Ryan Davies and Hugh Bernard in England Under 19 squad

Kent seamer Hugh Bernard and wicketkeeper Ryan Davies were selected for the England Under-19s touring party to play a five-match one-day series and one-off four-day match against Australia Under-19s in Western Australia next month.

The 16-man squad has been selected from the 2014-2015 England Development Programme (EDP) intake with the addition of 18-year-old Kent Cricket Academy scholar Hugh Bernard to supplement the bowling options.

Academy graduate Ryan Davies, also 18, was a regular in the EDP squad last season and earned a pro contract to join the first team squad this season.

Head of the EDP, Andy Hurry will oversee the month-long tour from March 25 to April 25, with support from EDP coaches Tim Boon and Ian Brunnschweiler.

The entire series will be played in Western Australia, with the standalone four-day match taking place at the WACA from April 6 – 9, followed by the one-day fixtures on April 13 and 15 in Bunbury, and 18, 21 and 24 at Murdoch University.

England Development Programme chairman of selectors David Graveney said: “This is the first time that anEngland U19 squad has toured Australia in over ten years, and it represents a fantastic development opportunity for all of the players – particularly the chance to play a four-day match at the WACA.

“With all but one of the players selected eligible for the 2016 ICC U19 World Cup in Bangladesh next February, this tour, along with the subsequent reciprocal series on home soil in August, forms a hugely important part of England’s preparation for that tournament.

“This will be the first time we have played Australia U19s since we beat them in the third place play-off off match in last year’s ICC U19 World Cup in UAE.

"That was a closely contested affair and we expect this series to be equally hard fought. Every Australian team that plays the game is always extremely competitive, and their U19 squad will be no different, especially given the quality of coaching provided by the likes of Greg Chapple, Graeme Hick and Troy Cooley.

“The fact that 2015 is an Ashes year for the men and women will only heighten interest in this U19 series, and I am certain that all 16 of the England players selected for the tour will be keen to set the tone for the summer.”

Australia U19s are due to subsequently visit England in August this year for a reciprocal tour, once again consisting of a one-off four-day match and five one-day fixtures.

England Under-19 Squad:

Name	County	Age Group
Hugh Bernard	Kent	U18
Mason Crane	Hampshire	U18
Ryan Davies	Kent	U18
Will Davis	Derbyshire	U19
Aneurin Donald	Glamorgan (Wales)	U18
Ben Green	Somerset (Devon)	U17
Haseeb Hameed	Lancashire	U18
Max Holden	Middlesex	U17
Mosun Hussain	Yorkshire	U18
Saqib Mahmood	Lancashire	U18
Matt Parkinson	Lancashire (Staffordshire)	U18
Brad Taylor	Hampshire	U18
Callum Taylor	Essex (Norfolk)	U18
Aaron Thomason	Warwickshire	U18
Jared Warner	Yorkshire	U18
Joe Weatherley	Hampshire	U18

Date	Format	Opposition	Venue
Mar 31-Apr 1,	2-day match	Western Australia XI	Murdoch University
Apr 6-9	4-day match	Australia U19	WACA
Apr 13	50-over match	Australia U19	Bunbury
Apr 15	50-over match	Australia U19	Bunbury
Apr 18	50-over match	Australia U19	Murdoch University
Apr 21	50-over match	Australia U19	Murdoch University
Apr 23	50-over match	Australia U19	Murdoch University