Shropshire pair land England cricket call

Shrewsbury's Ed Barnard and Wellington's Joe Clarke have both been selected in the 20-man party for next February's tournament.

And they are hoping that they will be able to continue to wow selectors in the coming months before the sqaud is whittled down to 15.

Wellington spokesman Adam Byram said: "Everyone at the club is delighted for Joe. He has played very well this season, and he has come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months."

"He has scored a lot of runs in the league this year, but it is just the way he is playing in general and there is a lot of interest in him from first class counties."

Clarke, 17, added: "I got a phone call and then a letter telling me I was in the squad. To go to the World Cup would be the pinnacle of my career so far. My family are really proud."

Clarke has scored over 600 runs for Wellington this season and he also made a century in an Under-17s international against Sri Lanka recently.

Barnard's father Andy, said: "Ed received a phone call telling him he was in the provisional squad which will be whittled down to 15 in November.

"For the lads who have been in the England Development Programme, of which Ed is one, to play in the World Cup has always been the aim so he's very pleased."

Barnard, who also plays for Shrewsbury School, has recently captained England Under-17s against Sri Lanka having recovered from a stress fracture in his back.

The England squad is set to meet up in October with a batting clinic in Sri Lanka also understood to be scheduled for later in the year.