England A gather for pre-tour camp at Windermere

England's hottest young cricketing prospects gather in the Lake District this week for a training camp in preparation for the forthcoming England 'A' tour of the West Indies.

For the first time, England 'A' will compete in the Caribbean domestic competition the Busta Cricket Series, which starts on January 5th with a first round match against West Indies 'B' in Grenada.

They will play another six rounds against Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Windward and Leeward Islands before the semi-final and final take place in March.

The final details of the itinerary have yet to be announced but England 'A' have already started their pre-tour practice with a week long camp on the shores of Lake Windermere where they will undertake a programme of different physical and cognitive exercises to promote fitness and a strong team spirit.

Led by manager James Whittaker, the Leicestershire general manager and Sussex coach Peter Moores, the side is without skipper Mark Alleyne who has had a family bereavement.

Also missing is Alex Tudor who was flown out to Pakistan earlier this month to join the senior squad as cover for Andrew Flintoff and Dominic Cork. The Surrey fast bowler will fly to the Caribbean with the A-side on December 28th, just two weeks after arriving back from Pakistan and he will stay on the tour until selectors know more about the injuries to senior bowlers who are headed for Sri Lanka. If injuries continue to be a problem, he may be called up as cover.

Selectors are still waiting for fitness reports on England A pacemen Steve Harmison (Durham), who has sore shins, Chris Silverwood (Yorkshire) and Ryan Sidebottom (Yorkshire) who are both recovering from hernias.

Those fitness reports are due next week but Jonathan Lewis of Gloucestershire has been put on standby along with Sussex' James Kirtley, Leicestershire's Jimmy Ormond and Richard Johnson, the Middlesex player who recently signed for Somerset.

England 'A' squad: Mark Alleyne (capt, Gloucestershire); Usman Afzaal (Nottinghamshire); Jason Brown (Northamptonshire); John Crawley (Lancashire); James Foster (Essex); Paul Franks (Nottinghamshire); Aftab Habib (Leicestershire); Stephen Harmison (Durham); Chris Read (Nottinghamshier); David Sales (Northamptonshire); Chris Schofield (Lancashire); Christopher Silverwood (Yorkshire); Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire); Alex Tudor (Surrey); Ryan Sidebotton (Yorkshire); Ian Ward (Surrey).

Tour Manager: James Whittaker Coach: Peter Moores Physiotherapist: Ann Brentnall Fitness Consultant: Richard Smith