Paul Pridgeon says Worcestershire CCC batsman Jack Haynes’ development as a player will only be enhanced by his involvement with England Under-19s.
Pridgeon, the chairman of the Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group, has seen the likes of Ed Barnard, Dillon Pennington and Adam Finch reap the benefits of their spells at Under-19 level for their country.
Haynes is currently preparing for England’s Tri-Series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka in the Caribbean next month.
The squad for the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa will be chosen after that series.
Pridgeon said: “Getting more international experience is all part of Jack’s learning curve and it is giving him a good opportunity to play at a good level and learn.
“We’ve had people in our current squad in Barny, Dillon and Finchy who played in recent Under-19 World Cups and it helped to enhance their development.
“I read that Dillon credits the fact his rise to first team cricket was helped by playing so much Under-19 cricket for England and I think he is probably right.
“Jack is quite a grounded lad, he is intelligent, he knows that it is not going to be a walk in the park.
“He knows he is going to have work hard to achieve things. Given the level of ability the boy has, he has got every chance of getting there.
“I’ve seen a lot of him and I rate him very highly technically – as do a lot of other people.”
Haynes made his senior debut for Worcestershire during the tail-end of last season, appearing in the tour game versus Australia and the final four Specsavers County Championship matches.
Pridgeon said: “He wasn’t fazed by first team cricket. A lot of young players come in and they are intimidated by it a little bit. He certainly wasn’t.”
