Yorkshire batsman Joe Root to captain England Lions against New Zealand

Yorkshire batsman Joe Root will captain the England Lions in their four-day clash against New Zealand next week.

Root and county team-mate Jonny Bairstow will both have the chance to enhance their claims for a Test place, but there is no place in the squad for Ben Stokes.

The Durham all-rounder was sent home from the Lions tour of Australia earlier this year as punishment for breaching the team's strict drinking curfews.

England's limited overs coach Ashley Giles will act as Lions coach for the tour match at Grace Road, taking charge of a side packed with Test experience.

Root, Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Michael Carberry, Graham Onions and James Taylor will all be pushing for Test recalls ahead of the Lord's opener against the Black Caps the following week.
Busy

Root hammered a superb 182 in Yorkshire's four-wicket victory over Durham last week, and National selector Geoff Miller is backing him to lead the Lions with authority.

Miller said: "With a busy summer of Test cricket ahead, this fixture against New Zealand is an excellent opportunity for our players to show us that they are capable of representing England in the longer format of the game.

"Joe Root will lead the side in order to assist his development as a cricketer and provide him with valuable experience of captaincy against quality opposition."

Managing director of England Cricket Hugh Morris added: "Our new limited overs head coach Ashley Giles will be part of the Lions management team for this fixture.

"This will enable Ashley to closely monitor the performances of players who are competing for places in our T20 and ODI sides as well as the Test team."

England Lions: J Bairstow, R Bopara, M Carberry, V Chopra, S Kerrigan, G Onions, T Roland-Jones, J Root (Capt), J Taylor, C Woakes, C Wright.