Promising Hampshire Academy trio Mason Crane (left), Joe Weatherley (centre) and Brad Taylor, right, have been selected to play for England Under-19s in a series of matches against their Australian counterparts in April.
They are in a 16-man squad which has been selected from the 2014-2015 England Development Programme (EDP) intake to play a five-match one-day series and one-off four-day match against Australia Under-19s in Western Australia.
England play a standalone four-day match at the WACA from April 6-9 before a series of four one-day games in Bunbury and at Murdoch University.
Deputy Head Boy at King Edward VI School in Southampton, opening batsman Weatherley may captain the England side, having been vice-captain of previous junior age group sides.
Lancing College leggie Mason Crane and Academy team-mate Brad Taylor could well share the spin bowling duties on the month-long tour.
Crane, who was introduced to the Ageas Bowl Academy by former Hampshire left-arm spinner Raj Maru, regularly partners Taylor bowling in county Second XI matches and in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League.
Off-spinner Taylor, who was awarded with a Development Contract at Hampshire at the end of last season, hit the headlines in 2013 at the age of 16 when he became the youngest player in 135 years to appear for the Hampshire 1st XI.
“The three of us are really excited to be included in the squad - it's the first U19 tour to Australia in over 10 years so it provides an excellent opportunity for us all,” Weatherley said.
”As a group, we're expecting it to be a tough challenge but one that we're looking forward to getting our teeth into.
“It's important that we can set the tone with a successful tour in Perth, as we're due to host Australia this summer and a win in their back yard would fill us with confidence for that series and in preparation for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 12 months time.
“The tour also provides us excellent preparation time for the new English season and we'll be hoping to hit the ground running in May in 2nd XI cricket and Southern Electric Premier League matches after returning home from Australia at the end of April.”
Ironically, Australia Under-19s will be captained by Jaron Morgan, who spent last summer playing locally for Bashley (Rydal).
They are in a 16-man squad which has been selected from the 2014-2015 England Development Programme (EDP) intake to play a five-match one-day series and one-off four-day match against Australia Under-19s in Western Australia.
England play a standalone four-day match at the WACA from April 6-9 before a series of four one-day games in Bunbury and at Murdoch University.
Deputy Head Boy at King Edward VI School in Southampton, opening batsman Weatherley may captain the England side, having been vice-captain of previous junior age group sides.
Lancing College leggie Mason Crane and Academy team-mate Brad Taylor could well share the spin bowling duties on the month-long tour.
Crane, who was introduced to the Ageas Bowl Academy by former Hampshire left-arm spinner Raj Maru, regularly partners Taylor bowling in county Second XI matches and in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League.
Off-spinner Taylor, who was awarded with a Development Contract at Hampshire at the end of last season, hit the headlines in 2013 at the age of 16 when he became the youngest player in 135 years to appear for the Hampshire 1st XI.
“The three of us are really excited to be included in the squad - it's the first U19 tour to Australia in over 10 years so it provides an excellent opportunity for us all,” Weatherley said.
”As a group, we're expecting it to be a tough challenge but one that we're looking forward to getting our teeth into.
“It's important that we can set the tone with a successful tour in Perth, as we're due to host Australia this summer and a win in their back yard would fill us with confidence for that series and in preparation for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 12 months time.
“The tour also provides us excellent preparation time for the new English season and we'll be hoping to hit the ground running in May in 2nd XI cricket and Southern Electric Premier League matches after returning home from Australia at the end of April.”
Ironically, Australia Under-19s will be captained by Jaron Morgan, who spent last summer playing locally for Bashley (Rydal).