Preparations for the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup begin in earnest for promising Hampshire teenage cricket trio Mason Crane, Joe Weatherley and Brad Taylor this week.

They are in the England Under-19 squad which flew to oil-rich Dubai today for ten days’ training at the ICC’s plush academy.

“It’s essentially a spin bowling training camp, with promising players from India being specially flown in as net bowlers,” explained Academy opening batsman Weatherley, who was vice-captain of England’s under-17 side against Pakistan and Sri Lanka this year.

“We were originally supposed to be touring India, but there are visa problems associated with the sub-continent, but Dubai promises to be superb.”

Crane, Taylor and Weatherley are all spin bowlers in their own right – the Lancing-based Crane bowling leg-breaks and his two Hampshire Academy teammates off-spin.

All three will be looking to impress in the Emirates as an inviting pre-season trip to Perth and a competitive under-19 series against Australia looms large on the horizon next March and April.