England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday (December 13) announced a 15-member England Lions squad for a month-long red-ball tour to India.

England Lions will play four red-ball matches against India ‘A’ in Ahmedabad between January 12 and February 4. The tour coincides with the beginning of the England senior team's five-match Test series against India, slated to get underway on January 25 in Hyderabad.

"A 15-player England Lions squad will fly to India in early January for a month-long red-ball tour that coincides with the start of England Men's five-match Test series," ECB said in a statement.

Lancashire batter Josh Bohannon will captain the squad after leading the County Championship Division One run-scoring last summer with 1257 at an average of 59.85, including four centuries.

The squad includes England's international-level players such as Ollie Robinson, Brydon Carse, Alex Lees, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Stone, Matthew Potts and Matt Fisher.

England Men’s Performance Director, Mo Bobat, said: “Playing a series in India at any level is a challenge to get excited about, it’s one of the truest tests for any cricketer. It’s great that our Lions team can experience that challenge and have the opportunity to showcase their skills in those conditions.

“The squad has a strong core of players in it that were out in Abu Dhabi recently for the training camp, with some of those players already selected into the Test squad. There’s also a return for some more experienced players which aligns with supporting England’s more immediate needs.”

England Lions Squad

Josh Bohannon (Lancashire – captain), Kasey Aldridge (Somerset), Brydon Carse (Durham), Jack Carson (Sussex), James Coles (Sussex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Keaton Jennings (Lancashire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Alex Lees (Durham), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Callum Parkinson (Durham), Matt Potts (Durham), Ollie Price (Gloucestershire), James Rew (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Durham)

Schedule

12-13 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium – Ground B, Ahmedabad

17-20 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

24-27 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

1-4 February: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

(With ECB Inputs)