PEARS wicketkeeper Ben Cox has been called up to the England Lions squad for the remaining four matches of the 50-over series in Australia to replace the injured Tom Moores.
Nottinghamshire’s Moores was injured during training and, with the four matches being played in the space of eight days, the decision was made for him to return to England to recover.
The Lions will now face Cricket Australia XI in two more limited-overs matches on the Gold Coast, having won the first match of the series on Sunday.
Pears steering group chairman and club vice-chairman Paul Pridgeon said Cox’s call-up was another ‘feather in the cap’ for Worcestershire in a winter of international selections.
Cox has followed in the footsteps of Moeen Ali, Pat Brown, Jack Haynes and Sarah Glenn in being called up by various England sides.
Brown made his senior England debut in the T20I series in New Zealand and was also selected for the white-ball leg of the tour in South Africa before being forced to withdraw through injury.
Moeen has returned to the full England squad for the white-ball contests against the Proteas after a break from international debut.
Haynes is part of the England ICC Under-19 World Cup squad in South Africa and Glenn made her debut for England Women against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur and has been included in the squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
“It is great for the club to see another player attain international honours in Coxy. It is great for him, one of the most consistent and highly regarded wicketkeeper-batsman on the county circuit,” Pridgeon said,
“To have so many players called up by England at different levels reflects well on the county. It also acts as a great spur for the young lads and girls coming through the ranks to see what can be achieved if they perform well at county level.
“Moeen has always been an inspiration to other players at the club but now he is being joined by others at England level.”
Cox, who was 28 on Sunday, will be in the Lions squad to face a Cricket Australia XI before two final games against a New South Wales XI.