as he'll be playing in the RLODC final.

Oh yeah good point!

I trust Overton will get a run out in this game - he was a little unfortunate not to play any part in the t20 : although on second thoughts given the bowlers are generally seen as punching bags in that format perhaps they did him a favour

Ballance as the skipper : is he getting the job as a hint he is close to a return to the Test side or as a consolation for being overlooked ?

Good that Crane is getting a chance in a longer game too.

alfie wrote:I trust Overton will get a run out in this game

If he bats alongside Livingstone he has a fair chance of getting run out