Frocester’s Will Naish has been selected to represent the South and West at the prestigious ESCA (English Schools Cricket Association) Under 15s Bunbury Cricket Festival.

Naish – who also played in 2017 – has been named as captain for the festival which will be held at Millfield School, Somerset from 5th-10th August.

He is joined in the squad by Gloucestershire team-mate Hamdi Saleem (Downend).

The festival will feature matches against the three other regions – the Midlands, London and East and the North.

By taking part Naish and Saleem will follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in English cricket including current England Test captain Joe Root and England’s record Test runscorer Alastair Cook.

Saleem, a right-arm fast bowler, is currently the top wicket-taker in his Gloucestershire age group with eight wickets at 19.88 including a best of 4-41 v Berkshire. Naish, a right-arm seamer and top order batsman, has been returning from injury and made a run-a-ball 82 in the same game.

Gloucestershire head of talent pathway Tim Hancock said: “It is great to see two Gloucestershire lads in the squad and my congratulations go to both Will and Hamdi. They both work hard at their cricket and deserve this opportunity.

“Will is a genuine all-rounder, physically strong and combines this with a good character. This is obviously something the selectors picked up on at last year’s festival year and it is a great honour for him to be named as captain.

“Hamdi is a quiet lad but underneath that lies a fierce determination. He is a bowler with genuine pace and has developed control and consistency to go with this in recent years. It will be a great experience for them both.”