Shiv Thakor to captain England U-19s on South Africa tour

Leicestershire batsman Shiv Thakor has been named as captain of a 15-strong England Under-19s squad for the tour of South Africa which begins in January.

The team will play two four-day Tests and five one-day internationals, and get under way with a two-day warm-up game in Cape Town on 23 January.

The first Test will be at Sahara Park Newlands, Cape Town from 27 January.

The tour, which runs until 21 February, is the start of preparations for the Under-19 World Cup in February 2014.

Coach Tim Boon, a former Leicestershire head coach, said: "I am really excited about the development opportunities for players selected to tour South Africa.

"Shiv Thakor is one of three Under-19s players. The squad includes five players with high potential who have graduated from the ECB's Under 17s England Development Programme.

"The learning curve will be steep with three international series prior to the next ICC Under-19s World Cup in February 2014."

England Under-19 squad for tour to South Africa in January-February 2013:

Shiv Thakor (Leicestershire, captain)

Tom Barber (Hampshire)

Ed Barnard (Worcestershire)

Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire)

Harry Finch (Sussex)

Ryan Gibson (Yorkshire)

Gavin Griffiths (Lancashire)

Miles Hammond (Gloucestershire)

Callum Jackson (Sussex)

Josh Shaw (Yorkshire)

Tom Shrewsbury (Gloucestershire)

Dominic Sibley (Surrey)

Olly Stone (Northamptonshire)

Jonny Tattersall (Yorkshire)

Kishen Velani (Essex)