James Sales rewarded for excellent Northants form with England Lions call
James Sales has been called up by England Lions for the first time.
The all-rounder has enjoyed an excellent start to the Rothesay County Championship Division Two season with Northants, and he has been rewarded with international recognition.
Sales has been named in the 15-man Lions squad to take on South Africa A in two four-day matches, with the first starting next Friday (May 22) at Arundel Castle.
The second match starts the following Friday (May 29), and his Lions selection means he will be unavailable for the Steelbacks' first four Central & West Group matches in the Vitality Blast.
Sales, whose dad David was selected for England A in his career, has already scored 393 runs in red ball cricket this summer at an average of 78.60, and he has already notched two centuries with a top score of 164.
Sales is currently playing for Northants in their four-day clash against Gloucestershire at the County Ground in Bristol, and 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.”
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.”
Warwickshire’s Dan Mousley will captain the team, which will be coached by former England all-rounder and captain Andrew Flintoff.
Sales is joined in the squad by former Northants loan player Liam Patterson-White.
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)