Cricket: Dent in England World Cup squad (From Gazette Series)

Gloucestershire's Chris Dent and David Payne in England under-19s World Cup squad

9:24am Thursday 3rd December 2009 in Sport

CHRIS DENT has capped an incredible year by being named in England’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in January.

The Thornbury cricket club youngster has recently returned from his first tour with the national side in Bangladesh and can now look forward to being part of a prestigious tournament, along with his Gloucestershire team-mate David Payne.

The 18-year-old batsman was England’s highest run scorer over both innings in their only test match against Bangladesh, which they narrowly lost, and he also played in four games of the seven one-day day internationals.

Dent has enjoyed a fine year, in which he broke onto the county cricket scene for the first time after coming through the academy.

Along with pace bowler Payne, Dent was awarded with a two-year contract by Gloucestershire in the summer and he also made his debut in the final game of the season at Nottinghamshire’s Trent Bridge ground in the Pro40 competition.

Dent won the Acadamy Player of the Year award at the county’s end of season presentation night.

The World Cup takes place between January 15 and 30, and England have been drawn in a group with the holders India, along with Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

Before the World Cup gets underway England will play two warm-up matches against Papua New Guinea on January 11 and New Zealand the following day, both of which will take place in Christchurch.

Payne said: “It’s something I have been working towards and I was quietly confident of being picked after the Bangladesh trip.

“It means being away from the other Gloucestershire players for a lot of the winter because there are various things organised for before the trip as part of our preparation.

“But it should be a fantastic experience and the club are right behind Chris and I when it comes to playing for England.”