Uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe has been called into England’s squad for this month’s one-day international series at home to Sri Lanka after taking hat-tricks in successive County Championship matches. It has been a breakthrough season for Crocombe, who was briefly added to England’s squad for June’s second Test against New Zealand, when now retired former captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped for disciplinary reasons. The 24-year-old Sussex bowler ran through Somerset’s tail at Hove last week as he took three wickets in as many balls. He then repeated the feat against Essex at Chelmsford on Thursday during a return of 5-39, collecting a second hat-trick in eight days.
Uncapped Derbyshire batsman Aneurin Donald has been included in England’s squad for a preceding T20 series against Sri Lanka. Ben Duckett is back in the T20 squad after being left out earlier this year but fellow opener Phil Salt is unavailable due to a right quad problem. Donald, 29, scored 489 runs in 12 matches for Derbyshire in the T20 Blast this season.
“Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket,” said England men’s national selector Marcus North.
“Aneurin has had an exceptional season for Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and also with Trent Rockets in The Hundred while Henry is a player we have had an eye on all summer. A three-match T20 series starts at Southampton on September 15, with the first of three ODIs at Chester-le-Street on September 22.
