Dale Steyn to Coach England Lions Fast Bowlers in South Africa

Dale Steyn to Coach England Lions Fast Bowlers in South Africa

Dale Steyn, the legendary South African fast bowler, will join Andrew Flintoff’s coaching staff for the England Lions tour of South Africa next month. Steyn, who retired from international cricket in 2019, will work with some of England’s most promising young fast bowlers, including Pat Brown, Josh Hull, and Dillon Pennington.

The Lions tour, which will run from November 20 to December 14, will consist of a training camp and a four-day match against South Africa A. The squad includes ten seamers, reflecting England’s focus on developing fast bowlers.

Steyn, who took 439 wickets in his Test career, will provide invaluable guidance to the young bowlers. He is known for his exceptional pace, accuracy, and swing bowling. His experience and expertise will be crucial in helping the Lions bowlers improve their skills and reach their full potential.

Neil McKenzie, the former South Africa batter, will oversee the Lions’ batting group. McKenzie, who has worked with the South Africa national team and Desert Vipers, will provide mentorship and support to the young batsmen.

The Lions tour is part of the ECB’s ongoing commitment to developing young players and building a strong pipeline of talent for the England team. The ECB’s performance director, Ed Barney, said that the seam-dominated squad reflects “England’s short and long-term needs” across formats.

The Lions tour will provide a valuable opportunity for the young players to gain experience in South African conditions and learn from some of the best coaches in the world. It is expected to be a significant step in their development as they aim to represent England in the future.

Flintoff to Lead England Lions Squad to South Africa for Training Camp and Unofficial Test

Flintoff to Lead England Lions Squad to South Africa for Training Camp and Unofficial Test

Andrew Flintoff, the newly appointed England Lions head coach, will lead a 19-man squad to South Africa next month for a training camp and an unofficial four-day Test against South Africa A. The tour, scheduled from November 20 to December 14, aims to replicate the training methods of the senior men’s squad, who will be playing a Test series in New Zealand during the same period.

The squad includes six new inclusions, including Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner who recently earned his first senior white-ball call-up. Chohan, the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy to be named in an England squad, will have a limited role due to prior Big Bash League commitments.

Other notable inclusions are Josh Hull, who withdrew from the ongoing Test tour of Pakistan with a quad injury, and Matt Hurst, the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batter making his first Lions tour. The squad also features several recent graduates from England’s Under-19 set-up, such as Harry Moore, a highly-rated 17-year-old Derbyshire fast bowler, and Freddie McCann, the Nottinghamshire opener who played a crucial role in preserving his team’s top-flight status in the County Championship.

Flintoff expressed his excitement about the potential of the squad, stating, “We’re delighted to have such a high-potential group of players heading to South Africa. We have a mix of well-established performers who’ve been in the England setup and excelled in the domestic game, through to some of the most exciting young talent coming through.”

England Men’s performance director, Ed Barney, emphasized the alignment of the selection with England’s short and long-term needs across all formats, particularly in supporting pace bowlers. He added, “We are also excited about the competitive match opportunities, with a four-day fixture against South Africa A offering the opportunity for the squad to enjoy putting their skills on show against strong opposition.”

The full coaching and support staff for the tour will be announced shortly.

Andrew Flintoff Appointed England Lions Head Coach

Andrew Flintoff Appointed England Lions Head Coach

Andrew Flintoff, the legendary English cricketer, has been appointed as the new head coach of the England Lions, the national team’s development squad. Flintoff, who played 79 Tests for England, will take up his new role in October, leading the Lions on tours to South Africa, Australia, India, and Zimbabwe over the next year.

Flintoff’s appointment is a testament to his growing reputation as a coach. Since returning to cricket in 2023 after a horrific car crash, he has worked as an assistant coach with the England men’s team and as head coach of the Northern Superchargers in the Men’s Hundred.

In his new role, Flintoff will be responsible for performance planning, player development reviews, team selection, and player appraisals. He will also work closely with the England men’s team management, led by head coach Brendon McCullum.

Flintoff’s appointment has been welcomed by England’s men’s performance director, Ed Barney. “Andrew stood out thanks to his inspirational leadership, coaching expertise, and deep understanding of the game,” Barney said. “His vision aligns very closely with the playing style and identity that has been fostered with England Men under Brendon McCullum.”

Flintoff is excited about the opportunity to work with the Lions. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the best up-and-coming talent in the country and to help shape the future of the men’s game,” he said. “The Lions programme has always been a vital stepping stone for players pushing for international success, and I’m honoured to be part of that journey.”

The future of English cricket looks bright with Flintoff at the helm of the Lions. He is a passionate and experienced coach who is committed to developing the next generation of England stars.

England Lions Close in on Victory Against Sri Lanka in Tour Match

England Lions Close in on Victory Against Sri Lanka in Tour Match

England Lions are on the cusp of victory against Sri Lanka in their tour match at New Road, Worcester. The Lions need just 75 more runs to win after bowling out Sri Lanka for 306 in their second innings.

Sri Lanka, trailing by 185 runs on first innings, showed some fightback with half-centuries from Nishan Madushka (77), Angelo Mathews (51), and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (66). However, the Lions’ bowlers, led by offspinner Farhan Ahmed (3-87), kept chipping away at the Sri Lankan batting lineup.

The Lions made a solid start to their chase, with Ben McKinney hitting a quickfire 20 off nine balls. Dhananjaya briefly threatened a comeback with two wickets in two balls, but Rob Yates and Hamza Shaikh steadied the ship for the Lions.

The tour match is Sri Lanka’s only warm-up game before the first of three Tests against England starts in Manchester on Wednesday. This is their first Test tour to England since they lost a three-match series 2-0 in 2016.

The Lions’ victory would be a significant boost to their confidence ahead of the Test series. It would also be a disappointing result for Sri Lanka, who will be looking to improve their performance in the longer format.

England Lions Dominate Sri Lanka in Tour Match, Secure Substantial Lead

England Lions Dominate Sri Lanka in Tour Match, Secure Substantial Lead

In their sole warm-up match before the three-Test series against England, Sri Lanka face an uphill battle to salvage the game after conceding a substantial first-innings deficit to an inexperienced England Lions team in Worcester.

Sri Lanka’s batting woes continued as they were dismissed for a paltry 139 in just 43.5 overs, with no batter managing to reach 30. Gloucestershire’s Zaman Akhter wreaked havoc, claiming 5 for 32, his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

The Lions gained a slender six-run lead heading into the second day, losing four wickets on the opening evening, three of them to Prabath Jayasuriya’s left-arm spin. However, by the time rain intervened, the Lions had extended their lead to 185.

Hamza Shaikh, the 18-year-old Warwickshire batter making his first-class debut, impressed with a gritty 91 from No. 4. He forged a crucial 104-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Kasey Aldridge, the Somerset allrounder, who contributed 78.

Jayasuriya emerged as the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing with 5 for 102 from 31.2 overs. Kasun Rajitha chipped in with 2 for 51, but Lahiru Kumara proved expensive, conceding 92 runs from 18 overs and only dismissing tailender Ajeet Singh Dale.

The Lions fielded a depleted side, featuring two first-class debutants in Shaikh and Farhan Ahmed. The ECB withdrew only one player, Josh Hull, from the Hundred, which has attracted most of England’s top young talent.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have not played a Test since their tour of Bangladesh in April, and most of their squad have not featured in first-class cricket since the domestic four-day tournament concluded in early May. Vishwa Fernando, who is not playing against the Lions, claimed 12 wickets in two appearances for Yorkshire in June.

Sri Lanka’s 18-man squad will travel to Manchester after the tour game for the first of three Tests against England, starting on Wednesday at Emirates Old Trafford. Former England batter Ian Bell will join them as a batting coach, providing local knowledge for the series.

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