Jonathan Trott will act as interim England Lions head coach for their two T20s against Sri Lanka this week and is a leading candidate to succeed Andrew Flintoff in the role on a full-time basis.

Trott left his role as Afghanistan head coach after the T20 World Cup in February and Cricinfo has learned that he is among the applicants for the Lions vacancy advertised by the ECB last month. The job is available after Flintoff’s resignation, which followed his appointment as Sydney Thunder coach in the Big Bash League.

He will act as head coach for two T20 fixtures against the touring Sri Lankans, who will arrive in the UK this week and use those matches as preparation for three T20Is and three ODIs against England. Trott will be supported by his former England team-mates Ravi Bopara and Graeme Swann, as well as ECB pace-bowling lead Troy Cooley and fielding specialist Carl Hopkinson.

Trott spent nearly four years in charge of Afghanistan and took them to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024, as well as overseeing wins against Sri Lanka, England and Pakistan at the 50-over World Cup in 2023. He has also coached in franchise leagues, and could in future become a contender to succeed Brendon McCullum as England’s white-ball coach.

The ECB named a 20-man squad for the two Lions matches on Monday, which has been drawn up in consultation with counties to ensure that players will still be available for County Championship fixtures this week if required.

Six players from England’s T20I squad are included: Tom Banton and Will Jacks set to return from a quad injury and appendicitis respectively, and are joined by James Coles, Aneurin Donald, Jamie Overton and Saqib Mahmood. Henry Crocombe, who is only part of England’s ODI squad, is also involved.

There are also call-ups for three players who featured in England’s Under-19s World Cup campaign earlier this year: Caleb Falconer, Ben Mayes and Joe Moores. Lancashire’s left-arm seamer Luke Wood is also included after missing out on England’s T20I squad, while Essex’s Paul Walter could make his Lions debut after his Hundred heroics for Manchester Super Giants.

Sri Lanka named their squad for the series last week, with Charith Asalanka set to deputise as T20I captain due to Kusal Mendis’s injury.

England Lions vs Sri Lanka

Squad: Tom Banton, Jafer Chohan, James Coles, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Aneurin Donald, Caleb Falconer, Tom Hartley, Eddie Jack, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Ben Mayes, Ben McKinney, Joe Moores, Jamie Overton, Matthew Revis, James Sales, Ollie Sykes, Paul Walter, Luke Wood.

Fixtures: September 11 – 1st T20 (Chelmsford, floodlit), September 13 – 2nd T20 (Beckenham).