NEWBRIDGE wicket-keeper batsman Alex Horton will tour Sri Lanka with England Young Lions this month to prepare for the World Cup, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 17-year-old Glamorgan prospect has been selected in the under-19s squad for a five-match limited-over series in Colombo.

The tour is preparation for the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean that starts in January.

Horton, who signed a five-year contract with Glamorgan last summer, impressed with his glovework and a 48-ball 53 for England in their series against the West Indies in September.

Young Lions head coach, Richard Dawson, said: “We are looking forward to touring Sri Lanka in what should be a challenging and exciting five-match ODI series.

“It’s a great opportunity for our squad to experience touring the sub-continent. It will give them a chance to play in a pressurised environment against their international peers in unfamiliar conditions.

“This trip is an integral part of their future development and will also provide good preparation leading into the ICC Men’s U19s World Cup in the Caribbean starting in January 2022.”

The first one-dayer is on Tuesday, November 30 with the fifth on Friday, December 10.

Young Lions Squad

Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire)
Josh Baker (Worcestershire)
Sonny Baker (Somerset)
Nathan Barnwell (Surrey)
George Bell (Lancashire)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Josh Boyden (Lancashire)
Ben Cliff (Yorkshire)
James Coles (Sussex)
Harry Crawshaw (Durham)
Alex Horton (Glamorgan)
Dan Ibrahim (Sussex)
Will Luxton (Yorkshire)
Tom Prest (Hampshire)
James Rew (Somerset)
James Sales (Northamptonshire)
Fateh Singh (Nottinghamshire)
George Thomas (Somerset)