Strong Lions squad named

29 April 2008

Robert Key will captain a strong England Lions line-up

The England selectors have announced a 12-man England Lions squad to face New Zealand in a four-day tour match at the Rose Bowl starting next Thursday.

The squad, which contains eight players with Test or one-day international experience, will be captained by the Kent opening batsman, Robert Key, who led England A against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2006 and made an unbeaten century against New Zealand on Monday.

National selector Geoff Miller said: “In choosing this squad we were keen to show consistency by giving further opportunities to players who were involved with either the Test or one-day squad during the winter or the England Lions.

“There is intense competition for places in the senior squad at present and all of these players will be keen to make an impression on the selectors ahead of the international season.

“Robert Key enjoyed an excellent season for Kent last year, was recently named in the England Performance Squad and he will bring his experience of leading his county to the captain’s role.

“Matthew Hoggard was left out of the last two Test Matches in New Zealand but he is a fighter and he will not want to give up his England place easily.

He has started the season with a strong performance for Yorkshire and this will be another chance for him to show what he is capable of against an international side.”

England Lions squad:

Robert Key (Kent, captain)
Ravinder Bopara (Essex)
Michael Carberry (Hampshire)
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)
Steven Kirby (Gloucestershire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)