By Niall Hickman
Head of England Development Programme Andy Hurry is hoping his Young Lions can go one better this season and secure an ‘Ashes’ victory over the Australians at the Emirates Durham ICG.
England managed a draw in their only Under-19 ‘test’ match Down Under earlier this year and Hurry is determined his side can snatch a morale-boosting win in the four-day format of the game.
Play starts on Tuesday at 11am and will pit the cream of both nations’ young talent in the North-east.
Hurry said: “It is the right name for a game like this, a test match, because it will really challenge our players, technically and mentally. It is a completely new format for some of them. They will have an awareness of what it is about as some of them, the majority, played in a test match down in Australia earlier this year. They have to recall those experiences and use them to give themselves a better opportunity this time to win against the Aussies here in Durham.
“I’ve only been in the job for eight months, but talk about timing. We had an away series against Australia, one test match and five one-dayers, then back here to face them again. That’s a big challenge. We held ourselves together really well, drawing the test and losing the one-day series 3-2, so this is another fantastic opportunity for the players. There is history between these sides going back as long as cricket has been played.
“A few years ago the England U-19s played Australia and for us on our side there was a certain Ian Bell and on the Aussie team was Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson. Look at these guys now, playing a test series in the real thing. That’s all the motivation these youngsters should need.”
England play the test match at Emirates Durham ICG, before taking part in five one-dayers at South Northumberland, Chesterfield, Derby, Leicestershire and Worcestershire.
Hurry said: “The majority of players in our squad get the opportunity to play three-day games at second XI county level and some counties are very pro-active so that they have a number of four-day friendly matches, while one or two are already playing for their counties in first class cricket, which means they are not available for us, as they are busy playing fundamental roles with their counties.”
Hurry paid tribute to the facilities at Durham, insisting they were second to none as he prepares for the action to commence.
“The set-up here at Durham is first class. It is always a fantastic place to come to, especially when the sun comes out. The ground looks amazing, but what is really impressive is how accommodating everyone has been behind the scenes, all the way from the ground staff to the office. The nets are incredible, just fantastic and we have a vast amount of local bowlers to help us with our preparation.”
Durham’s Jack Burnham and Adam Hickey have both been picked for England’s one day squad and will undergo 12th man duties at their home ground during the test match.
Named in both one day and test squads is Hampshire’s 18-year-old leg-spinner Mason Crane, who made an impressive firs class debut against Durham earlier this season.
Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed captains the side for the four-day test, while Glamorgan’s Aneurin Donald takes over in the one-day competition.
Four-day squad: Tom Alsop (Hampshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Ryan Davies (Kent), George Garton (Sussex), Ben Green (Somerset), Haseeb Hameed (cpt, Lancashire), Max Holden (Middlesex), Daniel Lawrence (Essex), Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson (both Lancashire), Brad Taylor (Hampshire), Callum Taylor (Essex), Aaron Thomason (Warwickshire), Jared Warner (Yorkshire), Saif Zaib (Northamptonshire).
50-over squad: Hugh Bernard (Kent), Jack Burnham (Durham), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ryan Davies (Kent), Aneurin Donald (cpt, Glamorgan), Ben Green (Somerset), Haseeb Hameed (Lancashire), Adam Hickey (Durham), Daniel Lawrence (Essex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Brad Taylor (Hampshire), Callum Taylor (Essex), Aaron Thomason (Warwickshire), Jared Warner (Yorkshire), Saif Zaib (Northamptonshire).