James Sales has been rewarded for his fine County Championship form with a debut England Lions call up.
Sales will be part of the 15-player squad for the upcoming four-day series against South Africa A.
The all-rounder has been excellent this season, having struck two centuries and Sales is also Northamptonshire’s top scorer in the Rothesay County Championship with 393 runs at an average of 78.60.
Warwickshire’s Dan Mousley will captain the team which will play the two four-day matches at Arundel (May 22-25) and Beckenham (May 29-June 1).
England Lions 15-player four-day squad:
Dan Mousley (Warwickshire – captain)
Charlie Allison (Essex)
Henry Crocombe (Sussex – second four-day match)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Ben Geddes (Middlesex)
Ben Mayes (Hampshire)
Ben McKinney (Durham)
Tom Lawes (Surrey)
Alfie Ogborne (Somerset – first four-day match)
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
James Sales (Northamptonshire)
Naavya Sharma (Middlesex)
Mitchell Stanley (Lancashire)
Asa Tribe (Glamorgan)
James Wharton (Yorkshire)
England Men’s Performance Director, Ed Barney, said: “We have selected an exciting squad that brings together those players that are potentially next in line for England selection, alongside some of the most exciting talent in the game.
“We have a core of players who toured Australia with the Lions in the winter as well as new names who have been rewarded for their form in the Rothesay County Championship this season. These matches provide an opportunity to perform and execute their skills against a strong international side.”
Northamptonshire Head Coach, Darren Lehmann, said: “We’re all very proud of James and we’re looking forward to seeing him in an England shirt.
“He’s worked extremely hard on his game this year and he’s made an excellent start to the season so long may that continue.”