WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Kabir Ali and spinner Gareth Batty have been included by England in a 20-man provisional squad which will form the nucleus of players due to go to the Academy in Australia this winter.
Every player on the list will be filmed in action and have their fitness monitored on a regular basis by Academy director Rod Marsh and his coaching team before they choose the final squad that will be based in Adelaide before Christmas.
"All these chaps are professional cricketers already and we are just grooming them for the next step," said Marsh.
Rain just before the scheduled start delayed Worcestershire's Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash with leaders Essex at Southend today.
Essex had won the toss and elected to bat, with Worcestershire naming a second spinner, Matt Rawnsley, in their line-up, in place of David Leatherdale.
Rain washed out the first day of Worcestershire's Second XI Championship clash with Glamorgan at New Road yesterday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article