England under-19 star Alex Davies made his debut in 2012, but has emerged as a Lancashire first team regular in 2015, with first-choice glovesman Jos Buttler now behind the stumps for the national side.

MCC Young Cricketers mentor and former England international Mark Alleyne says Ashton spinner Mohammad Abid is in the right place to develop as he looks to hone his skills and make his way to the professional game.

Former under-19 Lancashire representative Matt White, who currently plays for Loughborough MCCU and toured Abu Dhabi recently as part of the combined MCC Universities side, hopes to copy former England captain Andrew Strauss’ successful balancing of playing and studying simultaneously.

The MCC Young Cricketers rounded off a tour of Abu Dhabi with a 50-over outing against Sussex at the 20,000-capacity Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Mo Abid taking the crucial wicket of Michael Yardy in a memorable two-run win.

This April marked the first time the women’s squad have joined their male counterparts at the pre-season media day at the club’s Old Trafford ground.

Back in 2013 former England captain Mike Gatting rolled his sleeves up and got stuck into voluntary work at Heywood Cricket Club, and the ECB Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships hopes they get stuck in again this time around too.

Aged just 21, Thomas Wilson is a relative newcomer to the Three Lions environment having first joined up with the squad towards the end of last year after impressing in his debut season with Lancashire, which caught the eye of coach Derek Morgan.

Wilson has been announced as part of a 15-man squad that will travel out to Melbourne for four one-day internationals and two T20 matches against Australia, with the first match taking place on March 14.

Cricket Australia announced that Hughes had passed away on Thursday afternoon in Sydney, the country’s captain Michael Clarke reading out a statement from Hughes’ family.

Lancashire cricket director Mike Watkinson has left his post following the county’s relegation to Division Two – as the club prepare to announce Ashley Giles as his replacement.

Lancashire’s survival hopes still hang in the balance after a defiant 45 not out from captain Glen Chapple saved them from relegation early on day three.