28 Oct 2015 | Cricket
England selectors today announced that left-arm spin and pace duo Liam Dawson (Hampshire) and Mark Footitt (Surrey) have been added to the England Performance Programme (EPP) squad for the winter.
Dawson will attend the two and a half-week long batting and spin camp in Dubai starting on November 11th, while Footitt will become the eighth member of the fast bowling group due to travel to South Africa on the same date to take part in a ten-day training camp in Potchefstroom.
From South Africa, Footitt and the rest of the EPP fast bowlers will fly to Dubai to join up with the EPP batting and spin bowling group for a further training opportunity in sub-continent conditions - ahead of the England Lions T20 series against Pakistan 'A', which gets underway on Monday 7th December.
Both players will first take part in a four-day EPP training camp for all players at the National Cricket Performance Centre (NCPC) in Loughborough next week.
The ECB also today confirmed that Zafar Ansari will not travel with the EPP batting and spin group when they depart for Dubai on 11th November. The all-rounder is still recovering from the thumb injury he sustained whilst fielding for Surrey in September. Ansari's progress will continue to be monitored by a specialist, and his participation with the EPP and Lions programmes later this winter will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
National Selector, James Whitaker, said:
Congratulations to both Liam and Mark on their selection for this winter's England Performance Programme (EPP). The training camps in Dubai and Potchefstroom next month present an ideal opportunity for them to work closely with the EPP lead coaches and experience what it is like to be in an England environment. This is essential as they continue to develop their all-round games and push for future international recognition.
It is unfortunate that Zafar's recovery from injury has not progressed at a rate that would allow him to participate fully in the EPP batting and spin camp in the UAE at present. But we will continue to monitor his progress closely and will consider involving him in the later stages of the EPP and Lions programme this winter, once he regains full fitness.
England Performance Programme 2015-2016
Batting and spin camp in Dubai, 11th November - 1st December
Zafar Ansari* (Surrey), Danny Briggs (Hampshire), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire) Liam Dawson (Hampshire),
Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset) Dawid Malan (Middlesex),
Stephen Parry (Lancashire), Tom Westley (Essex), Ross Whiteley (Worcestershire) James Vince (Hampshire)
* Participation at a later date to be assessed on an ongoing basis
Fast bowlers camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa, 11th - 23rd November followed by Dubai 24th November - 1st December
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Mark Footitt (Surrey), Craig Miles (Gloucestershire), Tyl Mills
(Sussex), Craig Overton (Somerset), Jamie Overton (Somerset) Olly Stone (Northamptonshire)