SOMERSET youngsters George Bartlett and Ben Green have both been included in a 16-man England Under-19s touring party to play a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India in Colombo before Christmas.

While Green has already played at this level, top-order batsman Bartlett will be making his debut and his selection is reward for a string of excellent performances for the South West in the England Development Programme (EDP) under-17s Super 4s competition last month, where he amassed 237 runs across four matches at an average of nearly 60.

Both players are currently on the Somerset Academy at the County Ground and academy director, Steve Snell said: “It is great news that both Ben and George have been selected to tour with the under 19s.

“Ben has experience of touring Australia last year with the 19s, but for George it will be his first opportunity at this level.

“Both have had excellent summers, in particular with the bat.

“Ben has scored three competitive hundreds in second eleven and minor counties cricket and has been remarkably consistent for someone so young.

“He continues to threaten with the ball whenever given the opportunity.

“George captained Somerset under 17s astutely throughout the summer and demonstrated the ability to score big hundreds for the county and also at when given the chance at representative level, he was the leading batsman at the super 4s comp.

“George also displayed the skill and aptitude to succeed at the next level, highlighted perfectly by an enterprising 89 scored for Somerset second XI against a strong Yorkshire side.”

Snell added: “Everybody at Somerset is delighted that George and Ben will be showcasing their undoubted tablet in England colours.”

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.”