England Test captain Ben Stokes will take on a coaching role with the England Lions during their upcoming tour of the United Arab Emirates. Despite currently recovering from an adductor injury sustained in the fifth Ashes Test in Australia, the 34-year-old will join Andrew Flintoff’s coaching team for the T20 and 50-over white-ball series against Pakistan Shaheens.
Stokes' participation in the coaching staff complements his ongoing rehabilitation efforts while abroad. The Lions’ coaching group also features notable figures such as Neil McKenzie, Sarah Taylor, Neil Killeen, Moeen Ali, and Amar Rashid. This tour marks the return of Troy Cooley, now serving as the elite national pace bowling coach for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Spinner Moeen Ali makes his debut as a Lions coach, while leadership of the squads falls to Jordan Cox and Dan Mousley as captains for the T20 and 50-over teams, respectively.
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Ed Barney, the ECB men’s performance director, expressed enthusiasm about the squad selection. He highlighted the blend of experienced players and emerging talent that has been nurtured through winter performances. Barney emphasized the importance of this limited 50-over cricket opportunity, along with upcoming tours in 2026, as vital steps toward building a competitive team for the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup in South Africa.
The England Lions will contest a three-match T20 series and five 50-over matches, marking their first overseas white-ball series since their Sri Lanka tour in 2022.
Key squad members include Somerset’s Will Smeed in the T20 team and James Rew in the 50-over squad, reflecting the county’s strong presence in the national setup.
Lions T20 squad: J Cox (Essex, captain), S Baker (Hampshire), L Benkenstein (Essex), J Coles (Sussex), S Cook (Essex), S Currie (Hampshire), C Harrison (Northamptonshire), E Jack (Hampshire), S Mahmood (Lancashire), B McKinney (Durham), T Moores (Nottinghamshire), D Mousley (Warwickshire), M Revis (Yorkshire), W Smeed (Somerset), N Sowter (Durham), M Stanley (Lancashire), A Tribe (Glamorgan).
Lions 50-over squad: D Mousley (Warwickshire, captain), S Baker (Hampshire), L Benkenstein (Essex), S Cook (Essex), J Coles (Sussex), S Currie (Hampshire), C Harrison (Northamptonshire), E Jack (Hampshire), B McKinney (Durham), L Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), M Potts (Durham), M Revis (Yorkshire), J Rew (Somerset), M Stanley (Lancashire), A Tribe (Glamorgan), J Wharton (Yorkshire).