Hampshire prospect Joe Weatherley has been appointed to captain the England Under-19 cricket team on their forthcoming Australia tour.

The 18-year old opening batsman and spin bowler, from Shawford near Winchester, will be the third Hampshire youngster to skipper the Under-19s in recent years, writes MIKE VIMPANY.

Liam Dawson captained England in the 2007 U19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia, with Hamza Riazuddin wearing the skipper’s armband three years later.

England’s Easter trip Down Under is viewed at Lord’s as an integral part of preparations for the 2016 Youth CWC in Bangladesh.

Weatherley, who will be joined on the trip by Hampshire Academy spin team-mates Mason Crane and Brad Taylor, is understandably delighted to have been chosen as captain.

“To captain your country is a very special feeling, but it’s important that I contribute to winning performances by scoring runs at the top of the order too, against what I’m sure will be a tough Australian side.

“I’ll be looking to call upon my captaincy experience of the Hampshire age group sides and the Academy in the Southern Electric Premier League, but obviously this is a definite step up.

“The last time an U19 side went Down Under to play Australia was over ten years ago so it should be a special tour which will be made ever better if we come home victorious!”

England’s trip is based in Perth and includes a four-day international at the WACA, and a series of One-Day games in Bunbury and at Murdoch University.

“It’s going to be a demanding trip, but a dream come true for aspiring youngsters like myself,” Weatherley added.

“You hear so much about playing on the fast, bouncy pitches at the WACA – and now I’ve got the opportunity to do it.”

Weatherley has been a prominent junior age group player with Hampshire for the past ten years, having cut his teeth with the county while he was at pre-school at Twyford.

Now deputy head boy and in his A-level year at King Edward VI School, Weatherley has been in the England EDP frame for some time, having played at international level at under-17 age groups, and was vice-captain of the England team that played Sri Lanka last summer.

He went to the plush ICC training camp in Dubai with the Under-19 squad just before Christmas.