HAMPSHIRE batsman James Vince has been named in the England Lions squad for their triangular series against New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A next month.

Former senior national coach Andy Flower will lead the Lions. Having stood down as England head coach following the disastrous Ashes tour last winter, he remained as technical director of elite coaching at the England and Wales Cricket Board and will now play a key role in developing players for the top team.

Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor has been named captain for the series and will be hoping to press his claims for inclusion in the squad for next year's World Cup and add to his two ODI caps so far.

Middlesex paceman Steven Finn will also be looking to impress the selectors after his eyecatching season so far following a disastrous Ashes tour in the winter.

Ravi Bopara and Harry Gurney will hope to keep their places for the senior series against India beginning on August 25 after featuring against Sri Lanka while Jonny Bairstow and Stephen Parry look to re-establish themselves.

National selector James Whitaker said: “With the Royal London One-Day International series against India rapidly approaching and next winter's tour to Sri Lanka and ICC Cricket World Cup also firmly in our sights, this is the perfect opportunity for these players to impress the selectors in the 50-over format of the game.

“We are delighted to welcome Ravi Patel from Middlesex into a Lions squad for the first time and look forward to what promises to be a closely-contested series against two highly competitive touring sides."

The Lions will open their campaign against Sri Lanka A at Taunton on August 6 before facing New Zealand A at Bristol on August 8.

They then face Sri Lanka A at Worcester on August 11 and finish at the same ground against New Zealand A the next day.

England Lions squad: Taylor (c), Bairstow, Bopara, Finn, Parry, Gurney, Hales, Overton, Roy, Patel, Smith, Vince, Willey.