International Tri-Series comes to Cheltenham - 10 players to watch
18 July 2016
The Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Festival welcomes international cricket for the first time when Pakistan A take on Sri Lanka A on July 18 before facing England Lions the following day.
The matches present an opportunity for supporters to see the stars of the future with the vast majority of England’s current international sides – including captains Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan - graduating from the ‘A’ squad.
Ahead of the two one-day matches at the College Ground we pick our 10 players to watch during the tri- series.
England Lions
Mark Wood
The Lions is normally the breeding ground for future internationals but in Mark Wood the Cheltenham crowds will be treated to the sight of a current Test bowler on the comeback trail.
The Durham paceman burst onto the scene during last summer’s Ashes, bowling at 90mph and capturing the public’s imagination with his infectious enthusiasm for the game.
Sidelined for most of this summer with an ankle injury he will be hoping to prove he is fit enough for a return to international cricket by putting in a good performance at the Festival.
Toby Roland-Jones
Potentially partnering Wood with the new ball for England will be Toby Roland-Jones.
The Middlesex-man was named in the full Test squad to face Pakistan at Lord’s but will appear for the Lions after Jake Ball was given the nod ahead of him.
An experienced county campaigner, the right arm seamer has taken 278 First Class wickets at 25.
Sam Billings
The Kent ‘keeper/batsman has established himself in the England squad in the shorter forms of the game without fully nailing down a place in the final XI.
An explosive batsman who spent time at this year’s IPL he showed good form in Kent’s Royal London One-Day Cup matches but has struggled to replicate it in the other competitions.
Daniel Bell-Drummond
With the ever-changing cast-list at the top of England’s Test batting order there are many who feel as though Bell-Drummond could be one the next players to be given an opportunity.
Still only 22, the stylish right hander has been in prolific form this year with more than 950 runs across all formats.
He made his Kent debut at 17 and as a teenager was picked out by his then club captain Rob Key as a future international.
Sri Lanka A
Thisara Perera
A veteran of 110 ODIs, six Tests and 52 T20 international, Perera is among the most experienced men on show for any side during the tri-series.
A bustling right arm seamer and lower order hitter he has played in both the IPL and CPL.
Minod Bhanuka
A possible heir to the throne of the great Kumar Sangakarra, Minod Bhanuka is a stylish batsman and gloveman with a highest First Class score of 342 despite being just 21.
He underlined his class in October last year with a century against a touring West Indian attack that included Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel and Devandra Bishoo.
Asitha Fernando
Seamer Fernando was Sri Lanka’s highest-wicket taker at the recent Under 19 World Cup with 11 victims at 16.45. Still just 18 he took 5-33 his First Class debut against Pakistan A earlier this month.
Pakistan A
Babar Azam
A right hand batsman and useful off spin bowler Babar Azam burst onto the international scene with five fifties in his opening nine matches.
His highest score of 83 for Pakistan came against New Zealand in Auckland in January.
Despite being just 21 he will captain Pakistan A in the tri series.
Saud Shakeel
20-year-old Saud Shakeel underlined his potential with score of 86 and 51 not out to help Pakistan A to a thrilling eight wicket win over Sri Lanka at Worcester last week.
The left hand batsman, who can also bowl spin, has a First Class batting average of 55 with three hundreds in his first 11 matches.
Hasan Ali
Allrounder Hasan Ali has made an impressive start to the tour of England with runs and wickets in the matches v Sri Lanka A and Yorkshire.
The 22-year-old played a key part in the eight wicket victory over Sri Lanka A at Worcester with seven wickets in the match and an unbeaten half-century.
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