Joe Clarke of Worcestershire named in England Lions squad for winter tour

Worcestershire's teenage wicketkeeper Joe Clarke has been included in the England Lions squad for the winter tour programme.

England have named an 18-man Performance Programme (EPP) squad and a 16-man Lions squad for the first part of the schedule.

Wicket-keeper batsman Clarke, who made his maiden first-class hundred earlier this month and only turned 19 in May, is the youngest player selected in the EPP squad, which includes a host of players who have impressed in domestic cricket this season.

Hampshire's James Vince is to lead the Lions with Zafar Ansari, Sam Billings, Chris Jordan, Stephen Parry, Reece Topley and David Willey also set to feature.

Surrey all-rounder Ansari, who was named in England's Test squad for the tour to face Pakistan in the UAE on Tuesday, is included, subject to a further medical review of his thumb injury later this week.

National selector James Whitaker said: "Congratulations to all of the players selected for the England Performance Programme and England Lions this winter.

"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. 

"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."

England Lions will return to Dubai to play a five-match one-day series against Pakistan 'A' in January 2016. The itinerary and squad for this tour will be announced in due course.

England Performance Programme squad (training in Dubai, from November 11 to December 1):

Zafar Ansari  (Surrey), Danny Briggs (Hampshire), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Stephen Parry (Lancashire), Tom Westley (Essex), Ross Whiteley (Worcestershire), James Vince(Hampshire).

Special fast bowlers camp (in Dubai, from November 24 to December 1):

Jake Ball (Notts), Craig Miles (Gloucestershire), Tymal Mills (Sussex), Craig Overton (Somerset), Jamie Overton (Somerset), Olly Stone (Northamptonshire).

England Lions v Pakistan 'A' Twenty20 squad (in Dubai December 1-17):

Zafar Ansari  (Surrey), Jake Ball (Notts), 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).

There will be a T20 warm-up game on December 4, with five games against Pakistan 'A' on December 7-10-11-13-16.