The Lions have lost three seamers to injury ahead of their match against Australia A at the MCG. Richard Gleeson has returned to the UK due to a soft-tissue injury to his right shoulder, captain Lewis Gregory has a calf problem, and Saqib Mahmood – who was part of England’s limited-overs squads on the tour of South Africa – has not joined up with the Lions tour due to a sore knee.

Cook, who has been called up as cover, has been in Melbourne playing grade cricket this winter. The 22-year-old bagged 32 wickets for Essex to help them win the County Championship last year.

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The day/night match against Australia A will begin on Saturday, with Keaton Jennings taking on the captaincy in Gregory’s absence. The tour will conclude with a fixture against a New South Wales XI at Woolongong, beginning on March 2.