Jake Ball has been added to England‘s IT20 squad as cover for the upcoming Tri-Series clashes against Australia and New Zealand.
With lingering doubts over Liam Plunkett’s hamstring injury, the Nottinghamshire bowler is in contention to feature for the Three Lions.
Ball, who will travel with the squad for the Australia leg of the tour initially, has endured a tough time Down Under and only featured twice so far on the tour.
The 26-year-old was dropped after taking just one wicket in the first Ashes Test defeat at Brisbane and also went wicketless during the tourists’ ODI victory in Perth on January 28.
The seamer has yet to make his debut for England’s T20 side but has a decent record in the format at domestic level for Notts, having claimed 61 wickets from 52 matches at an average of 24.26.
Ball could play in England’s warm-up match against a Prime Minister’s XI on Friday with Plunkett likely to miss that clash and Chris Jordan also sidelined with a hamstring problem he picked up in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Batsman Alex Hales will also sit out the tune-up due to a hand injury.
England face Australia in the first of their T20I double-header at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart on Wednesday (February 7) before taking on the Baggy Green again at Melbourne three days later.
New Zealand and England will then tussle in two matches at Wellington (February 13) and Hamilton (February 18) before the top two teams contest the Tri-Series final at Eden Park in Auckland (February 21).
