NEW skipper Joe Leach will lead a 17-strong Worcestershire squad to Abu Dhabi for their 11-day training camp on Thursday.

The all-rounder met the full squad for the first time today since becoming the County’s 29th official captain as they officially reported back en masse.

Injured duo Tom Kohler-Cadmore and George Scrimshaw will be absent from Abu Dhabi along with Joe Clarke who is involved in the North versus South trio of games in the UAE.

The County’s 2017 overseas player John Hastings is due to arrive at New Road after the party return on March 20.

First-year professional and opening batsman Ollie Westbury will enjoy his first pre-season trip with the County.

Pace duo Jack Shantry and Josh Tongue are available after back injuries.

Ed Barnard, Alex Hepburn, Charlie Morris, George Rhodes and Tom Fell have been away for the past four to five months playing grade cricket abroad.

Worcestershire: Leach, Mitchell, Cox, Kervezee, Whiteley, Fell, Westbury, Shantry, Tongue, Morris, Barnard, Hepburn, D’Oliveira, Twohig, Rhodes, Brown, Dell.

Meanwhile, Clarke made a quickfire 13 as England Lions slipped to a third consecutive one-day defeat against Sri Lanka A in Kurunegela.

The Worcestershire batsman again came in at number six and made his runs off 13 deliveries.

Clarke, 20, picked up one boundary before he was caught behind off leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.

Lions were all out for 184 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

The tour concludes with two matches in Colombo on Thursday and Saturday.