Youngsters in frame for tests in NZ

England will consider blooding three young batsmen when they name their squad next week for the two tests against New Zealand.

Liam Livingstone, Dan Lawrence and Joe Clarke are all in the frame as England look to find more emerging players to take them forward at the end of another series loss in Australia.

That means James Vince, in particular, will be playing for his test future when England make one last attempt to defeat Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting today, while Mark Stoneman is another who could do with a big score.

And Gary Ballance, a controversial pick for this Ashes tour at the behest of captain Joe Root, looks sure to miss out for games in Auckland and Christchurch in March.

One consolation from this Ashes defeat has been the success of less experienced players Dawid Malan and Craig Overton, while Stoneman and Vince have shown glimpses of belonging at this level.

But England, who are set to hand 20-year-old Mason Crane his test debut at the SCG after Tom Curran’s introduction in Melbourne, want to consider the best batsmen from the Lions set-up when they select their squad for New Zealand.

“There’s been some chat about how we can start to get younger players in the side,” said England coach Trevor Bayliss. “Livingstone, Clarke and Lawrence have all been mentioned.”

Lancashire’s Livingstone, 24, made two full Twenty20 international appearances last summer but struggled against South Africa. He is a rare, explosive talent, though, and highly rated by England, who believe the hard-hitting Cumbrian — just like Ben Stokes — could be a better bet in the red-ball game.

Lawrence, of Essex, has caught the eye of Bayliss and Clarke impressed as a late call-up in place of Ben Duckett for the warm-up match in Perth ahead of the third test.

Although it is unlikely all of the next generation will be selected now, Bayliss wants an injection of youth.

“You need an opportunity to put them in and is this that opportunity?” he said. “Have the guys who are in there done enough to warrant further selection? Over time you want new players not just putting pressure on but getting chances.”