Oxfordshire Under 19s have jetted out to Australia for a seven-match tour of the country.
The team will play five matches in New South Wales and Canberra, before completing their tour in Western Australia with two more games, plus a visit to the Ashes.
More than £20,000 has been raised through various fund-raising initiatives and sponsorships since the tour was planned in February, and head coach Darryl Woods has been delighted with the effort.
“We are taking a team of bright young stars of the future with us,” he said. “Hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves.”
FIXTURES Monday, Dec 6: Hyde Hunters Hill (Twenty20). Tuesday, Dec 7: Knox Grammar School. Thursday, Dec 9: Manly Warrangah District Under 20. Friday, Dec 10: University of Sydney (Bradman Oval, Bowral). Monday, Dec 13: ACT Select XI (Canberra). Wednesday, Dec 15: Belridge/John Forest Academy, Perth. Thursday, Dec 16: Kent Street Academy (Perth).
Tour squad: H Smith, E Gross (capt), M Woods (Gt & L Tew), N Hume, J Harris (Challow), T Geeson-Brown, G Rendall, Z Hamid (Oxford), A Hubbert (Min Lovell), D Johnson (Ox Downs), R Simpson (Bic & NO), S Ryan (Banbury XX), L Sabin (Banbury), M Beard (Thame Tn), R Cook (v-capt, Didcot), A Bowles (Shrivenham), J Todd (Horspath).
l FORMER Oxford seamer Jack Brooks gave a bowling session for the county’s up-and-coming youngsters at Oxford Brookes University.
Brooks, who now plays first-class cricket for Northants, put ten youngsters through their paces.
TOM (34no) and Simon Boardman (19no) helped Westbury to a six-wicket win in three overs against Marston in Division 2 of the Banbury Indoor League.
RESULTS Marston 69-4 (10 ovs, T Brooks 31no), Westbury 74-0 (3 ovs, T Boardman 34no).
Cropredy A 104-4 (10 ovs, R Clapp 35no, M Twynham 28no), Sandford A 93 (9.3 ovs H vab Reen 3-20).
Charlbury 137-3 (10 ovs, A Rump 32no, S Barras 28no), Preston Capes 109 (8 ovs, M Daynes 29, B Packman 20).
Hk Norton 112-4 (10 ovs, A Stanley 29no, A Webb 20no), Radway 113-3 (8.2 ovs, S Douthwaite 25no).
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