Academy batsman Harrison Ward selected for England Under-19s

Photo: Simon Hipwell

Sussex boys’ Academy batsman, Harrison Ward has been selected in the England Under-19s squad for two 'Tests' against South Africa at Scarborough and the Emirates Riverside next month.

The left-hander – a pupil at St. Edward’s School, Oxford - has been part of the Academy for the past three seasons, entering the set-up thanks to Sussex’s partnership with the Oxfordshire Cricket Board.

Since 2013, Sussex Cricket coaches have worked with Oxfordshire’s young players in both counties with the aim of developing professional cricketers.

Reacting to Harrison’s call-up, Chairman of Oxfordshire Cricket Board, Chris Clements, said: “This is great news for Harrison, who fully deserves this recognition. He’s worked extremely hard for many years to get to this point, both with us here in Oxfordshire and down at Sussex.

“His selection is testament to the fruitful cooperation between our two counties and demonstrates the benefits of first-class and minor counties working together to unearth and nurture talented young cricketers.

“I’m pleased to say we’ve got a number of other extremely promising players working their way through the system and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them following in Harrison’s footsteps in the years to come.”

Sussex’s Director of Cricket, Keith Greenfield, said: “We are really pleased for Harrison. it’s great to see the partnership and our work with Oxfordshire Cricket working well for both parties. “Praise must also go to St Edward’s School and Dave Simkins who have also worked closely with Harrison and helped him continue his cricket development.”

Harrison – who made his Sussex 2ndXI debut earlier this season – added: “It’s an honour to be selected for the under-19s and a really good day for me and my family. It makes all of the hard work that has been done so far by all of us worth it. I am really looking forward to meeting the guys and getting started in the test series.”

Meanwhile, Harrison’s fellow Academy player and a pupil at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, left-arm seamer Will Sheffield has been included in the squad for an Invitational XI that will face the South Africans in their warm-up match for the series, against an Invitational XI in Loughborough on July 3-4.

England Under-19s squad

Tom Lammonby (Somerset, captain)

Ethan Bamber (Middlesex)

Liam Banks (Warwickshire)

Tom Banton (Somerset)

Jack Davies (Middlesex)

Adam Finch (Worcestershire)

Alfie Gleadall (Derbyshire)

Jack Haynes (Worcestershire)

Luke Hollman (Middlesex)

Jack Plom (Essex)

Hamidullah Qadri (Derbyshire)

Oli Robinson (Kent)

Harrison Ward (Sussex)

Greg Willows (Gloucestershire)

Fixtures

July 3-4 v Unicorns (Loughborough)

July 8-11 – first “Youth Test” v South Africa Under-19s (Scarborough)

July 16-19 – second “Youth Test” v South Africa Under-19s (Emirates Riverside)

*A separate England Under-19s squad will be named in early July for the three-match Royal London One-Day Series against South Africa A with games at Emirates Riverside (July 23, live on Sky Sports), South Northumberland CC (July 26) and Scarborough (July 29).

Selected for an Invitational XI to play South Africa Under-19s at Loughborough, July 3-4

Ben Allison (Essex), Ben Charlesworth (Gloucestershire), Jordan Cook (Nottinghamshire), Ed Fluck (Lancashire), George Lavelle (Lancashire), Will Sheffield (Sussex), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Kaz Szymanski (Glamorgan), Rob Yates (Warwickshire)