LONDON, April 29: Test batsman Robert Key will captain the England Lions, as the national ‘A’ side is now known, against New Zealand in a four-day tour match at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl ground next week, it was announced here on Tuesday.

The decision to have the 28-year-old Key captain a 12-man squad featuring eight players with Test or One-day International experience, comes a day after he scored 178 not out for Kent against New Zealand at Canterbury.

Also included in the team is pace bowler Matthew Hoggard, who earlier this year was dropped from the senior England side after they lost the first Test on their tour of New Zealand before going on to win the three-match series 2-1.

England Lions squad: Robert Key (captain), Ravi Bopara, Michael Carberry, Matthew Hoggard, Steven Kirby, Matt Prior, Graham Onions, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, Luke Wright.—AFP