Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox Among Key Inclusions in England Lions Squad for Australia Tour

Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox Among Key Inclusions in England Lions Squad for Australia Tour

England have announced an 18-man England Lions squad for the upcoming tour of Australia, with Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox, and seven seam bowlers included in a group that will shadow the senior Ashes squad during the first two Tests of the 2025–26 series.

The Lions, under the guidance of head coach Andrew Flintoff, will play a key role in England’s preparations, acting as a pool of ready-to-go reinforcements and providing crucial match practice during the early part of the Ashes tour.

Main Objectives and Fixtures

The tour kicks off with a three-day intra-squad warm-up match between England and the Lions in Perth (Nov 13–15). The Lions will then play fixtures against a Cricket Australia XI (Nov 21–24) and Australia A (Dec 5–8), with most of the squad also expected to feature in the Prime Minister’s XI pink-ball match (Nov 29–30) in Canberra.

These games offer England's only competitive match practice ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth in late November.

Rehan and Cox Miss Ashes Cut, Stay in Frame

Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox, both considered close contenders for the main Ashes squad, have been named in the Lions setup instead. Will Jacks was selected as the primary backup spinner over Rehan, while England opted not to pick a second specialist wicketkeeper, leaving Cox out of the senior group.

However, both players will travel with the Lions and remain on standby for Test selection in case of injuries.

Cox, who is also part of England’s T20I squad for the New Zealand series in October, is expected to miss the final Lions fixture as he heads to the ILT20 after securing a lucrative replacement contract with Dubai Capitals.

Seven-Man Pace Battery to Shadow Ashes Seamers

The Lions squad features a strong fast-bowling contingent, including:

  • Matthew Fisher – rewarded for an impressive County Championship finish with Surrey

  • Tom Lawes – also from Surrey

  • Nathan Gilchrist – moving to Warwickshire from Kent

  • Sonny Baker, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Mitchell Stanley – all regulars in the Lions setup

Their presence ensures the senior team has a full seam reserve close at hand throughout the opening stages of the Ashes.

New Faces and U19 Talent Progression

The Lions squad also includes four new call-ups:

  • Thomas Rew – England U19 captain and standout performer in the Metro Bank Cup

  • James Rew – Thomas’s older brother

  • Matthew Revis – from Yorkshire

  • Asa Tribe – Jersey international with 31 white-ball caps

Notably absent is James Coles (Sussex), who is focusing on short-form franchise cricket this winter, including a confirmed SA20 contract and pursuits in the Abu Dhabi T10 and ILT20.

Sam Cook and Saif Zaib Miss Out

Sam Cook, who made his Test debut against Zimbabwe earlier this year, has not been picked as England are already familiar with his bowling style. Saif Zaib, the leading run-scorer in the County Championship this season, is also a surprising omission.

Flintoff: 'Opportunity to Thrive Against Quality Players'

“There are some unbelievably talented players in this squad,” said Andrew Flintoff, England Lions head coach. “This is a fantastic opportunity for them to go to Australia, excel in the conditions, and thrive against quality players. They will also get a sense of what an away Ashes series is all about.”

Farhan Ahmed to Lead England U19s on Caribbean Tour

Meanwhile, Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of Rehan, will captain England Under-19s in their upcoming tour of the West Indies. The tour includes two Youth ODIs vs USA and five against West Indies in St Vincent, forming part of the team’s preparation for the Under-19 World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe in early 2026.

Players: Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Nathan Gilchrist, Tom Hartley, Tom Haines, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben Kellaway, Tom Lawes, Ben McKinney, Matthew Revis, James Rew, Thomas Rew, Mitchell Stanley, Asa Tribe

Fixtures:

  • Nov 13–15: England vs England Lions – Lilac Hill, Perth

  • Nov 21–24: Cricket Australia XI vs England Lions – Lilac Hill, Perth

  • Nov 29–30: Prime Minister's XI vs England XI – Manuka Oval, Canberra

  • Dec 5–8: Australia A vs England Lions – Allan Border Field, Brisbane

  • Captain: Farhan Ahmed

Players: Ralphie Albert, Will Bennison, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Jamie Feldman, Matthew Firbank, Alex French, Alex Green, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammad, Sebastian Morgan, Joe Moores, Jack Nelson, Charlie Taylor

Fixtures:

  • Nov 13 & 19: Youth ODIs vs USA – St Vincent

  • Nov 16, 22, 25, 28 & Dec 1: Youth ODIs vs West Indies – St Vincent

The Lions' Australia tour promises to be a crucial proving ground for England’s next generation, as they prepare to support the senior team during the high-stakes Ashes campaign.