Two young leg spin bowlers Mark Lawson, from Yorkshire, and Alex Tucker, from Surrey, have been picked to spend two weeks in October at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide, where they will undergo intensive wrist spin coaching from Terry Jenner - former Australian Test player and coach to Shane Warne.

The players were chosen from a group of 140 aspiring young leg spinners, who were coached this year by Jenner as part of the England and Wales Cricket Board's wrist spin development programme.

Courtesy of the Brian Johnson Memorial Trust (BJMT), Lawson and Tucker, chosen by Jenner as two of the most promising young bowlers in the group, were awarded Brian Johnston Wrist Spin Development Scholarships which will finance their trips to Australia. Accompanying them will be David Parsons, ECB National Coach for the West Midlands region.

Mark Lawson, 15, attends Castle Hall Grammar School in Mirfield and this season has represented England Under 15 against Denmark U17 and Ireland U17. Alex Tucker, 18, attends Royal Grammar School in Guildford and has represented his county in all age groups from Under 12 to Under 17.

Commenting on the awards, Hugh Morris, Performance Director of the ECB, said: "We are very grateful to have the support of the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust, whose scholarships have made these trips to Australia a reality. Both Mark and Alex will benefit hugely from Terry Jenner's vast experience and knowledge of wrist spin bowling.

"The ECB's wrist spin development programme was set up four years ago and is flourishing. Our target is to develop a wrist spin bowler for the England team by 2007, and for at least half of the 18 First Class Counties to have a contracted wrist spinner by the same year."

The Brian Johnston Memorial Trust (BJMT) was founded in 1995 by Brian Johnston's family and friends to help further the causes closest to Brian's heart - helping promising young cricketers in financial need and supporting cricket for the blind. The BJMT is now managed by The Lord's Taverners, with whom it joined forces in 1999.

© ECB