Rocky Flintoff, 16, earns surprise call-up from his famous cricketing dad, Andrew, for England Lions’ tour of Australia next month

England added to their expanding list of controversial selections today when teenager Rocky Flintoff was named in the Lions squad to tour Australia next month.

The choice of Flintoff, 16, for a tour of three four-day fixtures concluding with a ‘Test’ against Australia A in Sydney risks accusations of nepotism given that his father Andrew Flintoff is the head coach.

It comes after the Lancashire youngster was parachuted into an unofficial fixture against a Cricket South Africa XI last week, having been in the country with the England Under-19 team – and less than four months since marking his first-class debut with 32 against champions Surrey, the highest score in seven visits to the crease in the 2024 County Championship.

Flintoff’s batting average is just 12.42, but England’s policy under the men’s director of cricket Rob Key has been to routinely ignore statistics at domestic level when picking national squads.

It has not been one without success, either. Most notably in the form of Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell over recent weeks, a player who still does not have a professional hundred to his name and one had never batted as high as No 3 in the senior ranks at Edgbaston.

Bethell, 21, outscored all but Harry Brook amongst touring team-mates in contributing 260 runs during the 2-1 Test series win in New Zealand.

The decision could lead to accusations of nepotism with Flintoff’s father Andrew head coach

Flintoff has a batting average of 12.42 but England have been unbothered by domestic stats

The 16-strong squad includes Shoaib Bashir, who has been chosen to gain experience of Australian conditions ahead of next year’s Ashes, plus two other Test cricketers in Tom Hartley and Josh Tongue. Josh Hull will also travel to step up his rehabilitation after he was injured playing for England in September.

There is a youthful feel to the party, although two experienced county professionals with strong domestic numbers stand out: Warwickshire captain Alex Davies scored 1,000 runs in Division One last summer while Essex seamer Sam Cook has 308 first-class career wickets at a parsimonious average of 19.57.

‘We have rewarded players who have proven themselves at this level and those with significant potential,’ said performance director Ed Barney.

‘Matches and tours of Australia are always important and we relish the opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition. This tour allows us to evaluate performances, refine preparation and continue working with some of the best emerging talent in the country.’

Amongst Flintoff senior’s backroom staff are two former off-spinners Graeme Swann and Richard Dawson. Neil Killeen will support the pace bowlers while Australian Trent Woodhill has been drafted in as batting consultant.