Rocky Flintoff, the 16-year-old prodigy, has been officially named in the England Lions squad for their upcoming tour of Australia next month. His father, Andrew Flintoff, who is the head coach of the Lions, will once again oversee his son’s progress on the international stage.
Flintoff’s inclusion in the squad comes after a whirlwind year that saw him make his debut for Lancashire’s 2nd XI in April, followed by appearances for England’s Under-19 teams against Sri Lanka in July. His impressive performances earned him his first professional contract with Lancashire in August and a subsequent first-class debut.
The young all-rounder’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable, and his selection for the Lions tour to Australia further underscores his potential. Flintoff made a brief appearance during the Lions’ recent trip to South Africa, featuring in a one-off tour match against a CSA Invitational XI in Cape Town, where he scored 4 runs from just three balls in his only innings.
The Lions tour will provide valuable experience for several players hoping to make a case for inclusion in the senior England squad for next year’s Ashes series. One such player is Shoaib Bashir, the current Test spinner, who will be looking to fine-tune his game in Australian conditions. Bashir, 21, has played in 15 of England’s 17 Tests in 2024 since his fast-tracked debut during the tour of India in January.
Bashir will be working closely with Graeme Swann, the former England offspinner who played a crucial role in the team’s last Ashes victory in Australia in 2010-11. The tour will feature three competitive fixtures in Brisbane and Sydney, culminating in an unofficial Test against Australia A, providing ample opportunity for Bashir to hone his skills.
Lancashire’s left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, who featured in all five Tests in India but has not been selected since, will also be part of the touring party.
England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, had previously indicated the likelihood of Bashir’s inclusion in the Lions squad, acknowledging that the spinner’s game has not progressed as quickly as the team had hoped, based on his recent performances in Pakistan and New Zealand, where he claimed 17 wickets at an average of 50.58 in six Tests.
Among the fast bowlers, Josh Tongue’s inclusion is noteworthy. Despite impressing with his pace and ability to generate steep bounce during his two Test appearances at Lord’s in 2023, Tongue has been hampered by injuries, including a setback that ruled him out of a potential white-ball debut in the Caribbean in November.
Other promising quicks in the squad include John Turner, capable of bowling at 90mph, and Essex’s Sam Cook, one of the most prolific bowlers in county cricket. Josh Hull, the 20-year-old Leicestershire left-armer who made a surprise Test debut against Sri Lanka in September, will travel to Australia to continue his rehabilitation from a quad injury, although he is not part of the main squad.
The batting line-up features Alex Davies, rewarded for a strong season with Warwickshire, which included four centuries in his first year as captain, and Somerset’s wicketkeeper-batter James Rew.
Ed Barney, England Men’s Performance Director, emphasized the importance of the tour, stating, “Matches and tours of Australia are always important, and we relish the opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition. This tour allows us to evaluate performances, refine preparation, and continue working with some of the best emerging talent in the country.”
As Rocky Flintoff embarks on another exciting chapter in his fledgling career, all eyes will be on the young talent as he looks to make his mark on the international stage under the guidance of his father and the England Lions coaching staff.
