Nottinghamshire pair to tour Australia with England Under-17s

Two members of the Nottinghamshire Elite Squad have been selected to tour Australia with the England Under-17s.

Bilal Shafayat and Samit Patel, both aged 16, will fly out on April 1 to take part in the tour which is part of the World Class Performance Programme.

During their time Down Under they will further develop their cricket skills and fitness at the Commonwealth Bank Australian Cricket Academy and play matches against South Australia Under-17s and the Australia Under-17 Development Squad.

Notts Youth Development Officer Chris Tolley said: "The trip will be terrific experience for them and will get them used to working and playing in foreign conditions."

Both players have been involved in the youth development system at Trent Bridge since they were 10-years-old.

Bilal is a talented batsman wicket-keeper while Samit, a left arm spinner and right-handed batsman, claimed the first ever BBC Test Match Special Award for Young Player of the Year for his performances last season.

The Notts Elite Squad is made up of the most promising teenagers in the county taken from the club's various representative teams.