England Lions schedule unveiled

The ECB has announced the itinerary for the England Lions tour to New Zealand in February and March next year.

David Parsons confirmed the England Lions squad will be named just before Christmas

The tour includes two games against New Zealand Cricket emerging players as well as two four-day games, two one-day games and one Twenty20 match against New Zealand A.

ECB performance director David Parsons said: “The England Lions squad will comprise a mixture of England’s best players of the future together with those currently on the fringes of the senior team.

“In recent years New Zealand have proved to be strong on home soil, particularly in one-day cricket, so this tour presents a good opportunity for those players to test themselves against a quality opposition overseas.

“The squad will play both four-day and one-day cricket during the tour, offering those players selected the opportunity to push for a place in the senior team.

“The Lions squad will be selected just before Christmas so those on the England Performance Programme, due to go to India in November, are in a strong position.”

Itinerary

February 2009

February 14: Leave UK
February 15: Arrive New Zealand
February 16: Light training, Lincoln
February 17: Light training, Lincoln
February 18: Practice, Lincoln
February 19: Practice, Lincoln
February 20: Day off/rest
February 21: Practice, Lincoln
February 22-23: Tour match v NZC Emerging Players, Lincoln
February 24: Practice, Lincoln
February 25-26: Tour match v NZC Emerging Players, Lincoln
February 27: Travel to Queenstown and practice
February 28: Practice, Queenstown

March 2009

March 1-4: 1st Test v New Zealand A, Queenstown
March 5: Travel to Christchurch, practice Lincoln
March 6: Practice, Lincoln, nr Christchurch
March 7-10: 2nd Test v New Zealand A, Lincoln
March 11: Travel to Palmerston North
March 12: Practice, Palmerston North
March 13: 1st one-day game v NZ A, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North
March 14: Practice, Palmerston North
March 15: Practice, Palmerston North
March 16: 2nd one-day game v NZ A, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North
March 17: Travel to New Plymouth
March 18: Practice, New Plymouth
March 19: Twenty20 v New Zealand A, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
March 20: Return to UK