Ahmed, Cox and Baker named in Lions squad

Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox, and Sonny Baker have been chosen for England’s international team to play for the senior side during their tour of Australia.

Leg-spinner Ahmed, age 21, opted to join a Lions squad to provide support and warm-up for Ben Stokes’ Test side after missing out on the main Ashes squad.

The Lions, a three-day encounter a week before the first Test in Perth, are England’s only warm-up match in Australia.

Along with fellow spinner Tom Hartley and pace bowlers Josh Hull and Matthew Fisher, Ahmed is one of four Lions players to have won Test caps.

Ahmed, wicketkeeper-batter Cox, and pace bowler Baker appear to be the Lions squad’s most likely replacements, if needed, from the 18-man Lions squad.

Had Jacob Bethell not lost a broken thumb, which gave him the opportunity to make his Test debut in New Zealand last year, Essex’s Cox, 24, not had broken it.

Although highly regarded, Hampshire’s 22-year-old was pricey both for his Twenty20 debut against Ireland and for his one-day international debut.

When England releases a new list of players in the near future, he will likely receive a central contract for the upcoming year.

The Lions squad also includes promising Somerset batsmen James and Thomas Rew under the direction of England legend Andrew Flintoff.

Eddie Jack from Hampshire and Mitchell Stanley from Lancashire join Baker and Hull in a young pace-bowling attack.

First calls-ups for Glamorgan duo Ben Kellaway and Asa Tribe are rewarded for their excellent form. Tribe has played international cricket for Jersey, while Kellyway has an ambidextrous spinner.

The Lions play Australia A, a Prime Minister’s XI, and a Cricket Australia XI following the senior match against England.

The Ashes Test in Brisbane will be played on December 8 and their tour will come to an end.

Farhan Ahmed’s younger brother, Farhan, has been named captain of the England Under-19s team that will travel to the Caribbean in October.