Thaindian News

London, June 22 (IANS) Veteran Darren Stevens was Tuesday included in the England Lions one-day squad for an upcoming triangular tournament which also includes India.
The 34-year-old Kent player is a surprise inclusion in the 12-man squad, led by Alastair Cook, to face India A and West Indies A.

“We are pleased to welcome Darren Stevens to the squad, who has been rewarded for his impressive form with Kent this season,” Geoff Miller, the national selector was quoted as saying in the Guardian.

Stevens has been in excellent touch with the bat this season, hitting 197 against Nottinghamshire in a County Championship game earlier this month, and also gives Kent another bowling option with his medium-pacers in the one-day game.

The squad also includes bowlers Sajid Mahmood and Liam Plunkett, Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara and the Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior’s name was conspicous by its absence. Prior was first choice behind the stumps in England’s 50-over team until being replaced by Craig Kieswetter in the current one-day squad, and had been expected to be named among the second string.

The triangular series runs from 28 June to 8 July, while England’s senior side face Australia in five one-day internationals between June 22-July 3.

England Lions squad: Alastair Cook (captain, Essex), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Steven Davies (Surrey), Andrew Gale (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Darren Stevens (Kent), James Taylor (Leicestershire), James Tredwell (Kent), Peter Trego (Somerset), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).