CLECKHEATON cricketer Andrew Gale is being tipped as a future England captain after it was announced he will lead the England Lions tour of United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month.

Gale will captain the Lions in Twenty20 matches against Pakistan A (three games), the UAE and the senior England side, before three 50-over fixtures against Pakistan A in Dubai.

National selector Geoff Miller said Gale had impressed everyone during his time with the England Performance Programme in South Africa last November.

Miller added: “He’s a young man. We have to try and look at future England captains if we can because it’s difficult for our best young players to get captaincy experience at domestic level these days.

“They are often snapped up on central contracts and spend all their time with England.”

The announcement caps a remarkable few months for Gale, who made his Lions debut against Australia last summer, was named Yorkshire player-of-the-year, awarded a place on the England Performance Programme, signed a new three-year deal with the club and was then named the Tykes’ captain in December.

Dewsbury-born Gale is thrilled at the Lions appointment, saying: “I am proud to become the England Lions captain and I am excited about the opportunities that the tour will hold for us as a team and individuals.

“The series against Pakistan A will give us an opportunity to test our skills against other international cricketers and will be a great way to taste the international arena.”

The Lions have also selected fellow Yorkshire players Adil Rashid and David Wainwright, together with Ian Bell, for the three-week tour.

Gale made his Lions debut against Australia last summer and is set to captain Yorkshire in 2010.

Miller added: “Obviously, Yorkshire have seen something in him. He’s shown what he's capable of doing in the performance squad at Loughborough and in South Africa.

“He’s ticked an awful lot of boxes and we’ve given him the opportunity. It’s the real start of his international career.

“We’re interested in seeing how he develops as a player and as a captain. Here is an opportunity for him.”

England squad: Andrew Gale (capt, Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), Michael Lumb (Hampshire), James Taylor (Leicestershire), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset), Steven Davies (Surrey), Peter Trego (Somerset), James Tredwell (Kent), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Steve Kirby (Gloucestershire), David Wainwright (Yorkshire).

n Yorkshire batsman Chris Taylor has retired from the professional games.

Taylor has failed to hold down a regular first team place at Headingley and the 28-year-old has now decided to call it a day.

He made his debut in 2001 and played for Yorkshire for four seasons before joining Derbyshire.