Crocombe and Stanley lead young Lions pace picks

Crocombe and Stanley lead young Lions pace picksImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sussex's Henry Crocombe played for England Lions on tour in South Africa in 2024ByStephan ShemiltCricket CorrespondentPublished8 minutes ago1 CommentsHenry Crocombe and Mitchell Stanley are among the pace bowlers on England's radar named in a Lions squad to take on South Africa A in two four-day matches later this month.Sussex's Crocombe was namechecked as a player being watched by director of cricket Rob Key when England chose their squad for the first Test against New Zealand earlier this week.Stanley of Lancashire is admired by the hierarchy, including by influential Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, despite the 25-year-old having played only five first-class matches.Crocombe, 24, had taken 19 wickets in the County Championship this season before the latest round of matches got under way on Friday.He is in the squad for the second of the two matches against South Africa A, at Beckenham on 29 May. The first game is at Arundel on 22 May.England's pace-bowling department is evolving following the disappointing Ashes and the retirements of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Chris Woakes in successive years.Ollie Robinson's two-year international exile has been ended with his call-up for the first Test against New Zealand, with uncapped Hampshire paceman Sonny Baker also included. Brydon Carse is injured and Jofra Archer will be rested following his stint at the Indian Premier League.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.Joining Crocombe and Stanley in the Lions are Hampshire's Eddie Jack and Surrey's Tom Lawes, both seamers who were on tour in Australia ove...