Jamie Smith and other starlets – 5 England Lions who became Test cricketers

Jamie Smith bats for England
Jamie Smith graduated through the England Lions ranks to become a Test cricketer.

The England Lions have long been an effective feeder programme where selectors can experiment and trial prospective talents before drafting them into the senior fold.

Currently on tour in Australia, the youthful Lions squad has an unofficial Test in Sydney with 16 players fighting to make Freddie Flintoff’s squad.

Having already lost one warm-up contest by seven wickets to a Cricket Australia XI, the Lions have one more warm-up match in Brisbane before the Test later this month.

For many of the young squad, the tour down under is a platform to showcase their talent and, for some, to adapt to Australian conditions for the first time.

But for others, the one-off Test is a dress rehearsal for the 2025 Ashes series, with players such as Shoaib Bashir already part of the senior setup as he adjusts his game to the vastly different playing conditions.

Many feature for the Lions and fail to impress, however, there are a select few who have kicked on and gone on to achieve great things for England.

Here are five current senior players who made the most of their England Lions chance.

1. Ben Stokes

Having made his debut for the England Lions in their 2011 tour of the West Indies, the national selectors quickly realised his potential to be a key all-rounder with bat and ball.

His form led to national selection for an ODI against Ireland but it wasn’t until two years later in 2013 that the current England captain made his Test debut in an Ashes series in Perth.

A battling century against the Australians on debut started his journey to stardom.

2. Joe Root

Former England captain and the nation’s all-time leading run scorer made his England Lions debut in 2012 during a tour of Sri Lanka.

Root’s temperament and immaculate technique were evident from his first Lions innings as he was rewarded with a full Test debut later that year in a series against India.

A gritty knock of 73 on debut was the start of his journey to 12,972 Test cricket runs and counting.

Also read: Rocky Flintoff, Shoaib Bashir and more – the England Lions to watch in Australia

3. Chris Woakes

Woakes is a testament to the England Lions program having been on three separate tours in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The swing bowler won plaudits for his ability to swing the ball while also contributing valuable lower-order runs with the bat.

He finally won his Test debut in 2013 against Australia at The Oval during an Ashes series. His contributions with bat and ball through the years have been vital to England with Woakes still very much in the frame for selection.

4. Jamie Smith

Smith’s rise has been rapid following his England Lions debut in 2013 during their tour of Sri Lanka.

The young strokemaker sent shockwaves as he scored the fastest-ever Lions century in just 71 deliveries.

His sharp glove work and ability to take bowlers on with the bat landed him his first Test start in 2024 where he impressed during a home Test summer.

5. Gus Atkinson

Atkinson impressed while playing for the Lions in 2023 following a season filled with promise in the County Championship for Surrey.

At a time when England was losing their long-term Anderson-Broad partnership, Atkinson was awarded a debut due to his raw pace and ability to take crucial top-order wickets with the new ball.

Having made his white-ball debut in 2023, the young quick was rolled out to the Test side against Sri Lanka in 2024 and has since already got his name on both Lord’s Honours boards with a Test century and 10 wickets in a match.

Read next: Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?