Kent wicketkeeper Sam Billings and off-spinner Adam Riley have been named in two provisional 14-man England Lions squads to tour South Africa in January and February.

The young pair will feature in separate legs of the tour which will include two four-day matches and five 50-over matches against South Africa A.

Billings, 23, is in both squads while Riley, 22, is in the four-day squad.

The tour party, which will coached by Sussex’s Mark Robinson, will be finalised after the England World Cup squad is named in December.

National selector James Whitaker, said: “We believe that the 17 players provisionally included across the two Lions squads for the tour to South Africa in the New Year incorporates an excellent mix of international experience alongside fresh young talent.

“For the likes of Sam Billings and Adam Riley to be playing alongside Sam Robson, Gary Ballance and Jonny Bairstow in a Lions tour is an exciting prospect for the future of English cricket, and I am certain that all of the players will learn a great deal from the experience.”