• Teenager only made his professional debut this year
• Bashir to be given experience in Australia for Ashes

Rocky Flintoff has been called up to his father’s Lions squad for next month’s tour of Australia, with England using the trip to give young bowlers who are already in contention for a place in the senior Test squad experience of local conditions ahead of next winter’s Ashes.

The junior Flintoff continues what has been a startling rise, having been given his first professional contract by Lancashire in August, aged 16. He made his first-class debut soon afterwards and was a last-minute call-up to the Lions squad in South Africa earlier this month, their first trip since his father, Andrew, was named coach in September.