Jonathan Trott will return to international cricket this winter with the England Lions on the tour of South Africa.

Trott has not played for England since leaving last winter’s Ashes tour with a stress-related illness.

He had to abort his first attempt at a comeback to the game with Warwickshire shortly after the start of the county season, but his second attempt in May was a success.

In eight Divison One matches in the County Championship he scored 620 runs, including three centuries, at an average of 47.69. He was also in the runs in 50-over cricket, scoring 488 in nine innings at an average of 54.22.

Trott wrote on his Twitter feed: "Delighted to be included in Lions trip and looking forward to being part of the England set up again."

Selectors have named two provisional squads – one for two first-class matches and another for five one-day games against South Africa ‘A’.

Trott is only included for the first-class matches, as are Middlesex and England Test opener Sam Robson and Kent’s impressive young spinner Adam Riley.

The trio will be replaced by Lancashire spinner Stephen Parry, Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel and Surrey's explosive batsman Jason Roy for the one-day matches.

county champions Yorkshire supply half of both squads. Gary Ballance, established as a Test batsman, will travel, with the selectors keen for him to stake his place in 50-over squad ahead of the World Cup.

Yorkshire openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees, keeper Jonathan Bairstow and the bowling trio of Adil Rashid, Jack Brooks and Liam Plunkett join him.

Leg-spinning all-rounder Rashid returns to the England Lions fold for the first time since 2011 after another consistent season with bat and ball for the Tykes.

Sam Billings, the exciting Kent wicketkeeper/batsman, will compete with Bairstow for the gloves and Somerset's impressive young fast bowler Craig Overton is also included.

The squad will be coached by Sussex's Mark Robinson, following on from his stint in charge of the Lions in Sri Lanka at the start of this year.

A finalised Lions touring party and the captain will be confirmed after the England World Cup squad announcement in December.

National Selector James Whitaker said: “We believe that the 17 players provisionally included across the two Lions squads for the tour to South Africa in the New Year incorporates an excellent mix of international experience alongside fresh young talent.

"For the likes of Sam Billings, Craig Overton and Adam Riley to be playing alongside Sam Robson, Gary Ballance and Jonny Bairstow in a Lions tour is an exciting prospect for the future of English cricket, and I am certain that all of the players will learn a great deal from the experience.

“Jonathan Trott’s exceptional form and run scoring exploits for Warwickshire at the end of the summer has resulted in his selection for the first class fixtures at the beginning of the tour. Congratulations to him and to all of the players selected.”

First class squad: Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Sam Billings, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Craig Overton, Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Adil Rashid, Adam Riley, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, James Vince.

50-over squad: Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Sam Billings, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Craig Overton, Stephen Parry, Samit Patel, Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, James Vince


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