England opted for a surprising substitute fielder on day two of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s - the Bognor Regis Town goalkeeper Dan Lincoln.
Lincoln has played three T20s for Middlesex in the Vitality Blast since being drafted in for AB de Villiers, no less, when the South African injured his hand last month.
He has batted in the top four and is an outstanding fielder.
Lincoln was not a totally random call-up for Middlesex.
As well as playing football for the Isthmian League Premier Division club, he has played Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire for a number of years, including in last year’s victory over Lincolnshire in the Minor County Championship Final.
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He may have exchanged notes with Phil Neale, the long-time England team manager, who played football for Lincoln City and Shrewsbury Town as well as captaining Worcestershire.
England were put in at Lord’s today, so Lincoln is only likely to run drinks.