Yorkshire's thriving and successful Academy provides half of the England under-17 squad to visit the Australian Academy from the 1st-17th April, 2001.

Three of the youngsters are in fact under 16 and recently returned from a very successful tour of Cape Town with Yorkshire Schools last month.

Commenting on the selections, Yorkshire's Cricket Development Manager Steve Oldham said: " It is an exciting time in the Broad Acres with so many talented young cricketers and I would expect all seven to make their mark in first-class cricket in the next few years."

Joe Sayers, captain of England at Under-15 level in 1999, goes up to Oxford University in October and will undoubtedly feature in their side next season. Six of the boys will play for the Academy team in the Yorkshire Premier League and Sayers, Gilbert and Broadbent have already appeared for Yorkshire seconds.

Joe Sayers 17 LHB (RAM) Academy St Mary's Menston Andrew Gale 17 LHB Academy Heckmondwike Grammar Chris Gilbert 17 RAF (RHB) Academy Scarborough College David Barwick 17 Leg Spinner Hull CC Wilberforce College, Hull Tim Bresnan 16 RHB/RAF Academy Castleford High School Dan Broadbent 16 Off Spin (LHB) Academy Rydale School, York David Stiff 16 RAF (RHB) Academy Batley Grammar School

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