LEIGH Cricket Club's Matty Hurst has been named in the England Lions Squad for the first time ahead of their South Africa Training Camp and Four-Day Match Against South Africa A

The England Men's Lions have confirmed a 19-player squad to tour South Africa from November 20 to December 14. The camp will focus on supporting the development of the highest potential players, with a focus on individualised and high-quality training. The tour will conclude with a four-day match against South Africa A in Western Province. The tour is designed to further develop England's talent pool across both formats and all skills.

Billinge-born Hurst, 20, who plays for Lancashire, has been one of the few bright spots for the Red Rose in a season which saw Keaton Jennings' side relegated from Division One of the County Championship. 

The wicket keeper batter scored 677 first class runs for Lancashire while his form in both the Vitality Blast and The Hundred saw him picked up by Perth Scorchers for the forthcoming Big Bash competition in Australia. 

Due to his Big Bash League commitments, Hurst will join the Lions for part of the tour.

This tour will mark the first for newly appointed England Lions Head Coach Andrew Flintoff. The former England international and current coach of the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, will lead the Lions over the next 12 months.

Flintoff said: “We’re delighted to have such a high-potential group of players heading to South Africa. In selecting these players, we have a mix of well-established performers who’ve been in the England setup and excelled in the domestic game, through to some of the most exciting young talent coming through.

“The camp will support and accelerate the players’ development, provide insight into various aspects of the international setup and aid their transition into future performance setups”.

England Lions Squad:

Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire)
Zaman Akhtar (Gloucestershire)
Kasey Aldridge (Somerset)
Pat Brown (Derbyshire)
Jafer Chohan (Yorkshire) – part involvement
James Coles (Sussex)
Henry Crocombe (Sussex)
Josh Hull (Leicestershire)
Matt Hurst (Lancashire) – part involvement
Tom Lawes (Surrey)
Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire)
Ben McKinney (Durham)
Harry Moore (Derbyshire)
Dan Mousley (Warwickshire)
Dillon Pennington (Nottinghamshire)
James Rew (Somerset)
Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire)
Mitch Stanley (Lancashire)
John Turner (Hampshire)