YOUNG Worcestershire duo Dillon Pennington and Adam Finch have jetted out to New Zealand to begin their preparations for the ICC U19 World Cup.
The Worcestershire pace aces are part of a 15-strong England squad who flew out on Tuesday ahead of their bid for glory during the next month.
Pennington and Finch were members of the Young Lions squad which took part in a training camp during the first part of the winter and a Tri-Series against South Africa and Namibia in Potchefstroom.
They are both part of Worcestershire’s 2017/18 Academy intake under coach Elliot Wilson.
England reached the final of the Tri-Series with a 100 per cent record before narrowly losing to the Proteas.
Pennington was part of the county’s satellite academy at Shropshire for two years, working with former Worcestershire player Paul Pridgeon.
He joined the Academy halfway through 2015/16 and was then included as part of the 2016/17 and now 2017/18 intake.
The 6ft, 5in Pennington plays Birmingham League cricket for Shrewsbury.
He made his Seconds debut in the three-day friendly with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College earlier this summer.
Finch, in his second year with the Academy, made his England U19s debut this summer and played in two ODIs against India.
He took his first five-wicket haul for the Seconds against a powerful Yorkshire side at RGS Worcester.
Finch won the The Damian D’Oliveira Academy Player of The Year Award.
Harry Brook of Yorkshire has been appointed captain of the England squad.
Worcestershire chairman Stephen Taylor said: “I’m sure Dillon and Adam will be excited about what lies ahead and we wish them well.
“It can only enhance them as players with their development being part of the England squad for such a major tournament.
“They follow on from Ed Barnard and Joe Clarke, who played in the 2014 World Cup, and we hope they end up having the same success.”
ENGLAND SCHEDULE:
Warm-up matches: January 9 – Ireland (Christchurch); January 11 – Sri Lanka (Lincoln).
World Cup group matches: January 15 – Namibia (Queenstown); January 18 – Bangladesh (Queenstown); January 20 – Canada (Queenstown).