21 year old James Taylor (Leicestershire) will captain England Lions for the first time in both series. The 4 day squad includes five players who have yet to play for England Lions, batsmen Joe Root (Yorkshire) and Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire) as well as Durham leg spinner Scott Borthwick and pace bowlers Stuart Meaker (Surrey) and Jack Brooks (Northants).
The one day squad comprises three players who have represented England in one day cricket this year; Ravi Bopara (Essex), Steven Finn (Middlesex) and Chris Woakes (Warwickshire). Durham all rounder Ben Stokes is back in the squad after recovering from a finger injury sustained eight weeks ago and he is joined by six other members of the England Lions squad (James Taylor, Ravi Bopara, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Danny Briggs and James Harris) that finished a tour of the West Indies unbeaten last winter.
National selector Geoff Miller said: “The England Lions series against Sri Lanka A is an important opportunity for those younger players to gain valuable experience against international opposition and push for further involvement in England programmes this winter. The series will also give players a chance to press for inclusion in the upcoming NatWest Series against India.”
All players will return to their counties on conclusion of the 4 day match ahead of the Friends Life t20 quarter finals and the one day squad will meet on 10 August ahead of first match on 12 August.
James Taylor (Leicestershire) (Capt.)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Scott Borthwick (Durham)
Jack Brooks (Northants)
Jade Dernbach (Surrey)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
James Harris (Glamorgan)
Craig Kieswetter (Somerset)
Stuart Meaker (Surrey)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
James Taylor (Leicestershire) (Capt.)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Scott Borthwick (Durham)
Danny Briggs (Hampshire)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
James Harris (Glamorgan)
Stuart Meaker (Surrey)
Chris Nash (Sussex)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
England Lions fixtures vs Sri Lanka A
11am Tuesday 2 August Scarborough
10.45am Friday 12 August New Road, Worcester
10.45 am Sunday 14 August New Road, Worcester
10.45am Tuesday 16 August, Northampton