KIDDERMINSTER Victoria Cricket Club's rising talent Will Gifford has had his fine club and county form recognised with a call-up for the England under-19s.

The 18-year-old batsman will be part of a 14-man squad touring India for a series of Test matches and one-day games in the New Year.

Gifford will be joined by former Kidderminster favourite, wicketkeeper Steve Davies, who has been named as captain.

The call-up for Gifford came as a result of his brilliant batting for KVCC in their Birmingham Premier League divison one campaign where he scored 673 runs in 18 innings, including two unbeaten centuries.

He also impressed national selectors with his displays for Worcestershire seconds with whom he has recently signed a contract for next summer.

Gifford, who is currently studying a sports science degree at Loughborough University, was delighted to hear of the call-up.

He said: "It's fantastic news and I was delighted when I was told.

"I've played in the Worcester second team all year and I've done quite well, so the national selectors have obviously kept an eye on me and my county coaches must have been quite positive.

"I represented England at under-15 level and I've played one game for a national development XI against Bangladesh, but this should be a great experience for me."

The squad head off to Malaysia on December 28 to acclimatise to the temperature and the humidity before heading to India for a four-week tour.

They will take on India's under-19s as well as a host of local sides.

Davies, meanwhile, who is also a middle order left handed batsman, has greater experience of the international youth scene.

He too started out at Kidderminster and after playing in the premier division of the Birmingham League for both Himley and Old Hill during the last two seasons he has also made his first-class debut for Worcestershire.

KVCC's cricket development manager Sean Lloyd said it was a great honour for the club to have two of its most talented sons earning national recognition.

"Will was our outstanding batsman last season and his innings of 112 against Leamington was particularly memorable.

"Some of the knocks we've seen from him are as good as anything we saw all season which is amazing considering his age.

"We try to develop our youngsters and make them better players and Will and Steve has shown what can be achieved."