England Lions: Dom Sibley included in Ashes-shadow squad

Dom Sibley averages 28.94 in 22 Tests, but averaged just 14.25 in two games against India this summer before being dropped

Opener Dom Sibley has been included in a 14-strong England Lions squad that will shadow the main touring party during the Ashes tour of Australia this winter.

Sibley was dropped during the India series this summer, and lost his central contract last week.

The 26-year-old is one of four players, along with wicketkeepers Ben Foakes and James Bracey and spinner Mason Crane, to have played Test cricket.

Four players have no Lions experience.

Lancashire batter Josh Bohannon, Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and Warwickshire's pace bowler Liam Norwell and opening batter Rob Yates are new to the set-up.

England Lions squad: Tom Abell (Somerset), Josh Bohannon (Lancashire), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Alex Lees (Durham), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Liam Norwell (Warwickshire), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Rob Yates (Warwickshire).

The remainder of the squad have Lions experience, but Durham opener Alex Lees receives a recall after six years.

Lancashire's Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson, and Durham's Brydon Carse, all played white-ball cricket for England this summer, but are uncapped in the longer format.

"It is a huge opportunity for these players," said England performance director Mo Bobat. "If two or three of these players were to really stand out it will give Joe Root and Chris Silverwood something to think about.

"There is a likelihood that a player can put forward a compelling case in the warm-up games and end up being around for the Ashes."

There is no place for Lancashire batter Liam Livingstone, who impressed in white-ball cricket this summer, and is part of England's squad for the T20 World Cup, which precedes the Ashes tour.

"Liam is a player of high potential and he's had a fantastic year, particularly in white-ball cricket, but from a red-ball perspective, put simply, it felt like there were other players ahead of him right now," said Bobat.

"He's done incredibly well in white-ball cricket, and his red-ball numbers might not have been what he's wanted in the last couple of years, but do we think there is a high-potential player there, across all disciplines? Yes, without question. He is someone we'll keep having an interest in."

England all-rounder Ben Stokes also posted a video on social media on Thursday of him batting for the first time since a second operation on his finger.

Stokes is taking an indefinite break from the game for mental health reasons, and Bobat said the video was "hugely positive" and that Stokes' "energy and excitement was returning" but "there is no pressure or expectation".

Coaching appointments for the Lions tour will be announced in due course.

The squad will shadow the main 17-man group that was announced on Sunday, and provide warm-up opposition for two intra-squad games and be reserves in case of any injuries.

They will also play a four-day game against Australia A, before returning home on 16 December.