Worcestershire CCC batsman Jake Libby has been rewarded for his outstanding red ball form by being chosen as part of the County Select XI to face India at the Emirates Riverside in a three-day fixture starting on July 20.
Libby will face the tourists in a game that has been arranged to aid with their preparations for the forthcoming Test series against England.
The opening batsman has had two memorable seasons since moving from Nottinghamshire to New Road on a three-year contract.
Libby was the leading run-scorer in the country in the Group Stages of the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy with 498 in five matches at an average of 55.33, including a career-best 184 versus Glamorgan.
It was a tally only surpassed in the entire competition by Sir Alastair Cook after his century in the final for Essex versus Somerset.
Libby has continued in the same superb vein this season with 798 runs, including three centuries, at an average of 61.38 in the LV=Insurance County Championship.
It is a tally only surpassed by Durham’s David Bedingham (945).
Libby has also been appointed Worcestershire’s official red ball vice-captain.
Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “Jake has excelled since he moved to join us, and this recognition against India is well deserved.
“His record on the pitch speaks for itself, an enormous chunk of runs and consistent performances game in and game out.
“But he has also fitted in superbly off the pitch, is a real positive influence with the lads.”
Young Lions head coach Richard Dawson will oversee the County Select XI.
Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes will lead a 13-man squad, including recent Test debutant James Bracey and Nottinghamshire opener Haseeb Hameed, who made his Test debut against India in 2016.
The squad was selected after consulting with the first-class counties on player availability and to provide some of the high potential talent from across the county game with the opportunity to test themselves against the ICC World Test Championship finalists.
The county players will bridge into a team environment and undergo Covid testing before being cleared to play in the match.
County Select XI squad: Will Rhodes (Warwickshire – captain), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Ethan Bamber (Middlesex), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Jack Carson (Sussex), Zak Chappell (Nottinghamshire), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Jake Libby (Worcestershire), Craig Miles (Warwickshire), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), James Rew (Somerset), Rob Yates (Warwickshire).
