England selectors give hope to Division Two players ahead of squad announcement for Sri Lanka
Tuesday 17 May 2016 11:15, UK
England are not just focusing on Specsavers County Division One players ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka, according to two of the national selectors.
Alastair Cook's side will take on the visitors in a three-Test series, with the opener at Headingley starting on Thursday May 19, live on Sky Sports 2.
Selectors Mike Newell and Angus Fraser gave no hints to Sky Sports News HQ about the players that would be included on Thursday, but it was emphasised that both county divisions were being scouted for English talent.
Newell, Nottinghamshire director of cricket, said: "There has not been any Test cricket for several months, so we wanted to see lots of four-day cricket in Division One and Division Two and look at the players who will come under consideration and have a long debate about that.
"I think it's our job to look at all of the cricket. Obviously our teams are Division One so we spend a reasonable amount of time there but we also go and watch Division Two cricket when our teams aren't playing or when we get a chance to go.
"There's a lot of good young players in Division Two, playing some good cricket, particularly in the batting group.
"Everybody's in there with a chance of playing and I think it's important we give everybody consideration."
There has been plenty of debate on how England should line-up, with many players from the second tier impressing, including Alastair Cook's Essex team-mate Tom Westley and Kent's Daniel Bell-Drummond.
Fraser, Middlesex director of cricket, added: "The Test series in South Africa finished in January and we are now in April so there's been three months without Test cricket and some good white ball performances.
"So there has been plenty of speculation and plenty of conversation in our meetings. We've picked a squad that we believe can win the series and that's always going to be the case.
"There are 12 players that are going to be looking forward to going to Headingley in a week or so at the weekend."
Newell, who stressed that the squad for the first Test has only been chosen for the one game in Leeds, added: "We are very determined to win this three-match series and that's what the squad we have selected is there to do."
Head to Sky Sports News HQ and Sky Sports' digital platforms at 7am on Thursday for first news of England's Test squad to play Sri Lanka.
Then catch the three-Test series live on Sky Sports, starting with the first game at Headingley, from 10am, Thursday, May 19 on Sky Sports 2.
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