Hampton and Middlesex cricketer Blake Cullen has been named in the England U19 squad for their tour of the Caribbean. Josh Bartholomew reports on the Upper Sixth Former’s international call up:

Hampton First XI seamer Blake Cullen has been called up by the England U19 squad for their winter tour of the Caribbean, where the Young Lions will play in a 50-over tri-series against West Indies U19 and Sri Lanka U19. The series is the last competitive test for the young cricketers before the ICC U19 World Cup, which takes place in South Africa next year.

Blake, who bowls medium-fast and is a hard-hitting batsman, played for the national age-group side for the first time this summer, taking nine wickets in a tri-series against Bangladesh and India.

He was first selected for Middlesex’s Second XI as an U15, and has since been a regular fixture, playing against numerous county stalwarts. Blake was initially due to go on tour with the U19s last winter, but missed out due to a back injury. 

Blake was delighted with his U19 selection and is looking forward to the winter tour:

I’m thrilled to have been selected for the U19 England squad. Antigua isn’t a bad place to be spending November and December, and I’m really excited to be in that environment again. It will be a challenge to balance my cricket alongside School work but I’m looking forward to the tour.

 

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