Buck in World Cup squad

Paceman Nathan Buck has earned a place in England under 19s World Cup squad in New Zealand.

The ECB today announced the squad for the tournament which runs from January 16-30 2010, and Buck made the 15-man party after impressing selectors and management since he made his debut against South Africa last winter.

He also shone when appearing for Leicestershire last season after finishing his exams and the call-up is due reward for the excellent progress Buck has made.

The bi-annual tournament involves 16 teams with England facing world champions India in the group stages. They will also face Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

England u19 coach Mark Robinson (Professional Cricket Manager for Sussex ) has been seconded to the role for the duration of the tournament and will be spending time with the squad over the next four weeks getting to know the players before selecting a captain.

The 15 players will undergo an intense period of training in the run up to the tournament including fitness and skill work at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

There will also be team building in Cardiff, leadership challenges at the army base at Catterick, Yorkshire, and fitness and fielding at Manchester United's training ground at Carrington.

The squad will leave on New Year’s Day for Wellington, New Zealand, where they will spend a week acclimatising before reporting to Christchurch for the start of the World Cup. England will play two warm up matches against Papua New Guinea u19s on 11th January and New Zealand u19s on 12th January.

England’s first match in the group stages will be against Hong Kong on January 16 followed by Afghanistan on January 18. Current u19 World Cup holders India will be the last game of the group stages on January 20. The top two teams in each group will progress to the quarter finals.

It is a great honour for Buck to be selected. Elite Player Development Manager John Abrahams said: "The u19 World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for the squad to test themselves against some of the most talented young cricketers in the world.

“We will be working hard over the next six weeks to ensure that we are able to produce our best cricket in New Zealand ."

England’s best result at the ICC U19 World Cup was in 1998 when they defeated New Zealand to win the tournament.

Everyone at Leicestershire CCC wishes Nathan all the best. Selected games will be shown on ESPN Star Sports.

Please keep checking www.leicestershireccc.co.uk for updates of Nathan's and England's progress throughout the tournament.

Full squad:

Michael Bates Hampshire

Paul Best Warwickshire

Danny Briggs Hampshire

Nathan Buck Leicestershire

Jos Buttler Somerset

Chris Dent Gloucestershire

Matthew Dunn Surrey

Calum Haggett Somerset

Ateeq Javid Warwickshire

Jack Manuel Worcestershire

David Payne Gloucestershire

Azeem Rafiq Yorkshire

Joe Root Yorkshire

Ben Stokes Durham

James Vince Hampshire