It was a proud day for Joe Clarke and Ross Whiteley as they made their debut for England Lions versus Pakistan A in the first of five T20 matches in Dubai yesterday (Monday).
The Worcestershire duo were amongst five players who wore the Lions shirt in a competitive match for the first time.
Clarke is the youngest member of the squad at 19 and his first appearance was the latest step in a rapid rise from playing Second Eleven Cricket just six months ago.
His only previous T20 appearance was for Worcestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final against Hampshire at New Road in August.
Clarke was a member of the England Under-19 squad which reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2014.
Whiteley has been rewarded for his outstanding form in white ball cricket for Worcestershire last season.
His 29 sixes in the NatWest T20 Blast was only equalled by Somerset's Chris Gayle and Sussex's Luke Wright.
Whiteley had also previously represented England during his Derbyshire days when a member of the side which participated in the Hong Kong Sixes in 2012.
Pakistan 'A' won the game by seven wickets with Whiteley scoring 22 off 15 balls and Clarke 16 off 13 balls.
*Pictured left to right are the five Lions debutants Jake Ball, Ross Whiteley, Joe Clarke, Tom, Westley and Dawid Malan.
