THREE of Worcestershire’s promising youngsters will be part of the England Development Programme.

Paceman Josh Tongue, spinner Ben Twohig and batsman Josh Dell, all part of the 2014-2015 academy intake, will form part of the group where the focus will be on the post-2016 Under 19 World Cup period.

Twohig, who played for the EDP under 17s against Pakistan this year and is a reserve for the pre-World Cup camp in Sri Lanka, and Tongue have signed their first County professional contracts.

County academy coach Elliot Wilson said: “It’s exciting times and I’m pleased for all three of them. There are two parts to the EDP programme this year. The full programme is the group of players they are preparing for the Under 19s World Cup in February and March.

“Then they have also identified a group of 10 to work underneath this group with an eye on the next 18 months.

“The three guys have been invited into the group with an eye on the future although Ben has been put on standby for the World Cup in Bangladesh. They will do three camps at Loughborough.”