Hobart recruit Brook gets Lions call as Sibley opts out

Opening batsman Dom Sibley has pulled out of the England Lions trip to Australia, effectively ending his Ashes hopes, with Hobart Hurricanes recruit Harry Brook called up as a replacement.

Sibley played 22 Tests before being dropped against India this summer but was handed a lifeline when he was invited Down Under with the second-string Lions squad.

That 14-strong group will fly out on November 4 with the senior squad members not involved in the T20 World Cup, provide training and warm-up opposition and shadow the early part of the tour as ready-made reserve players. But Sibley has decided not to travel.

The 26-year-old, who averages 28.94 in his England career but 19.77 since the start of 2021, has instead chosen to hone his technique at home.

While that move is said to be with an eye on reclaiming his place, by removing himself from the set-up he is taking a significant gamble and allowing others such as Durham's Alex Lees and his own opening partner at Edgbaston, Rob Yates, to leapfrog him in the pecking order.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board read: "After much thought and consideration, Warwickshire batter Dom Sibley has made the decision not to tour Australia with the England Lions.

"Sibley has decided to spend the winter working on his batting at home in a bid to regain England selection."

Sibley struck a first-class century with the England Lions in February 2020 on his first visit to the MCG.

For Brook, the news provides a chance to capitalise on a breakout season that saw him named young player of the year by both the Professional Cricketers' Association and the Cricket Writers' Club.

The 22-year-old was an eye-catching performer with Yorkshire in the T20 Blast and for the Northern Superchargers in the inaugural season of the Hundred but also showed his red-ball potential with two centuries and five fifties for Yorkshire in the County Championship.

Brook and two other KFC BBL recruits in the Lions set-up – Sydney Thunder quick Saqib Mahmood and Brisbane Heat's Tom Abell – will be with that squad until December 16 and will miss the start of the T20 competition which begins on December 5.

Each player will miss at least three games for their BBL club.

Other English players with BBL contracts who were not picked in the Lions squad include Sydney Sixers pair James Vince and Tom Curran, Sydney Thunder duo Alex Hales and Sam Billings, Brisbane's Ben Duckett and George Garton (Adelaide Strikers).

Vodafone Men's Ashes v England

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Perth Stadium