Oxfordshire’s Miles Hammond (below) has received the perfect 18th birthday present by being named in the England squad for the ICC Under 19 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates next month.

The Oxford-based off-spinner, who turned 18 on Saturday, is in a party of 15 flying out on January 31 for the competition.

Hammond, who made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire last season, will hope to shine in warm-up games against Europe and Bangladesh to earn his place in the team for the opening Group D game against hosts UAE on Friday, February 14.

England then face Sri Lanka and New Zealand, both in Dubai.