Alex's all-round success (From Gazette Series)

Alex's all-round success

GLOUCESTERSHIRE CCC starlet Alex Gidman has received the biggest boost of his young career so far after being named as the England A captain for the tour of Malaysia and India.

Often touted as the county's next big thing, the hugely promising all-rounder has been left in no doubt over the England selectors' belief in his talents. Gidman, 22, is to lead a 15-man squad of National Academy cricketers, and will depart on Monday for Malaysia and then on to India, where the A team will compete for the Duleep Trophy, India's principal domestic competition, before facing three one-day matches against India A.

The squad consists of the 14 players involved in this winter's academy, plus Kent batsman Ed Smith, who featured for the full national side in the summer test series against South Africa. Also on board is Glamorgan pace ace Simon Jones, involved with the academy in a desperate attempt to get over the cruciate knee injury that has kept him out of the national side for over a year.

Gidman was originally drafted into the Loughborough-based England Academy in July after a whirlwind season with Gloucestershire which saw him cement a regular place in the first team. Shortlisted by academy director and England selector Rod Marsh, the youngster has been held in high regard after some impressive performances with both bat and ball.

One highlight was his swashbuckling 61 against Surrey in the Twenty20 Cup semi-final, which almost salvaged a perilous position for the Gladiators, who eventually lost to their one-day rivals by just seven runs.

England chairman of selectors David Graveney has already outlined the qualities that have made Gidman captain, identifying him as a natural leader and outstanding cricketer who has made a real impression since first arriving at Loughborough.

He is also the most experienced first-class cricketer at the academy after Smith, and his skills as an all-rounder seem to have set him apart from most of the other players.

Gidman is now considered a near-certainty to be a full England international within the next 12 months having only just missed out on the one-day squad that will face the West Indies in the Caribbean in April and May.

Graveney has indicated that he was certainly within the selectors' thoughts for that squad, and has named Gidman alongside Rikki Clarke and Ian Blackwell as a group of up-and-coming stars who will put pressure on the current national regulars within the forthcoming season.

Gidman has made no secret of his desire to one day captain Gloucestershire, and his current achievements with the England A team should leave him in great shape by the time the domestic season begins in May. He could yet prove to be Mark Alleyne's key player as the head coach searches for a new star following last year's double departure of Ian Harvey and Jonty Rhodes.

The young all-rounder will certainly be in good company during the tour. Other names on board include Somerset pace bowler Simon Francis, Nottinghamshire batting star Kevin Pietersen as well as full internationals Jones and Smith.