In a compelling unofficial Test match held at Cricket Central in Wilson Park, Sydney, England Lions faced a formidable challenge against Australia A. The match concluded with Australia A declaring at 373-9, setting a high bar for the Lions, who ultimately succumbed to an innings and 10 runs.

Ben McKinney, the Durham left-hander, showcased his talent with a remarkable run-a-ball 110, marking his second first-class century. Resuming on a promising 67 not out in the morning session, McKinney provided a glimmer of hope for England. However, his dismissal, caught by Xavier Bartlett off Aaron Hardie’s bowling at a score of 164, shifted momentum back to the Australians.

Matty Hurst fought valiantly, scoring 35 runs, and Rocky Flintoff added a gritty 21 but struggled to find support as the English batting line-up faltered. Australian seamer Jordan Buckingham was particularly effective, finishing with impressive figures of 4-41.

This match was the concluding game in the Lions’ tour down under, where they had a mixed performance. Having lost the first match by seven wickets in Brisbane despite McKinney's solid 94, they managed to draw the second game thanks to a century from the promising 16-year-old Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who is also the coach for this tour.

As the England Lions reflect on their experience in Australia, it’s clear that while they faced defeats, the promising performances from players like McKinney and Flintoff signal hope for the future of English cricket.