Young Lions multi-format tour of Australia underway

The England Men’s U19 multi-format tour to Australia is underway, with the first of two four-day Youth Test matches at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field delicately poised after two days.

The Young Lions selectors previously named a 16-strong Test squad and a 14-strong white-ball squad for the trip, which continues through February.

Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell, who was part of the squad that reached the final of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in 2022, is captaining the red-ball squad while Durham’s Ben McKinney will lead the white-ball squad.

England Men’s Under 19 Test Squad

Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire)

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire, cap)

Bertie Foreman (Sussex)

Jack Harding (Unattached)

Matthew Hurst (Lancashire)

Dan Ibrahim (Sussex)

Eddie Jack (Hampshire)

Dominic Kelly (Hampshire)

Archie Lenham (Sussex)

Yousef Majid (Surrey)

Ben McKinney (Durham)

James Rew (Somerset)

Harry Singh (Unattached)

Charlie Tear (Sussex)

George Thomas (Somerset)

Ross Whitfield (Durham)

England Men’s Under 19 White-Ball Squad

Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire)

James Coles (Sussex)

Joseph Eckland (Hampshire)

Sheridon Gumbs (Surrey)

Matthew Hurst (Lancashire)

Dan Ibrahim (Sussex)

Eddie Jack (Hampshire)

Archie Lenham (Sussex)

Yousef Majid (Surrey)

Ben McKinney (Durham, cap)

Jamal Richards (Essex)

Charlie Tear (Sussex)

George Thomas (Somerset)

The tours are being led by Young Lions Head Coach Mike Yardy, who is joined by Kadeer Ali (Batting Coach), Chris Brown (Spin Bowling Coach), Simon Cook (Fast Bowling Coach) and Chris Read (Fielding & WK Coach).

Head Coach Mike Yardy said: “It’s great to be out in Australia and taking part in all three formats of the game. Our warm-up camp in Abu Dhabi before Christmas was a valuable exercise, both to track our progress on the field but also to spend some time together as a group.

“There’s no doubt there are a lot of talented young players vying for selection, the challenge now is to add value to those players’ journeys, provide some experiences which can help them develop their career and ultimately to help refine the next generation of England Men’s cricketers.”

Tour dates

Sunday January 29-Wednesday February 1: First Youth Test, England Men’s U19 v Australia Men’s U19, Allan Border Field, 10am

Monday February 6-Thursday February 9: Second Youth Test, England Men’s U19 v Australia Men’s U19, Norths Cricket Club, 10am

Monday February 13: First Youth ODI, England Men’s U19s v Australia Men’s U19s, Allan Border Field, 10am

Wednesday February 15: Second Youth ODI, England Men’s U19s v Australia Men’s U19s, Allan Border Field, 10am

Friday February 17: Third Youth ODI, England Men’s U19s v Australia Men’s U19s, Norths Cricket Club, 9am

Sunday February 19: Only Youth IT20, England Men’s U19s v Australia Men’s U19s, Norths Cricket Club, 1.30pm