Crocombe and Stanley lead young Lions pace picks

Henry Crocombe and Mitchell Stanley are among the pace bowlers on England's radar named in a Lions squad to take on South Africa A in two four-day matches later this month.

Sussex's Crocombe was namechecked as a player being watched by director of cricket Rob Key when England chose their squad for the first Test against New Zealand earlier this week.

Stanley of Lancashire is admired by the hierarchy, including by influential Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, despite the 25-year-old having played only five first-class matches.

Crocombe, 24, had taken 19 wickets in the County Championship this season before the latest round of matches got under way on Friday.

He is in the squad for the second of the two matches against South Africa A, at Beckenham on 29 May. The first game is at Arundel on 22 May.

England's pace-bowling department is evolving following the disappointing Ashes and the retirements of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Chris Woakes in successive years.

Ollie Robinson's two-year international exile has been ended with his call-up for the first Test against New Zealand, with uncapped Hampshire paceman Sonny Baker also included. Brydon Carse is injured and Jofra Archer will be rested following his stint at the Indian Premier League.

England Lions squad for two matches against South Africa A: Dan Mousley (captain), Charlie Allison (Essex), Henry Crocombe (second four-day match), Eddie Jack, Ben Geddes, Ben Mayes, Ben McKinney, Tom Lawes, Alfie Ogborne (first four-day match), Liam Patterson-White, James Sales, Naavya Sharma, Mitchell Stanley, Asa Tribe, James Wharton.

Joining Crocombe and Stanley in the Lions are Hampshire's Eddie Jack and Surrey's Tom Lawes, both seamers who were on tour in Australia over the winter and have England development contracts.

Somerset left-armer Alfie Ogbonne, 22, and Middlesex 20-year-old Naavya Sharma are other pace-bowling prospects in the Lions group.

Warwickshire's Dan Mousley will captain the squad that includes openers Ben McKinney and Asa Tribe. The two men were touted as possible replacements for Zak Crawley in the England team before his spot went to McKinney's Durham team-mate Emilio Gay.

Flintoff will lead the Lions, with confirmation soon expected that the former England all-rounder will become head coach of Sydney Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League.

The Thunder role will be Flintoff's first overseas franchise job following two seasons in charge of Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. The 48-year-old had a short spell in the BBL with Brisbane Heat at the end of his playing career.

Flintoff has been in charge of the Lions since 2024, initially on a one-year contract. His deal was extended to the beginning of 2027 last year without an official announcement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

If Flintoff does take charge of the Thunder, he is likely to miss the end of the Lions' tour to South Africa in December.