Liam Livingstone and Mason Crane have been named in the 16-man squad for next week’s three-match NatWest IT20 series against South Africa.
Lancashire dasher Livingstone and Hampshire leg-spinner Crane are among five uncapped players in the squad although Middlesex opener Dawid Malan, Surrey’s Tom Curran and Somerset’s Craig Overton have been involved previously.
Like Livingstone, they have been consistently impressive for England Lions over the past 12 months or more, while Crane is called up after impressing in the North-South Series in March, and also during an ECB Overseas Placement in Sydney last winter, when he became the first overseas player since 1985 to represent New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield.
Liam Livingstone has caught the eye with explosive performances in in all forms of cricket for Lancashire, the North and the England Lions.
Moeen Ali, Jake Ball, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Ben Stokes are rested and will play for their respective counties in the inaugural day-night round of the Specsavers County Championship starting on Monday 26 June. Sussex fast bowler Tymal Mills has been ruled out through a back injury.
Chairman of Selectors James Whitaker said: “The IT20 series against South Africa presents us with an opportunity to incorporate several players who have come through the talent pathway into the senior group. The squad has an exciting blend of youth and experience and we are looking forward to a competitive series against strong opposition.
“With five uncapped players selected, there is undoubted talent coming through the system and we are excited to see some of these players showcase their skills at the highest level.
“Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tom Curran and Craig Overton have impressed for the England Lions over the past 12 months and have transferred their skills across all formats, in particular with their respective counties.
“Young leg-spinner Mason Crane is another player with great promise and he has made great strides with Hampshire this season and has added to his experience with stints in the North-South Series earlier in the season, where he took crucial wickets and even earned selection for New South Wales in Australia’s premier domestic competition the Sheffield Shield.”
England squad:
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire) – available for the first two matches of the series
Sam Billings (Kent)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Mason Crane (Hampshire)
Tom Curran (Surrey)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Jordan (Sussex)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain)
Craig Overton (Somerset) – available for the last two matches of the series
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
David Willey (Yorkshire)
Mark Wood (Durham) – available for the first match of the series
England play South Africa in Cardiff on Sunday, 25 June in the Third NatWest IT20, with tickets available to purchase HERE.