Nottinghamshire batsmen Alex Hales and Michael Lumb have been named in England’s squad to face New Zealand in two NatWest International T20 matches at The Oval next week.

Both players will return to Trent Bridge in time to face Leicestershire Foxes in the opening fixture of Notts Outlaws’ Friends Life t20 campaign on Friday 28 June.

Kevin Pietersen will make his return to England colours for the second Twenty20 international in a side captained by Eoin Morgan in the absence of Stuart Broad.

“We have selected a squad with plenty of T20 experience as well as young players new to the international game,” said National Selector Geoff Miller.

“With an intense period of cricket coming up we are conscious that we need to manage the workloads of our players throughout the summer and this NatWest series gives an opportunity for players who have performed well in domestic cricket and on the England Performance Programme and with the Lions to step up and test themselves in an international environment.

“New Zealand are a talented limited overs side and with a World T20 competition less than a year away this series gives us a chance to look at a number of different options.”

England T20 squad
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (Capt)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Danny Briggs (Hampshire)
Jos Buttler (Somerset)
Jade Dernbach (Surrey)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
Michael Lumb (Nottinghamshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Surrey)*
Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
James Tredwell (Kent)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)
*Pietersen will be available for match on 27 June only

NatWest International T20 Series vs New Zealand
25 June Kia Oval 18.30
27 June Kia Oval 18.30