Dom Sibley withdraws from England Lions’ tour of Australia… with opener set to spend winter working on technical adjustments and stroke play at home after snub for full Ashes tour
- Dom Sibley was chosen in 14-man squad to travel alongside the full Ashes party
- But he wants to regain the form he showed in 2019 prior to his Test match debut
- The 26-year-old was dropped following the Lord’s Test defeat by India in August
- Zak Crawley was preferred to Sibley for the full England tour against Australia
Dom Sibley has pulled out of England Lions’ tour of Australia after opting to spend the winter at home to work on his own game.
Sibley was chosen in the 14-man squad to travel alongside the full Ashes party on November 4 but is understood to view this extended period of downtime as an opportunity to regain the touch and consistency that saw him hit hundreds in six consecutive first-class matches prior to his Test debut in 2019.
The 26-year-old opener is keen to make some technical adjustments to his batting, and expand his range of stroke play, in a bid to return to the top level and add to his 22 caps after being dropped following the Lord’s Test defeat by India in August.
Opener Dom Sibley has pulled out of England Lions’ tour of Australia this winter
The 26-year-old was dropped following the Lord’s Test defeat by India in August this year
In the following weeks, he finished the English domestic season with three 50s as Warwickshire won both the County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy.
However, he was overlooked for the full England tour as Zak Crawley was preferred as the spare top-order player for the five-match series.
The Lions, who will provide the opposition for Joe Root’s team in two warm-up matches prior to the first Test in Brisbane on December 8, are expected to turn to Yorkshire’s Harry Brook as Sibley’s replacement.
Sibley finished the English domestic season with three 50s for his county Warwickshire
Zak Crawley (left) was preferred to Sibley (right) for the full England tour for the Ashes