Flintoff, 16, was a last-minute addition to the Lions’ trip to South Africa earlier this month – his father’s inaugural tour as head coach – where he took part in the tour’s only match against a CSA Invitational XI in Cape Town, making 4 from three balls in his only innings.
His inclusion continues a stunning rise, which began with his precocious performances for Lancashire 2nd and subsequent debut in first class.
England head coach Brendon McCullum had flagged the likelihood of Bashir’s inclusion in the Lions in October, with the feeling arising from his recent performances in Pakistan and New Zealand, where he took 17 wickets at 50.58 in six Tests. , that his game has not progressed as quickly as England had hoped.
“For Bash, the opportunity to be able to gain some experience in those conditions could be really vital for us,” McCullum said in October, concluding his tour of Pakistan. “That’s the beauty of the Lions programme, you get the chance to instil some cricket into the boys. With Freddie there too now and in charge of the Lions, he has a very similar view of the game to the one I have, so there will be coherence in the message and that is something we have to analyze.
Josh Hull, the 20-year-old Leicestershire left-armer who made a surprise Test debut against Sri Lanka in September, has not been included in the main squad but will travel to Australia as he continues his rehabilitation from a quadriceps injury.
Among the batsmen, Alex Davies is rewarded for a strong season with Warwickshire, for whom he made four centuries in his first year as captain, while Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman James Rew is also included.
England men’s performance director Ed Barney said: “We have rewarded players who have proven themselves at this level and those with significant potential. Matches and tours of Australia are always important and we relish the opportunity to get tested against quality rivals. This tour allows us to evaluate performances, perfect preparation and continue working with some of the best emerging talents in the country.
“I am also delighted to see Josh Tongue return to competitive cricket. Josh has had a tough time due to injuries but is progressing well and will benefit from this tour as he steps up his preparation. We hope this marks the start of a lifetime Prosperous and Impactful return to cricket for him in 2025.”
