Bernard and Davies in England U19 squad for Sri Lanka tri-series

Kent's Hugh Bernard and Ryan Davies have received a call-up to the England Under-19 squad for a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India in December 2015.

The Kent Cricket Academy graduates are in a 16-man squad hoping to seal a place in the squad for the U19 World Cup in Bangladesh, starting in January 2016.

Folkestone seamer Bernard, who turned 19 last week, took 27 wickets in 9 second XI appearances this season and took 7 wickets in the Royal London ODI series against Australia this summer, after signing his first professional contract at Kent.

Margate-born wicketkeeper Davies, 18, has been a regular for England Under-19s in all formats and made his first team debut this summer, deputising eight times for England international Sam Billings.

England Development Programme Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: “The tour to Sri Lanka before Christmas represents the last chance for the players to impress ahead of the final selection of the squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in January and February next year.

"We have selected a strong squad based on performances against Australia under-19s this summer, alongside giving opportunities to a couple of players who haven’t featured at this level before.

"It is now down to them to show that they deserve to be named in the World Cup squad when that is announced towards the end of December.

“The tri-series involving Sri Lanka and India under-19s will present a tough challenge, and it is a further learning opportunity for all the players in sub-continent conditions. It should be a great tour and a precursor to what they can expect in Bangladesh during the World Cup next year.”