worcestershire ccc have had a quartet of players selected from their academy pathway programme for english schools cricket association under-15s bunbury cricket festival for the fourth year running.
josh baker, rehan edavaleth, henry cullen and joe miszkowski have all been chosen for the midlands squad who will be participating in the 32nd bunbury festival at millfield school in the week commencing august 6.
it is more evidence of the excellent work of worcestershire ccc academy coach elliot wilson and the other New Road coaches to equal the achievement of 2015, 2016 2017 in having a quartet of players chosen.
three years ago jack haynes, musharraf shazad, ewan wilcox and ryan wheldon were called up.
twelve months later it was haynes for a second time – as captain – zain hassan, matt davies and xavier clarke, the brother of joe who were chosen.
then in 2017 it was dan holland, alex hinkley, pete clark and lewis evans who were selected.
of the current quartet, cullen is a full member of the academy and the other three are part of the worcestershire pathway.
the bunbury festival showcases the skills of 56 of the most talented england under-15 players in the country.
david english’s annual bunbury festival has helped discover and nurture many talented cricketers.
more than 300 bunburys have gone onto play first class cricket – and over 60 have represented england.
elliot wilson confirmed: “the bunburys midlands selection was made this week and we’ve had four of our lads selected this year.
“josh baker, who is from astwood bank cricket club and attends malvern college, a left arm spinner.
“rehan edavaleth is actually an under-14s player, also attends malvern college, plays for barnards green cc, and joined our programme two years ago, having previously been with staffordshire. he is an opening batsman and an off spinner.
“henry cullen, who is on the full academy, is a keeper and joe miszkowski is one of our under-15 batters who has been such a good performer all summer and he has performed his way into the squad.
“he attends bromsgrove school and plays for kidderminster cc and is a top order right-handed batter.
“henry cullen is on the full academy and the rest are part of the development programme.”
wilson added: “it is a credit to what we are trying to do here, to have that sort of recognition but it is still so early in the development of these lads.
“we’ve had groups of four go to bunburys in the past and maybe only one or two have gone on to make the academy.
“but it is a great experience for the four lads and great for the four clubs they play for to get this recognition.”