England Lions cricket team

The England Lions (formerly England A) cricket team is England and Wales's "second-tier", below the full England cricket team. It is largely intended as a way for promising young cricketers to gain experience of playing international cricket.

England B and England A

Although primarily intended as a touring team, for several years in the 1990s they played one match in England at the start of each season: between 1992 and 1995 against the previous season's county champion and in 1996 and 1997 against a Rest of England team. England A also played two List A games against the full Sri Lankan touring side in England in 1991.

Previously a second tier team known as "England B" played one game against the Pakistanis in 1982 and had made a full tour of Sri Lanka in 1985/86. The first full tour by a team named "England A" was to Zimbabwe in 1989/90, and consisted of three first-class matches and three 50-over games. On this occasion England A played against the full Zimbabwe side, but on subsequent tours their most important opponents have usually been the equivalent A teams of the countries they have been touring. However, England A has toured Australia but has never played a match against their Australian A team counterparts.

They also often play matches against state or provincial sides, and in 2000/01 England A participated in the Busta Cup, the West Indian domestic first-class competition, finishing in third place out of the eight teams taking part. In 2003/04 England A took part in India's Duleep Trophy competition, but failed to progress beyond the group stages after losing both their matches. There were no England A matches played in the period between these two tours.

England Lions

The newly rebranded England Lions was then integrated with the ECB National Academy, with touring parties taken from the Academy squad. On 15 June 2007, it was announced by the ECB (English & Welsh Cricket Board) the inaugural Lions side would play a one-day touring warm-up match against the West Indies at Worcester.[1] Later in the summer against the touring Indians the Lions drew a 3 day match at Chelmsford.[2] and had a one day match abandoned due to rain at Northampton.[3]

On 4 January 2008 the squad for the England Lions tour of India was named, with Sussex batsman Michael Yardy named as captain. The team competed in the 2008 Duleep Trophy domestic first-class competition in addition to friendly matches.[4]

Recent call-ups

This lists all the players who have played for England Lions in the past twelve months. The captain of the side typically varies from series to series—James Taylor will be the captain for the triangular series against New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A.[5]

Players who have played international cricket for the main England side are noted with superscripts.

Name Age Batting style Bowling style County S/N Most recent call-up
Batsmen
Moeen AliTest,ODI,T20 27 Left-handed bat Right-arm off-break Worcestershire 18 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Gary BallanceTest,ODI 25 Left-handed bat Right-arm leg break Yorkshire 48 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Michael CarberryTest,ODI,T20 34 Left-handed bat Right-arm off-break Hampshire 32 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Varun Chopra 27 Right-handed bat Right-arm off-break Warwickshire 49 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Alex HalesODI,T20 26 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium Nottinghamshire 35 2014 triangular series
Alex Lees 21 Left-handed bat Right-arm leg break Yorkshire 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Eoin MorganTest,ODI,T20 28 Left-handed bat Right-arm medium Middlesex 16 2013 vs. Australians
Sam RobsonTest 25 Right-handed bat Right-arm leg-break Middlesex 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Joe RootTest,ODI,T20 24 Right-handed bat Right-arm off break Yorkshire 5 2013 vs. New Zealanders
Jason RoyT20 24 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium Surrey 67 2014 triangular series
James TaylorTest,ODI 25 Right-handed bat Right-arm leg break Nottinghamshire 38 2014 triangular series
James Vince 24 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium Hampshire 68 2014 triangular series
Luke Wells 24 Right-handed bat Right-arm off break Sussex 2013 vs. Australians
Wicket-keepers
Jonny BairstowTest,ODI,T20 25 Right-handed bat Yorkshire 51 2014 triangular series
Jos ButtlerTest,ODI,T20 24 Right-handed bat Lancashire 63 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Ben Foakes 22 Right-handed bat Essex 50 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
All-rounders
Keith Barker 28 Left-handed bat Left-arm medium Warwickshire 2013 vs. Australians
Ravi BoparaTest,ODI,T20 29 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium Essex 10 2014 triangular series
Chris JordanTest,ODI,T20 26 Right-handed bat Right-arm fast-medium Sussex 34 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Craig Overton 20 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium-fast Somerset 74 2014 triangular series
Tom Smith 29 Left-handed bat Right-arm medium Lancashire 2014 triangular series
Ben StokesTest,ODI,T20 23 Left-handed bat Right-arm fast-medium Durham 59 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
David Willey 25 Left-handed bat Left-arm fast-medium Northamptonshire 36 2014 triangular series
Chris WoakesTest,ODI,T20 26 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium-fast Warwickshire 19 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Luke WrightODI,T20 30 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium-fast Sussex 6 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Pace bowlers
Steven FinnTest,ODI,T20 25 Right-handed bat Right-arm fast-medium Middlesex 11 2014 triangular series
Harry GurneyODI,T20 28 Right-handed bat Left-arm fast Nottinghamshire 76 2014 triangular series
James Harris 24 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium-fast Middlesex 39 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Tymal Mills 22 Right-handed bat Left-arm fast Essex 72 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Graham OnionsTest,ODI 32 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium-fast Durham 90 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Jamie Overton 20 Right-handed bat Right-arm fast Somerset 75 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Liam PlunkettTest, ODI 29 Right-handed bat Right-arm fast Yorkshire 17 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Boyd RankinTest,ODI,T20 30 Left-handed bat Right-arm fast-medium Warwickshire 65 2014 triangular series
Toby Roland-Jones 27 Right-handed bat Right-arm medium-fast Middlesex 55 2014 triangular series
Mark Wood 25 Right-handed bat Right-arm fast Durham 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Chris Wright 33 Right-handed bat Right-arm fast-medium Warwickshire 56 2013 vs. New Zealanders
Spin bowlers
Scott BorthwickTest,ODI,T20 24 Right-handed bat Right-arm leg-break Durham 37 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Danny BriggsODI,T20 23 Right-handed bat Slow left-arm orthodox Hampshire 54 2013 vs. Bangladesh A
Simon KerriganTest 25 Right-handed bat Slow left-arm orthodox Lancashire 62 2014 tour of Sri Lanka
Stephen ParryODI,T20 29 Right-handed bat Slow left-arm orthodox Lancashire 12 2014 triangular series
Ravi Patel 23 Right-handed bat Slow left-arm orthodox Middlesex 2014 triangular series
Ollie Rayner 29 Right-handed bat Right-arm off break Middlesex 2014 tour of Sri Lanka

Results summary

Season-by-season

Season Country First-class v A team Other first-class List A v A team Other List A Twenty20 v A team Other Twenty20
W D L W D L W L T/NR W L T/NR W L T/NR W L T/NR
England B (1982–1985/86)
1982 Pakistan 0 1 0
1985/86 Sri Lanka 0 7 0 2 3 0
England A (1989/90–2006/07)
1989/90 Zimbabwe[6] 1 2 0 3 0 0
1990/91 Pakistan[7] 0 1 0 1 0 0
Sri Lanka 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 4 0
1991 England 1 1 0
1991/92 West Indies 0 1 2 0 2 0 1 0 0
1992 England 0 1 0
1992/93 Australia 0 2 2 0 1 0
1993 England 0 0 1
1993/94 South Africa 0 1 0 4 2 1
1994 England 0 1 0
1994/95 India 3 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 0
1995 England 1 0 0
1995/96 Pakistan 1 2 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 0 0
1996 England 1 0 0
1996/97 Australia 2 1 0 2 0 1
1997 England 0 1 0
1997/98 Kenya[8] 1 0 0 1 0 1[9]
Sri Lanka 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 1
1998/99 Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 0[9] 1 3 0 0 2 0 1[9]
South Africa 2 0 0
1999/2000 Bangladesh[10] 0 2 0 1 0 0
New Zealand 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 2 0 0
2000/01 West Indies 3 4 1
2003/04 India 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 0
2004/05 Sri Lanka[11] 1 0 1 1 3 0 1 0 0
2005/06 West Indies 0 1 1 2 3 0
2006/07 Bangladesh 1 1 0 2 1 0
England Lions (2007–present)
2007 West Indies 0 1[12] 0
India 0 1 0 0 1 0
2007/08 India[13] 1 0 1
2008 New Zealand 0 1 0
South Africa 1 1 0
2008/09 New Zealand 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0
2009 West Indies 1 0 0
Australia 0 1 0
2009/10 Pakistan[14] 1 2 0 2 1 0
England[14] 1 0 0
2010 Bangladesh 1 0 0
West Indies[15] 2 0 0
India[15] 2 0 1
2010/11 West Indies[16] 2 5 0
2011 Sri Lanka 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 0
2011/12 Bangladesh 2 3 0 1 1 0
Sri Lanka 3 2 0
2012 West Indies 1 0 0
Australia 0 2 0
2012/13 Australia 0 4 1[17] 0 2 0
2013 New Zealand 0 1 0
Bangladesh 2 1 0
2013/14 Sri Lanka 1 2 0 0 2 0
2014 Sri Lanka[18] 0 0 0
New Zealand[18] 0 0 0
2014/15 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Head-to-head

Team First-class List A Twenty20
W D L W L T/NR W L T/NR
Australians 0 1 0
Australia A 0 2 0 0 4 1
Bangladesh 0 2 0 1 0 0
Bangladesh A 1 1 0 6 5 0 1 1 0
Bangladeshis 1 0 0
Barbados 0 2 0 1 0 0
Border 0 1 0
Central Districts 1 0 0
Central Zone 1 0 0
Combined XI 1 0 0
Combined Campuses and Colleges 0 1 0
Eastern Province 1 0 0
East Zone 0 0 1
England 1 0 0
Essex 0 1 1
Gauteng XI 1 0 0
Guyana 0 2 1
India A 3 0 0 4 4 1
Indian Board President's XI 0 1 0
Indians 0 1 0 0 0 1
Indian Youth XI 1 0 0
Jamaica 1 1 0
Karachi 0 1 0
Karnataka 0 1 0
Kenya 0 1 0 1 0 2
Leeward Islands 1 1 0
Mashonaland 1 0 1
Middlesex 0 1 0
Natal 0 0 1
New South Wales 0 0 1 1 0 1
New Zealand A 1 3 0 2 2 1 0 1 0
New Zealand Academy 2 0 0
New Zealanders 0 2 0
Northern Transvaal 1 0 0
North Island 0 1 0
Orange Free State 0 1 0
Pakistan A 1 2 0 3 5 0 2 1 0
Pakistan Cricket Board XI 1 0 0 2 0 0
Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI 0 1 0
Pakistanis 0 2 0
Pakistan University Grants Commission 0 1 0
Queensland 0 2 0
The Rest 1 1 0
South Africa A 0 1 0
South African Board President's XI 1 0 0
South Africans 1 1 0
South Australia 1 0 1 1 0 0
Southern Districts XI 1 0 0
South Island 1 0 0
South Zone 0 0 1
Sri Lanka 0 5 0 2 3 0
Sri Lanka A 4 7 1 7 11 0
Sri Lanka Board President's XI 1 1 0 0 1 0
Sri Lanka Colts XI 0 2 0
Sri Lanka Cricket Combined XI 1 0 0
Sri Lanka Emerging Players 0 2 0
Sri Lankans 1 0 1 1 1 0
Tamil Nadu 1 0 0
Tasmania 0 1 0 0 1 0
Transvaal 1 0 0
Trinidad and Tobago 0 3 0
Victoria 1 0 0 0 2 0
Warwickshire 1 0 0
Western Province 1 0 0
West Indians 2 0 0 0 1 0
West Indies A 0 2 3 4 3 0
West Indies B 1 0 0
West Zone 0 0 1
Windward Islands 2 1 0
Zimbabwe 1 2 0 3 0 0
Zimbabwe A 1 1 0 3 0 0
Zimbabwe Country Districts 1 0 0
Zimbabwe Cricket Academy 0 0 1
Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI 0 1 0

Up to date as of 24 July 2014.

Notes

  1. "Solanki to lead England 'Lions'", 2007-06-15, BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
  2. "Strauss calls the tune", England and Wales Cricket Board.
  3. "Deluge denies Lions", England and Wales Cricket Board.
  4. "Yardy leads Lions in India", 2008-01-04, England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
  5. "Andy Flower to coach strong Lions team". ESPNcricinfo. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  6. England A played their three first-class matches against the full Zimbabwean side rather than the A team.
  7. The tour was called off after two matches because of the start of the Gulf War.
  8. All four matches were played against the full Kenyan side.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 One further match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
  10. All three matches were played against the full Bangladeshi side.
  11. England took part in a triangular one-day tournament also involving Pakistan A. There were two games against Sri Lanka A (W1 L1) and two against Pakistan A (L2)
  12. Match played against the full West Indian side.
  13. England Lions played as a guest team in the Duleep Trophy, an Indian domestic competition.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Matches played in the United Arab Emirates.
  15. 15.0 15.1 England Lions played in a triangular series against West Indies A and India A.
  16. England Lions played in the Regional Four Day Competition, a domestic competition in the West Indies.
  17. Match abandoned with no toss having taken place.
  18. 18.0 18.1 England Lions played in a triangular series against Sri Lanka A and New Zealand A.