head coach jon lewis says jack haynes is “lapping up” his first taste of england under-19 cricket and can only benefit from the experience going forward.
worcestershire batsman haynes and his county colleague, paceman adam finch – both academy products – were part of the side which defeat south africa under-19s by nine wickets in the first ‘test’ at scarborough.
it was the first test success for the under-19s since they beat the proteas in 2013 when ed barnard was part of the winning team.
finch had represented the under-19s before, including in the winter icc world cup, and bowled well in both innings and deserved more than his one wicket in the game.
but for haynes it was a first call-up at this level and he made a useful 16 with three boundaries in his only knock of the game.
lewis, the former gloucestershire and sussex bowler, said: “it’s very different putting on an england jersey, a different pressure playing for your country.
“as a result of the injuries to tom lammonby and greg willows, we’ve brought in two 17-year-old and ben charlesworth and jack haynes, both of whom are available for next year’s world cup, are now having the experience of playing international cricket.
“they are lapping it up. they’ve had a winning experience, and now get another training period, and can they repeat?”
another worcestershire player in paceman dillon pennington, also a member of the winter world cup squad, was amongst a group of players not selected after breaking into the senior side at New Road.
lewis said: “the other lads are kicking on which is what we want as a programme. i said to will jacks, dillon pennington, harry brook, henry brookes ‘i don’t want to see you, i want you to be playing first team cricket’ and henry’s already been picked for the lions squad which means this programme is working.
“we’re adding value to the counties and we’re helping to push on young players by giving them broader and different experiences.”
haynes and finch will hope to again be part of the side for the second ‘test’ which gets underway at the emirates riverside next monday.
england bowled out south africa for 161 in their second innings at scarborough and required just 89 to win, a target they reached for the loss of one wicket.
finch again took the new ball and ended with figures of 12-3-32-0 to add to his 15-4-41-1 in the first innings – an overall analysis of 27-7-73-1.
