Teenage Hampshire prospects Joe Weatherley and Brad Taylor have been added to a provisional squad of 30 players from which England will select their team for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in February.
The Academy pair have already played for England at under-17 level, spin all-rounder Weatherley touring South Africa and Sri Lanka earlier this year, and joining off-spinner Taylor in the home series against the Sri Lankans in August.
Yesterday’s three-wicket defeat of England under-19s by the UAE and a poor recent record against youth teams from fellow Test-playing countries may have boosted the prospects of Weatherley and Taylor being selected for the World Cup.
Bashley (Rydal) batsman Ryan Higgins, who signed a two-year contract with Middlesex at the end of the past season, top scored with 75 in England’s 250-9 – a total the Emirates passed with three balls to spare.
Hampshire’s Lewis McManus made only 14, while left-arm quick Tom Barber is about to resume training after suffering a back injury in pre-tour training.
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