The NatWest England Under 19 team today named a 12-man squad for the first two Tests in their forthcoming three Test series against Australia Under 19s later this month.

Essex wicket-keeper James Foster and Durham pace bowler Ian Hunter are added to the squad which lost two-one to Australia in the recent one-day international series with Mark Wallace (Glamorgan) and Giles Haywood (Sussex) stepping down.

Surrey's Michael Carberry, who was drafted into the one-day squad after Yorkshire batsman John Inglis dropped out through injury, retains his place in the squad for the Test series. Durham's Michael Gough will captain the side as he did in the one-day series.

Announcing the squad, NatWest England Under 19s Coach Tim Boon said: ``James Foster deserves his chance as wicketkeeper after peforming impressively over the past two seasons both with the gloves and the bat. But Mark Wallace will still be very much in thoughts for the U19 World Cup this winter.

``Ian Hunter recently made his CGU National League debut for Durham on the back of five and seven wicket hauls for the second team and he will strengthen our bowling attack.''

Three members of the squad - Ian Bell, Graeme Bridge and Michael Carberry - will be eligible for selection for this winter's tour of Malaysia followed by the Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The final squad will be announced in the autumn.

NatWest England Under 19 Squad for 1st and 2nd Test

*Michael Gough    ( Durham )
Ian Bell          ( Warwickshire )
Graeme Bridge     ( Durham )
Matthew Bulbeck   ( Somerset )
Michael Carberry  ( Surrey )
Richard Dawson    ( Yorkshire )
Ian Flanagan      ( Essex )
+James Foster     ( Essex )
Ian Hunter        ( Durham )
Chris Liptrot     ( Worcestershire )
Richard Logan     ( Northamptonshire )
Graham Napier     ( Essex )

Tim Boon          Manager / Coach
Neil Foster       Coach

NatWest Under 19 Test Series

1st Test Match v. Australia Under 19, Edgbaston
17th - 20th August 1999

2nd Test Match v. Australia Under 19, Bristol
23rd - 26th August 1999

3rd Test Match v. Australia Under 19, Riverside
1st - 4th September 1999

For further information contact:

Andrew Walpole,
ECB Media Relations Officer
phone: 0171 432 1252/0385 527102