Kent’s Ryan Davies called up to England Development Programme

Kent wicketkeeper Ryan Davies has been named in the England Development Programme (EDP) squad for 2014-2015.

The 17-year-old Kent Cricket Academy scholar is in the 18-man EDP group of players from across the Under-17 and Under-19 age groups.

He will join the Kent senior squad next year and the England call-up caps a memorable fortnight for the Margate-born teenager.

Davies said: "It's been an amazing two weeks really and what I've been working for since I was six. It's a dream come true."

The Canterbury Academy student joined Kent Academy in 2010 and plays club cricket for Sandwich Town.

High performance director Simon Willis, who oversaw the development of the academy scholars joining the first team set-up, said: "Ryan Davies has been involved in our system since Under-11s and it is pleasing to see him get an opportunity to develop his game at first-class level."

The 2014-2015 EDP squad will now take part in a series of short training camps at the National Cricket Performance Centre (NCPC) in Loughborough, before embarking on an overseas development camp to the subcontinent in December, and touring in Australia in March-April ahead of the start of the English season.

England Development Programme Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: “The composition of the 2014-2015 EDP squad represents a change in direction for the England Development Programme with the Under-19 and Under-17 age groups fully combined for the first time.

"This move has created one smaller squad of players for Andy Hurry and the rest of the coaching staff at the NCPC to work with more closely, and simultaneously gives the county academies greater ownership in developing their young players moving forwards.

“We believe that we have selected an outstanding 18-man EDP squad, and I am especially excited by the wealth of young talent currently coming through the development pathway.

"This group of players will now get the opportunity to take part in a training camp on the subcontinent before Christmas, followed by a challenging tour to Australia in March-April next year, providing two fantastic learning experiences of playing in contrasting conditions and environments.”

England Development Programme 2014-2015 squad in full:

Name	County
Mason Crane	Hampshire
Sam Curran	Surrey
Ryan Davies	Kent
Will Davis	Derbyshire
Aneurin Donald	Glamorgan
Matt Fisher	Yorkshire
Ben Green	Somerset
Haseeb Hameed	Lancashire
Max Holden	Middlesex
Mosun Hussain	Yorkshire
Saqib Mahmood	Lancashire
Tom Moores	Nottinghamshire
Matt Parkinson	Lancashire
Brad Taylor	Hampshire
Callum Taylor	Essex
Aaron Thomason	Warwickshire
Jared Warner	Yorkshire
Joe Weatherley	Hampshire

EDP winter schedule 2014-2015:

When	What
10 – 23 December 2014	Overseas training camp
23 March – 23 April 2015	Tour to Australia