ST Helens cricketer Matthew Hurst has been chosen to join the Young Lions training group ahead of England Men's U19 tour to Australia early next year.

Two series between England Men’s U19 and Australia Men’s U19 have been confirmed, with the Young Lions heading to Australia in January and in turn hosting their counterparts across August and September next year.

As part of this, the Young Lions training group for the winter has been announced, with the group having already spent two weeks together at a training camp in Abu Dhabi.

An initial group of 22 was selected for that camp, with a smaller squad to be selected from this pool of players for the month-long overseas tour of Australia in the new year, which will consist of two Youth Tests, three Youth ODIs and one Youth IT20 across January and February.

The tours will be led by new Young Lions Head Coach Michael Yardy, who will be joined by Kadeer Ali (Batting Coach), Chris Brown (Spin Bowling Coach), Simon Cook (Fast Bowling Coach) and Chris Read (Fielding & WK Coach).

England Men’s U19 will host Australia Men’s U19 in summer 2023, with two Youth Tests and five Youth ODIs across August and September.

Hurst plays his club cricket for Leigh CC after starting out at Newton le Willows CC and recently finished studying at Winstanley College.

Throughout 2022 he has featured for Lancashire’s Second XI, notching up a century in the Second XI Championship win away at Leicestershire this summer.

He scored 490 league runs this season for Leigh in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition Premier League at an average of 32.67.

Young Lions head coach, Michael Yardy, said: “At this level it’s really important that we’re able to offer a range of experiences that can add value to a young player’s development, and the training camp that we’re currently running in Abu Dhabi, plus competitive fixtures in the new year against Australia, is a good balance.

“It’s really exciting for the players selected, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with the group, working with everyone and getting to know the group better.

"We also look forward to hosting Australia in the summer of 2023, it’s important to test yourself against your peers and both series will provide important learning for us.”

Young Lions 2022/23 Schedule

January 6-January 8: UK Training Camp for Australia squad

January 18-February 21: England U19 Overseas Tour, Australia; 2 x Youth Tests, 3 x Youth ODIs and 1 x Youth IT20

August 26-September 16: England U19 v Australia U19 Tour; 2 x Youth Tests and 5 x Youth ODIs