Warwickshire batsman Liam Banks has been named in an 18-man Young Lions squad that has been selected for the first half of the winter programme, which continues after Christmas with the ICC Under-19s World Cup in New Zealand.

Banks (18) made his First Class debut for Warwickshire in the penultimate Specsavers County Championship match of the season against Yorkshire at Headingley and made his second appearance in last week’s draw with Hampshire at Edgbaston.

As a graduate of the Bears Academy, he signed his first professional contract in the 2016 season and featured for England Under 19s earlier this summer in the Test and One-Day International home series against India.

Three seamers who featured for England Under-19s against India – including Warwickshire’s Henry Brookes along with Ben Allison of Essex and the Durham all-rounder Matt Potts – have been ruled out by injury.

Andy Hurry, the head coach of the Young Lions programme, has been confirmed today as the new director of cricket at Somerset.

David Parsons, the ECB’s Performance Director, said: “Andy has played a key role in the development of our Young Lions programme and the wider Player Pathway since he was appointed head coach of the England Development Programme in September 2014, and on behalf of the ECB and also the many young players who have benefited from his energy and expertise over the last three years, I’d like to thank him for his work – and wish him good luck at Somerset.

“We have already begun the process of finding a replacement in what is a busy and challenging winter for the Young Lions, with a Tri-Series in South Africa before Christmas followed by the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand early in the New Year.”

Young Lions:

  • Ethan Bamber (Middlesex)
  • Liam Banks (Warwickshire)
  • Tom Banton (Somerset, wk)
  • Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
  • Jack Davies (Middlesex, wk)
  • Adam Finch (Worcestershire)
  • Luke Hollman (Middlesex)
  • Will Jacks (Surrey)
  • Tom Lammonby (Somerset)
  • Felix Organ (Hampshire)
  • Dillon Pennington (Worcestershire)
  • Savin Perera (Middlesex)
  • Jack Plom (Essex)
  • Hamidullah Qadri (Derbyshire)
  • Tom Scriven (Hampshire)
  • Prem Sisodiya (Glamorgan)
  • Fin Trenouth (Somerset)
  • Roman Walker (Glamorgan)

Winter dates:

  • November 23 – December 10: Tri-Series against South Africa and Namibia in Potchefstroom.
  • January 15 – February 3: ICC Under-19s World Cup (New Zealand)