Jake Ball, Nottinghamshire’s Mansfield-born fast bowler who has taken 61 first team wickets in 2015, has been rewarded by selection for the England Lions.
The 24-year-old is one of six pacemen selected for an England Performance Programme fast bowling camp in South Africa and Dubai in November before going to the United Arab Emirates with the Lions to face Pakistan A in a five match Twenty20 series in December.
Ball earned his place in the Nottinghamshire line-up at the beginning of the campaign having been described his Director of Cricket Mick Newell as the standout performer during pre-season.
He has since gone on to secure a regular starting berth in all three formats, taking his 33 LV= County Championship wickets at an average of 29.75 and adding a further 26 dismissals across the two white ball formats.
His match figures of 9-67, including 6-49 in the first innings, helped Nottinghamshire to victory over Sussex in early June, he took 4-47 in the Royal London One-Day Cup against the same opposition, and it was Ball’s man of the match performance that inspired the thrilling final ball victory in the NatWest T20 Blast local derby against Derbyshire.
“Congratulations to all of the players selected for the England Performance Programme and England Lions this winter,” said National Selector James Whitaker.
“It is hugely important that we have a reserve of players who are ready to perform on the international stage when they get the opportunity and the EPP and the England Lions play a vital role in identifying and developing the next generation of England cricketers.
“With the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 in India just six months away, the five-match T20 series for the Lions against Pakistan ‘A’ will form a particularly important part of our preparations for the tournament, ensuring that we can draw on a wider group of players who have recent experience of playing T20 cricket in sub-continental conditions. “
Fast bowlers camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa, 11th – 23rd November followed by Dubai 24th November – 1st December:
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Craig Miles (Gloucestershire)
Tymal Mills (Sussex)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Jamie Overton (Somerset)
Olly Stone (Northamptonshire)
England Lions v Pakistan ‘A’ Twenty20 squad, Dubai 1st – 17th December:
Zafar Ansari (Surrey)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Sam Billings (Kent)
Joe Clarke (Worcestershire)
Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Chris Jordan (Sussex)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Tymal Mills (Sussex)
Stephen Parry (Lancashire)
Reece Topley (Essex)
Tom Westley (Essex)
David Willey (Northamptonshire)
Ross Whiteley (Worcestershire)
James Vince (Hampshire) captain
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