ECB today announced a 14-man England Under-19 squad to be led by Northamptonshire's Ben Duckett for next month's tri-series against Bangladesh Under-19s and Pakistan Under-19s.
Fifteen-year-old Yorkshire pace bowler Matthew Fisher, who recently became the youngest player to feature in a competitive county match for more than a century when he played in a Yorkshire Bank 40 fixture against Gloucestershire, is included in the squad along with four of his county colleagues.
ECB National Performance Manager David Graveney, who chairs the England Under-19s selection panel, said: “Ben Duckett has considerable experience at this level after playing in last year’s ICC Under-19s World Cup and captaining England Under-19s in the ODIs on their tour of South Africa earlier this year.
“He continues to develop as a player and has gained further valuable experience by playing for Northamptonshire's first team this summer.
“This tri-series will enable our best young players to test themselves against opposition who are well versed in both playing and bowling spin, and will also provide important preparation for the squad ahead of next winter’s ICC Under-19 World Cup in the UAE.
“We welcome Matthew Fisher into the squad for the first time along with a number of other new players who have impressed in county second XI and first-team cricket this summer.
“Matthew’s selection reflects both the selectors’ and Yorkshire’s view that he is ready to step up to the challenge of playing international age-group cricket.”
England Under-19 squad to face Bangladesh & Pakistan: Ben Duckett (captain) (Northamptonshire), Thomas Alsop (Hampshire), Tom Barber (Hampshire), Karl Carver (Yorkshire), Harry Finch (Sussex), Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Miles Hammond (Gloucestershire), Ryan Higgins (Middlesex), Lewis McManus (Hampshire), Will Rhodes (Yorkshire), Josh Shaw (Yorkshire), Dominic Sibley (Surrey), Jonny Tattersall (Yorkshire), Jack Winslade (Surrey).