The next generation of England's pace attack is stepping into the spotlight, with Henry Crocombe and Mitchell Stanley headlining the Lions squad set to face South Africa A in two four-day matches later this month.
Sussex's Crocombe, 24, has been turning heads in the County Championship, bagging 19 wickets this season before the latest round of fixtures. His performances caught the eye of England's director of cricket Rob Key, who namechecked the young seamer when selecting the Test squad for the first match against New Zealand earlier this week.
Lancashire's Mitchell Stanley, 25, is another rising talent generating buzz within the England setup. Despite having just five first-class matches under his belt, the pace bowler has already earned the admiration of Lions coach Andrew Flintoff and the national hierarchy.
The Lions will play their first match against South Africa A at Arundel on 22 May, with Crocombe joining the squad for the second fixture at Beckenham on 29 May. This series comes at a pivotal moment for English pace bowling, following the disappointing Ashes campaign and the retirements of legends Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Chris Woakes in consecutive years.
Ollie Robinson has ended a two-year international exile with a call-up for the New Zealand Test series, while uncapped Hampshire speedster Sonny Baker also joins the senior squad. Brydon Carse is sidelined with injury, and Jofra Archer is resting after his IPL stint, opening the door for fresh faces to stake their claim.
The Lions squad also features promising seamers Eddie Jack of Hampshire and Surrey's Tom Lawes, both of whom toured Australia over the winter and hold England development contracts. Somerset's left-arm quick Alfie Ogborne, 22, and Middlesex's 20-year-old Naavya Sharma round out an exciting group of pace-bowling prospects.
Warwickshire's Dan Mousley will captain the squad, which includes openers Ben McKinney and Asa Tribe, as England looks to build depth for the future.
England Lions squad for two matches against South Africa A: Dan Mousley (captain), Charlie Allison (Essex), Henry Crocombe (second four-day match), Eddie Jack, Ben Geddes, Ben Mayes, Ben McKinney, Tom Lawes, Alfie Ogborne (first four-day match), Liam Patterson-White, James Sales, Naavya Sharma, Mitchell Stanley, Asa Tribe, James Wharton.