Ball and Bell-Drummond named in England U19 squad for winter tour

Kent all-rounder Adam Ball and batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond have been named in the England U19 squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, beginning on 7 January.

Lewis Gregory (Somerset) will captain the 17-man squad for the duration of the four week tour, which comprises two four-day Test matches and a five match one-day international series.

Commenting on the selection of the two players, Kent“s High Performance Director, Simon Willis, said: “It is always pleasing when players in your system get recognised for national selection. Credit must go to both players, who have shown a great appetite to improve their games in the short space of time I have known them. I have no doubt this experience will help in their quest to play first team cricket for Kent next season.”

Kent Academy Director, Phil Relf, added: We are delighted that two of our best young players have the opportunity to be part of the England under 19 squad this winter. They have both had to work very hard in the last year as their ECB programme has been very intensive. It takes great commitment and dedication to balance their training with us alongside their school studies. Both are now in a very important final year of education and a lot of credit must go to their schools for being so supportive and flexible. They have both been rewarded with full time professional contracts and more overseas experience for them this winter will go a long way to broadening their cricketing education, which is fantastic for us and them.”

The full squad is as follows: Lewis Gregory (captain, Somerset), Adam Ball (Kent), Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent), Christian Davis (Northamptonshire), Matthew Dunn (Surrey), Ben Foakes (Essex), Ateeq Javid (Warwickshire), Tymal Mills (Essex), Tom Milnes (Warwickshire), Jack Parsons (Sussex), Gurman Randhawa (Yorkshire), Adam Rossington (Middlesex), Andrew Salter (Glamorgan), Jack Sheppard (Hampshire), Rammi Singh (Durham), Shiv Thakor (Leicestershire), Sam Wood (Nottinghamshire)

FIXTURES
Test Series
14-17 January 4 day Test Dambulla Stadium
20-23 January 4 day Test Asgiriya Stadium

ODI Series
28 January 1st ODI Colts Cricket Club
30 January 2nd ODI Colts Cricket Club
01 February 3rd ODI Nondescripts Cricket Club
03 February 4th ODI Sinhalese Sports Club