Downpours contribute to Tim's England under-15 overlook

TIM RAVENSCROFT has been overlooked, some suggest criminally, for the England under-15 team. The 15-year-old Guernsey batting sensation turned out for the West of England side in last week's Bunbury Festival in Yorkshire, which features the nation's regional representative outfits. The England selectors then pick their squad from the players on show.

On the first day Ravenscroft hit 10 not out in his side's win over the South before getting a duck against the Midlands the next day. Then the rain came down to put paid to any more action for the West and deny Ravenscroft the chance to shine.

However, this really should not have meant the end to his chances as the Elizabeth College student was widely expected to walk into the national team. So there was genuine shock when he was omitted from the England squad announced on the second to last day of the tournament.

He is the West's leading run scorer, averaging in the 30s in the ECB Premier One for Hampshire Academy and has played for the Hampshire second XI this season.

He has also been identified as one of the most exciting under-17 batting prospects in the UK and on Monday at Loughborough University batted for more than hour in the middle against the cream of England's top under-17 pacemen and spinners for the ECB's elite batting academy.

'It's disappointing for Tim having worked so hard for the last three years,' said Guernsey Cricket Board development coach Jason Shambrook.

'I think it's something that he needs to take on the chin and work towards the under-17s. We're all very disappointed that he hasn't made it having been one of the best batsman in the country for the last three years.'