England Under-19s: Meet the 15-man squad aiming for World Cup glory

ADAM OLIVER takes a look at the players selected to represent England in the Under-19 World Cup, with help from captain and Hampshire academy product Tom Prest

England Under 19s get their World Cup campaign off and running on Sunday (January 16) against reigning world champions Bangladesh.

But who are the young men who have been sent to the Caribbean to represent their country and try and claim the first title since 1998?

The Cricketer runs through the squad, with input from captain Tom Prest.

Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)

Ahmed made his List A debut in July 2021 for Leicestershire in the Royal London Cup at the age of 17. Four years previously, at age 13, Ahmed dismissed Ben Stokes when he was invited down to the nets. He was also selected in the County Select XI to face India and found fame on social media after an outrageous googly in Sri Lanka dismissed Traveen Mathew.

Prest says: "He’s got a very good googly. In Sri Lanka, he bowled a couple of good ones to the tail which got a bump on social. He’s a dynamic all-round player."

Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire)

Aspinwall is a right-arm medium bowler who is currently playing for Lancashire second XI. The 17-year-old had played eight matches for the under-19 side prior to the trip to the Caribbean, with a best performance of 3 for 28 against the West Indies.

Prest says: "He’s a good hit-the-pitch bowler in the middle overs and at the death. He’s quite an explosive hitter at the end of an innings."

Nathan Barnwell (Surrey)

The medium pace bowler has impressed in recent under-19 internationals, picking up 10 wickets from five matches against Sri Lanka and West Indies. The Surrey man will be heading into the tournament in good form with the ball in hand.

Prest says: "Right-arm quick. Quite an explosive bowler and can hit a few good bombs at the end with the bat."

^{Captain Prest will be a threat with bat and ball (James Chance/Getty Images)}

George Bell (Lancashire)

The powerful middle-order batsman has had a tough time of things in recent appearances, with the Sri Lanka tour only bringing 11 runs across the three matches. However, a good series against the West Indies suggests the runs will come.

Prest says: "Knocks it around nicely for ones and twos - he probably won’t like me saying that. He’s a man you can rely on, under pressure."

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire, vice-captain)

The Warwickshire batter made his first-class debut against Yorkshire in September of 2021. Key to getting the Young Lions off to a good solid start during the powerplay.

Prest says: "A very aesthetically pleasing left-handed batsman. He is a very good trainer in the nets and bowls some tidy left-arm spin."

Josh Boyden (Lancashire)

The left-arm seamer continues the strong core of players from Emirates Old Trafford. Offering something different with a left-arm angle, Boyden bowled superbly in Sri Lanka, taking five wickets.

Prest says: "Left-arm swing bowler. Very accurate and has taken a lot of wickets for us opening the bowling."

^{Somerset's George Thomas (James Chance/Getty Images)}

Ben Cliff (Yorkshire)

The Halifax native forced his way into the reckoning thanks to an encouraging tour of Sri Lanka, which included taking 3 for 43 in the fourth ODI. Cliff is a right-arm medium-pace seamer who played three County Championship second XI matches for Yorkshire in 2021, taking five wickets.

James Coles (Sussex)

The allrounder made his first-class debut for Sussex against Surrey at The Oval last summer, picking up three wickets in the match including those of Rory Burns and Ben Foakes. A usual first-change bowler for the Under 19s, he will be key after the powerplay.

Prest says: "A middle-order bat and bowls some accurate left-arm spin."

Alex Horton (Glamorgan)

The wicketkeeper plays his cricket for Glamorgan 2nd XI. With a solid knock of 36 last time out for the under 19s before the flight to St Kitt’s, he will go into the tournament in the Caribbean in a confident mood.

Prest says: "A very good keeper. He’s burgled me a few wickets down the legside in the past. He’s a good man to come in at six, seven or eight to get us to a good score or hit some big blows at the end."

^{Nathan Barnwell of Surrey (James Chance/Getty Images)}

Will Luxton (Yorkshire)

Luxton opened the batting last time out on the tour of Sri Lanka and scored a match-winning 84 not out, the perfect way to kick off preparation ahead of the tournament.

Prest says: "Will strikes it cleanly and can bat for a long period of time."

Tom Prest (Hampshire, captain)

The skipper made his first-class debut for Hampshire against Essex in July 2021. Offers plenty with bat and ball, though he will want to add a few more runs to the wickets he has taken for his team recently.

Prest says: "Top-order stroke maker and bowls a bit of right-arm off-spin as well."

James Rew (Somerset)

A possible wicketkeeping option, the left-handed batter plays for Somerset second XI and was chosen for the Select County XI against India. A 50 on the tour of Sri Lanka with the Under-19s gave a glimpse of his talent.

Prest says: "He’s got all the shots: a lot of sweeps, reverse sweeps, paddles. He can play every shot in the book and he’s a good fielder too."

^{Alex Horton plays second XI cricket for Glamorgan (James Chance/Getty Images)}

James Sales (Northamptonshire)

The seamer is more of a front-line bowler than a batsman, chipping in with crucial wickets in the middle overs of a game, but can certainly contribute with bat in hand.

Prest says: "He hits the pitch hard when he bowls, he’s pretty good with the new ball and comes in at the end and hits a long ball."

Fateh Singh (Nottinghamshire)

Made his List A debut for Nottinghamshire in August 2021. The off-spin bowler will keep a lid on opposing batsmen during the key stages of a match.

Prest says: "A good left-arm spinner. He’s got a lot of changeups with pace and he’s trying to work on a carrom ball as well."

George Thomas (Somerset)

Opening the batting, Thomas has been Mr Consistent for the Under-19s with no single-figure scores in his eight games before making the trip to the Caribbean - with a highest score of 59 not out. 

Prest says: "Explosive top-order batter. A big boy and he hits the ball hard."