Woakes to return in England Lions matches

Chris Woakes last played in January, at the SA20 T20 competition in South Africa

England seamer Chris Woakes will make his return from an ankle injury after being selected for two Lions fixtures with India A.

The 36-year-old has not played since January, but has been named in a 15-man squad for the second-string fixtures, starting on 30 May and 6 June.

Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew, who was recently called-up to England's squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, will lead the side, while Jordan Cox, the man he replaced, has also been picked for the second game after recovering from an abdominal injury.

Two 17-year-olds have been named in the party - Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder and Lions coach Andrew, and spinner Farhan Ahmed, who is named in the same England representative squad as his brother Rehan for the first time.

Seamer Josh Hull, 20, who played one Test against Sri Lanka last summer, also makes the group, as does all-rounder Dan Mousley, who made his limited-overs debuts against the West Indies in the autumn.

Fast bowler Jofra Archer has not been selected after injuring his thumb at the Indian Premier League.

However, England captain Ben Stokes has not ruled out playing in the second match as part of his return from hamstring surgery in December.

The 33-year-old is set to play in England's one-off Test against Zimbabwe from Thursday, his first appearance since England's Test series against New Zealand in December.

"It will just sort of be how I feel at the end of this [game against Zimbabwe]," Stokes told BBC Sport.

"If I feel like I need any more game time before we head into India. I can't really say how that's going to go at the moment because I've not played yet.

"Bowling in a game is completely different to bowling and training, but that'll probably be a late decision depending on how I feel I get through this Test match."

The two four-day matches with India A, at Canterbury and Northampton, precede India's five-Test tour of England that starts on 20 June.

National team openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are among a number of capped players in a strong India A line-up.

"This series is a huge opportunity for an exciting and highly talented group of players," said ECB performance director for men's cricket Ed Barney.

"It will provide an opportunity both individually and collectively to excel on the international stage as we continue to succession plan for England's future needs."

England Lions squad: James Rew (Somerset, capt), Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire), Rehan Ahmed* (Leicestershire), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Jordan Cox (Essex), Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire), Emilio Gay (Durham), Tom Haines (Sussex), George Hill (Yorkshire), Josh Hull (Leicestershire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Ben McKinney (Durham), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Ajeet Singh Dale (Gloucestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

* first match only, prior to England T20 series v West Indies