Young Nottinghamshire spinner Farhan Ahmed has been selected for England Men’s U19 squad for the Youth One Day International series against Ireland and Australia.
Meanwhile Academy batter Travis Holland, all-rounder Freddie McCann, and bowler Tom Giles have been included in a Young Lions Invitational XI to face Ireland in a 50 over match, and Australia in a two-day warm up game.
Having risen through the Nottinghamshire pathway, all four players have represented Nottinghamshire’s Second XI this year, in addition to playing at the ECB Super 4s, where the best U17 cricketers from around England and Wales compete in front of coaches, scouts and selectors.
In all, 15-year-old Ahmed has taken over 210 pathway wickets in eight years with the Green and Golds, averaging a touch over 16 in that time.
In representing the Midlands in the Super 4s, he followed in the footsteps of his brothers and fellow Notts pathway products Rehan - now with Leicestershire and England - and Raheem, who has played for Notts’ Second XI this year.
He is amongst 16 players named for the two-game Youth ODI series against Ireland, and a five-game series against Australia.
Young Lions Head Coach, Mike Yardy, said: “It’s an exciting six months for the Young Lions starting with a home series against Australia followed by a tour to India and a World Cup in January.
“We toured Australia last winter and it is great to be able for us to compete with them again this summer. There are several new faces in this squad which will add to that excitement in having the opportunity play against their peers from down under.”
Meanwhile, 18 players have been named for the fixtures to be played by the Young Lions Invitational XI.
Among those of a Nottinghamshire persuasion, Holland has scored 557 runs for Nottinghamshire’s U18s this season, at an average over 46, as well as notching a T20 ton at Super 4s.
McCann has scored two fifties for the twos, having also made 409 runs in 10 games for Notts’ U18s.
And seamer Giles has claimed 13 wickets for Nottinghamshire’s U18s, at an average of 18.46.
England Men Under-19s squad: Ben McKinney (Durham, captain), Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire), Tazeem Ali (Warwickshire), Charlie Barnard (Lancashire), Luc Benkenstein (Essex), Jack Carney (Lancashire), Keshana Fonseka (Lancashire), Henry Hurle (Glamorgan), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Dom Kelly (Hampshire), Mitch Killeen (Durham), JT Langridge (Somerset), Henry Rogers (Sussex), Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire), Noah Thain (Essex), Ross Whitfield (Durham).
Young Lions Invitational XI: Charlie Allison (Essex), Yousaf Bin Naeem (Derbyshire), Tommy Boorman (Gloucestershire), Alex French (Surrey), Tom Giles (Nottinghamshire), Daniel Hogg (Durham), Travis Holland (Nottinghamshire), Haider Hussain (Lancashire), Noah Kelly (Yorkshire), Rhys Lewis (Middlesex), Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire), Haydon Mustard (Durham), Louie Owens (Yorkshire), Jake Tarling (Leicestershire), Stuart Van Der Merwe (Surrey), Josh Thomas (Somerset), Raphael Weatherall (Northamptonshire), Theo Wylie (Warwickshire).
Ireland Men U19s Tour
1st Youth ODI: England U19s v Ireland U19s, Loughborough - 21 August.
2nd Youth ODI: England U19s v Ireland U19s, Loughborough - 23 August.
50-over match: Young Lions Invitational XI v Ireland U19s, Loughborough - 25 August.
Australia Men U19s tour
Two-day warm-up: Young Lions Invitational XI v Australia U19s, Loughborough - 22-23 August.
1st Youth ODI: England U19s v Australia U19s, County Ground, Beckenham – 26 August
2nd Youth ODI: England U19s v Australia U19s, County Ground Beckenham – 28 August
3rd Youth ODI: England U19s v Australia U19s, County Ground, Beckenham – 31 August
4th Youth ODI: England U19s v Australia U19s, 1stCentral County Ground, Hove – 2 September
5th Youth ODI: England U19s v Australia U19s, 1stCentral County Ground, Hove – 4 September
1st Youth Test: England U19s v Australia U19s, New Road, Worcester – 8-11 September
2nd Youth Test: England U19s v Australia U19s, County Ground, Northampton – 16-19 September