Cricket Australia have selected four Western Australians amongst a 26-player squad for the upcoming Australian Under 19s training camp in Brisbane next month.
WA Quartet selected for UK Tour Training Camp
The camp at the National Cricket Centre, which runs from July 11-18, will give the players the opportunity to cement their spot for the upcoming Under 19s tour to the United Kingdom in September, with a 16-player touring party set to be announced on July 28.
The tour will pit the two nations against each other in underage cricket once again, after they battled it out in a multi-format series in Brisbane earlier this year.
Fast bowling pair Josh Vernon and Mahli Beardman have been included after showing promising signs at the Under 19s National Championships last December.
Vernon, a right-arm quick who hails from the small country town of Dampier, was impressive with the new ball, taking eight wickets in his five appearances.
His close mate Beardman, who also grew up in the Pilbara region, showed he’s an exciting prospect for the future, capturing five wickets in five matches at an under of average of under 15.
The selection in the squad continues the good news for the duo, after both received state rookie contracts for WA last month.
The pair have been joined in the squad by Melville’s Declan Power and batting prodigy Corey Wasley, who also featured for WA during the National Championships.
Power, a left arm orthodox spinner with an abundance of skill, produced a brilliant individual tournament for WA, finishing as the leading wicket-taker at the Championships with 14 wickets at 12.71 including a best of 4-29 in the semi-final against Northern Territory.
Wasley, an attacking-left hander who has dominated Alcohol. Think Again Premier Cricket for Rockingham Mandurah over the past couple of seasons, was a regular contributor with the bat during the tournament, producing 213 runs at 35.50 over six innings including dashing knock of 75 against Victoria Country.
Meanwhile, Wasley and Power have also been chosen for a seven-day trip to Sri Lanka, with Cricket Australia using the tour to offer Under 19s cricketers the opportunity to develop their skills in subcontinent conditions.
Talent Development Manager - Male Programs David Fitzgerald said:
“WA Cricket is thrilled to see Mahli, Declan, Josh, and Corey recognised for their hard work they have put in over the last 12 months.
"It’s fantastic to see our athletes getting rewarded with higher honours, and I have no doubt they will take the opportunity with both hands.
“To have four players included in the squad highlights the work that WA Cricket has put into pathway cricket, with all four players featuring heavily in those programs in recent seasons.
“For Declan and Corey, the Sri Lankan camp will be a wonderful opportunity to experience new conditions, which will be valuable for their development.
“For Josh and Mahli, this is another step in their careers, and we can’t wait to see how they progress in our state program over the next couple of years.”