Dawid Malan released for ODI decider against India; James Vince gets a call-up

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the release of top-order batsman Dawid Malan from the One-Day International to be a part of the England Lions’ unofficial Test match against India A. James Vince has been called up as a replacement ahead of the ODI series decider against the Men in Blue at Leeds. Sam Curran has also been released for the preparatory Test match.

ECB has selected a Test-heavy Lions side ahead of their match with India A in a bid to step-up preparations for the summer Test series. Alastair Cook, Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Dom Bess and Jack Leach make up six of the XI for the four-day match at New Road, Worcester on July 16. Rory Burns will be skippering the side against Karun Nair’s boys who all have a great chance to impress the national selectors and claim a spot in the team for the five-match Test series that starts next month.

Possible lineup for the Lions

It is perhaps within the bowling department that there will be the most room for manoeuvre. Jamie Porter, who took 85 first-class wickets during Essex’s title-winning campaign is the front-runner, with Yorkshire’s 20-year-old seamer Matt Fisher. The duo could make a last-gasp play for the Test squad, but it will eventually boil down to certainty over England’s main quicks.

Rory Burns and Ollie Pope will be eyeing the opening and middle order spots in the England lineup, respectively. Nick Gubbins, who has impressed with the Lions on previous excursions, will also put forward his case at the top of the order.

Right-arm fast-medium pace bowler Chris Woakes will be using the game as an opportunity to step-up his rehabilitation from a right knee and quad injury. However, there are still concerns over leading wicket-takers James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Anderson’s last played at the start of June, in the second Test against Pakistan, as he has tried to rehabilitate a long-standing issue with his right shoulder. He is slated to play in the County Championship against Yorkshire before the first India Test.

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