England name 15-man squad for Under-19 World Cup

Jon Lewis’ side enters the competition in good spirits after reaching the final of their winter tri-series in the Caribbean. The Young Lions were beaten in the final by Sri Lanka, having seen off West Indies to reach the last game

Lancashire seamer George Balderson will lead England at the Under-19 World Cup after he was named as captain of a 15-man squad.

Jon Lewis’ side enters the competition, which begins on January 17, in good spirits after reaching the final of their winter tri-series in the Caribbean. The Young Lions were beaten in the final by Sri Lanka, having seen off West Indies in the round-robin phase.

All 15 members of the World Cup squad were part of the group that played in Antigua, where Kent batsman Jordan Cox was the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer. Balderson and Somerset’s Kasey Aldridge came second and third on the wicket-taking charts.

Joey Evison, who signed a professional contract with Nottinghamshire in September, is also included in the party; he made a record-equalling 18-ball half century against Sri Lanka – nobody at international Under-19 level has ever made a faster recorded fifty.

“We’ve seen in Antigua, and in our home tri-series this summer against India and Bangladesh, that we can beat some of the best teams in the world,” said head coach Lewis, who played 16 times for England during his own career.

“I look forward to seeing how we can take that confidence into the pressurised environment of a World Cup.

“I’m excited to see what this squad can do at the World Cup. It will be a great challenge for them both on and off the field, playing in unfamiliar conditions against new opposition in matches that will be televised around the world.

“The series in Antigua has shown that our core group of players can perform well in a challenging environment.

“Each individual is improving in their specific roles within the side, but in South Africa we’ll need to ensure these roles all come together to produce good team performances.

“We’ve seen in Antigua, and in our home tri-series this summer against India and Bangladesh, that we can beat some of the best teams in the world.

“I look forward to seeing how we can take that confidence into the pressurised environment of a World Cup.”

England finished seventh at the 2018 World Cup, losing a dramatic quarter-final against Australia after leg-spinner Lloyd Pope took eight wickets to bowl out a side featuring Tom Banton, Will Jacks and Harry Brook for just 96.

Squad: George Balderson (Lancashire), Kasey Aldridge (Somerset), Ben Charlesworth (Gloucestershire), Tom Clark (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Kent), Scott Currie (Hampshire), Blake Cullen (Middlesex), Harry Duke (Yorkshire), Joey Evison (Nottinghamshire), Lewis Goldsworthy (Somerset), Jack Haynes (Worcestershire), George Hill (Yorkshire), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Hamidullah Qadri (Kent), Sam Young (Somerset)

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