The England selectors today announced that Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright will captain the England Lions team to face Bangladesh A in three one-day games starting on August 20 at The County Ground, Bristol.
England’s limited-overs coach Ashley Giles will lead a side which includes three Lions debutants in a 12 man squad.
Young bowlers Jamie Overton (Somerset) and David Willey (Northants) have both previously been through the Potential England Performance Programme (PEPP) with Overton also being part of the England U19 setup.
Overton and Willey are joined by Sussex paceman Chris Jordan who has enjoyed a fine county season in 2013 taking over 50 first-class wickets. Jordan has also been a part of the England Performance Programme in 2009 and the PEPP in 2008.
The side will also include a number of players who have represented England at a senior level across different formats. These include the captain Wright, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Michael Carberry, Ben Stokes, Boyd Rankin and Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor.
National Selector Geoff Miller said: “We are delighted to reward this Lions team with an opportunity to impress the selectors ahead of a number of forthcoming ODI series.
"Many of this squad have been in or around England, Lions, EPP or PEPP squads before, so it is a great chance for them to push for places for the England ODI games later this summer and also this coming winter.
“Looking further ahead, we are also keen to build a strong platform for the 2015 World Cup, so opportunities such as this play a big part in giving the coaches an opportunity to assess the levels of these players first hand.”
Northamptonshire CCC were due to play Australia on August 16 and 17 at Wantage Road, but due to their qualification for the Friends Life t20 finals day, a Lions team will now fulfil the fixture and this will be announced early next week.
England Lions squad:
Luke Wright (Sussex, captain)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
Danny Briggs (Hampshire)
Jos Buttler (Somerset)
Michael Carberry (Hampshire)
Chris Jordan (Sussex)
Jamie Overton (Somerset)
Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)
James Vince (Hampshire)
David Willey (Northamptonshire)
Fixtures:
August 20 – England Lions v Bangladesh A – The County Ground, Bristol – 10:45am start
August 22 – England Lions v Bangladesh A – The County Ground, Taunton – 10:45am start
August 24 - England Lions v Bangladesh A – The County Ground, Taunton – 10:45am start