Worcestershire CCC Academy player Jack Haynes has been included in the squad for the pre-season camp in Abu Dhabi next month.
The 17-year-old batsman will join up with the County’s professionals for the 11-day trip which gets underway on March 8.
Haynes has been working with Academy coach Elliot Wilson as part of the County’s 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 intakes.
The Malvern College pupil captained the Midlands side in the Bunburys in 2015 and was part of the squad which won the T20 competition 12 months later.
Then last summer he played a major role in the Midlands completing a Super Fours 50 overs and T20 double when Wilson coached the side.
Haynes also skippered the England Schools Under-16 side on their tour of Sri Lanka last March and Worcestershire Under-17s before making his Second Eleven debut later in the summer.
Now he is to be given the opportunity to travel to the UAE and reap the benefits of working alongside the senior pros.
Last year two other youngsters in paceman Pat Brown,who went onto play the final four County Championship matches, and batsman Josh Dell were named in the squad.
New Head coach Kevin Sharp confirmed: “Jack will be part of the squad going to Abu Dhabi and it is a wonderful opportunity for him to work with the pros and get some valuable experience.
“It has fallen at a time study-wise where he is able to take those few days away and his family is very supportive of that.
“His dad (Gavin Haynes) is obviously a former player and coaches on the Academy as well so they are happy for him to go
“Jack is going to be a fine young player, he is on the Academy and he has got great potential.
“He made scores as a 14-15-year-old in practice matches pre-season amongst the pros and Academy.
“He has got all that in the bag behind him and he is a mature lad for his age.”
It was Sharp who gave Haynes his debut in the Seconds last season.
He said: “The age scenario is not so much an issue for me as long as you know they are capable.
“Although he probably didn’t make the scores he would have liked to have done last summer (in the Second Eleven), I’m sure he will do in the future.”
Wicket-keeper batsman Alex Milton will also be part of the County squad for what will be their now regular pre-season trip to the UAE.
Milton signed his first professional contract with Worcestershire at the end of last season.
He is on a University Scholarship for 2018 which the County are helping to finance as he completes his studies at Cardiff MCCU.
Then the 21-year-old will then join up with the staff at New Road full-time for the 2019 campaign.
Sharp said: “Alex has managed his diary so he can come on the trip. He is a very conscientious young man.
“He is working very hard with his cricket and his Uni stuff and he has got an important final year – and is also Uni cricket captain.
“He has got a lot on his plate but he is coming with us and may do a bit of studying for an hour or two!”
Sharp said pace duo Dillon Pennington and Adam Finch will be allowed to catch up with their studies while the squad is away after a busy winter with the England Under-19s.
He said: “They’ve had such a long winter away from their studies. They’ve been to South Africa and then the Under-19s World Cup in New Zealand.
“They has missed a bit of school and Uni time so they just need a bit of a catch-up and they probably need a little bit of a break.
“Dillon and Adam are still young men and growing and they need a little bit of a break from it although they are in and around the squad at the moment.”
Worcestershire will be missing three of their senior players when they fly out to the UAE.
Ross Whiteley will be in Pakistan Super League action whilst Brett D’Oliveira and Joe Clarke will be on duty for the North versus South in 50 over series in the Caribbean.
The squad heading to Abu Dhabi is:
Joe Leach (c)
Ben Cox (w)
Ed Barnard
Pat Brown
Tom Fell
Jack Haynes
Steve Magoffin
Alex Milton
Daryl Mitchell
Charlie Morris
George Rhodes
George Scrimshaw
Jack Shantry
Josh Tongue
Ben Twohig
Ollie Westbury
—–
not part of squad
Moeen Ali (England)
Joe Clarke (North-South)
Brett D’Oliveira (North-South and MCC v Champion County)
Travis Head (not linked up yet with County)
Ross Whiteley (Pakistan Super League)
