CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced a reciprocal agreement in terms of which the England Lions will tour South Africa in the 2014/15 season and South Africa A will tour England in 2017.
The England Lions will play two four-day Test matches and five 50 overs matches against South Africa A in January and February 2015.
“This is a very important agreement for us,” commented Corrie van Zyl, CSA General Manager: Cricket. “It continues our policy of enabling our second best team to test itself against some of the strongest cricket playing countries in the world.
“What is particularly important is that our A side will now tour England in 2017 at the same time as our senior squad is in that country. England is always an out-of-season tour for us and it will help a lot to know that our back-up players are match-fit in case of need.”
ECB Performance Director, David Parsons, commented: “The Lions tour to South Africa will be an excellent opportunity to take on some very tough opposition in a challenging environment. It will also offer us an opportunity to test the players at the very highest level and allow the players to ultimately learn a great deal from the trip. We look forward to visiting South Africa early next year.”
ENGLAND LIONS TOUR ITINERARY
January 5-7, 2015: SA Invitation XI v England Lions, UJ Soweto Oval
January 11-14: 1st four-day match, South Africa A v England Lions, Boland Park, Paarl
January 18-21: 2nd four-day, South Africa A v England Lions, Chevrolet Park,, Bloemfontein
January 25: 1st one-day match (day), South Africa A v England Lions, Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein
January 28: 2nd one-day match (day/night), South Africa A v England Lions, Diamond Oval, Kimberley
January 31: 3rd one-day match (day), South Africa A v England Lions, Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
February 2: 4th one-day match (day), South Africa A v England Lions, Mamelodi, Pretoria
February 5: 5th one-day match (day/night), South Africa A v England Lions, Sahara Willowmoore Park, Benoni