WORCESTERSHIRE spinner Ben Twohig has been put on stand-by by England for the forthcoming ICC Under 19s World Cup in Bangladesh.

Twohig is one of four players England will be able to call upon as a replacement if they are hit by injuries during the tournament during January and February.

The former Malvern College pupil has been part of England’s development programme this winter along with County colleagues Josh Tongue and Josh Dell.

They are forming part of the group of youngsters where the focus is on the post 2016 Under 19 World Cup period and this week were involved in the second of three winter camps at the Loughborough National Performance Centre.

Twohig has had previous involvement with the England programme and played for the under 17s against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

Worcestershire academy director Elliot Wilson said: “It is great news for him. I hope he might get the opportunity to go but, if he doesn’t, it is just good recognition that he is hopefully moving in the right direction.”

Worcestershire duo Joe Clarke and Ed Barnard were part of the England under 19s side who reached the 2014 World Cup semi-finals and have since graduated into the first-team squad.

Twohig has just started his first professional contract with the County until the end of the 2017 campaign along with Tongue.

Wilson said: “Ben is really enjoying himself. He has been accepted really well by the existing professionals that are here this winter and he has become one of the group very quickly.”

Twohig impressed when breaking into Worcestershire seconds last season as part of the 2014-2015 academy intake and returned his best figures of 6-74 against Lancashire in the Championship match at Southport.

Hampshire off-spinner Brad Taylor has been confirmed as England’s captain for the ICC Under 19s World Cup.