Hankins called-up for England Under 19s
12 July 2016
Gloucestershire’s George Hankins has been picked in the England Under 19 squad to face Sri Lanka Under 19s in two four-day matches and a Royal London One Day International series.
It is the first time the right-handed batsman – who is in the squad for both formats – has been called up, and he said he was delighted to receive the news.
He said: “It was a great feeling when I got the phone call, I’m chuffed to bits. I’m looking forward to meeting up with the boys and hopefully having a good month with them.”
For the full interview click below:
George will join up with the squad later this month ahead of a two-day warm-up match against the Unicorns at Loughborough on July 21-22.
The squad, who are led by Middlesex batsman Max Holden, then play Sri Lanka in two four-day matches - July 26-29 at Cambridge University’s Fenners ground and August 3-6 at Northampton.
The Royal London One-Day series begins on August 10 at Wormsley before a game at Chelmsford on August 13 and the final match at Canterbury on August 16 – which is under floodlights and live on Sky Sports.
George is one of three players, along with Essex bowler Aaron Beard and wicketkeeper Tom Moores (Nottinghamshre), who have played county cricket this year.
The Bitton-born batsman made his County Championship debut for Glos v Worcestershire in April 2016 and made his first half century against Glamorgan at the Brightside Ground in May.
The England squads feature only a handful of players who appeared in last year’s Under 19 World Cup, including Holden, Moores and Somerset pair George Bartlett and Ben Green
George missed out on selection for the World Cup despite a prolific season that saw him break Kent batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond’s record for most runs in a season at Millfield School.
But he says making the squad had remained a big goal.
He said: “For the last year or so it’s definitely been an aim for me – as well as getting into the Gloucestershire first team. Now that I’ve achieved both of them it’s a great feeling.
“I don’t know what to expect too much as it’s my first time in the squad and playing Sri Lanka. I just hope to go and enjoy it and take all in and hopefully it will go well on the pitch.”
George came through Gloucestershire’s age group teams and Academy before earning his first professional contract at the end of last season. He spent the winter at the Darren Lehman Academy in Australia where he was one of the top run scorers in Grade cricket.
Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson said: “I am delighted for George, he thoroughly deserves his call-up. He has worked very hard to develop his game both here and during the winter in Australia and it has been great to see him make the step up to the first team this season.
“The coaching staff and players here all wish him well for the next month or so.”
The England Under-19s will be coached by head of the England Development Programme Andy Hurry. To see the squads and fixtures in full please see below.
Squads
Four-day matches: Max Holden (Middlesex, captain), Josh Dell, Zen Malik, Josh Tongue, Ben Twohig, Ollie Westbury (all Worcestershire), George Hankins (Gloucestershire), George Bartlett (Somerset), Ollie Pope (wk), Amar Virdi (both Surrey), George Panayi (Warwickshire), Aaron Beard (Essex), Ed Barnes (Yorkshire), Josh Coughlin (Durham).
Royal London One-Day Series: Max Holden (Middlesex, captain), Josh Dell, Zen Malik, Josh Tongue, Ben Twohig (all Worcestershire), George Hankins (Gloucestershire), George Bartlett, Dom Bess, Ben Green (all Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey, wk), Aaron Beard (Essex), Ed Barnes (Yorkshire), Tom Moores (wk), Jack Blatherwick (both Nottinghamshire).
Fixtures
July 21-22 v Unicorns (Loughborough)
July 26-29 v Sri Lanka Under-19s (Cambridge)
August 3-6 v Sri Lanka Under-19s (Northampton)
August 10 v Sri Lanka Under-19s (Royal London One-Day Series, Wormsley)
August 13 v Sri Lanka Under-19s (Royal London One-Day Series, Chelmsford)
August 16 v Sri Lanka Under-19s (Royal London One-Day Series, Canterbury)
