Tom Haines receives England Lions call-up

Sussex's Tom Haines has been selected for the forthcoming England Lions' two four-day matches against India A, with the opening match at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury from Friday 30 May. The second match will be staged at the County Ground in Northampton from Friday 6 June.

Haines has began the season in fine form, already racking up 640 runs in the County Championship at an average of 58.18 - the third-highest run scorer in Division One thus far.

But this is only a more recent view on an opening batter who has consistently impressed for the county. After recording an impressive 1176 runs in 2021, he took on the captaincy and contributed another 941 the season after, which included a career-best 243 at Derby. A Lions call followed in the 2022-23 winter, with Haines scoring a century on debut in Galle. And last season his runs proved pivotal as Sussex returned to the top division for the first time in 10 years.

Squad

An initial 14-player squad has been announced, with Somerset’s James Rew captaining the Lions for the first time.

James Rew (Somerset)
Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire)
Emilio Gay (Durham)
Tom Haines (Sussex)
George Hill (Yorkshire)
Josh Hull (Leicestershire)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Ben McKinney (Durham)
Dan Mousley (Warwickshire)
Ajeet Singh Dale (Gloucestershire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

Chris Woakes is selected after an ankle injury has delayed his start to the summer while brothers Farhan and Rehan Ahmed are selected in the same England representative squad for the first time. Rehan Ahmed will be available for the opening match in Canterbury before joining the England Men’s squad for their Vitality IT20 series against West Indies.

Essex batter Jordan Cox is set to return for the second fixture after an abdominal muscle injury ruled him out of this week’s first Rothesay Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.

ECB Performance Director for Men’s Cricket, Ed Barney, said: “This series against a strong India A side is a huge opportunity for an exciting and highly talented group of players. It will provide an opportunity both individually and collectively to excel on the international stage as we continue to succession plan for England’s future needs.”
 

We wish Tom all the very best in his thoroughly deserved call-up!