ENG vs NZ: Rehan Ahmed, James Rew released from Test squad for England Lions' one-day series

England have released Rehan Ahmed and James Rew from their Test squad for the ongoing series against New Zealand, as the duo is set to play one-day cricket for England Lions against South Africa A. Both Rehan and Rew missed out on selection from the playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

They have now been named in a 17-man Lions squad for a three-match one-day series, beginning on Friday, June 5. Players will continue to leave the squad and play for their respective counties in the T20 blast whenever they’re not selected in the playing XI.

Saqib Mahmood is a notable inclusion, who returns from a knee injury that ruled him out of England's T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Jordan Cox also marks his comeback after returning from his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Apart from him, Mason Crane, who last played for England in 2018, has also been picked after a strong start to the season with Glamorgan.

Caleb Falconer also selected

Caleb Falconer, who scored a century for England in the Under-19 World Cup final against India in Zimbabwe earlier this year, has also been selected, along with his former Under-19s team-mates Ben Mayes and Thomas Rew.

The series will provide a great opportunity for all the players to impress the selectors ahead of the white-ball series against India. England are all set to take on India in five T20Is and three ODIs in England from July 1-19.

England Lions squad: James Coles, Noah Cornwell, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Scott Currie, Caleb Falconer, Eddie Jack, Saqib Mahmood, Ben Mayes, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Matthew Potts, Rehan Ahmed, James Rew, Thomas Rew, Asa Tribe.

England Lions vs South Africa A schedule