By Charles Randall

24 December 2011

North Devon CC is best known as the Instow base of international umpire David Shepherd, a Devon boy through and through, who enjoyed a long playing career with Gloucestershire, but the Overton twins provide the current focus.

Craig Overton has a chance to follow his twin Jamie into the England Under-19 side after both 17 year-olds were named in the party to tour Bangladesh in January. This puts them in consideration for the junior world cup in Australia next August.

The Overton boys, members of the Somerset Academy, helped North Devon win the Devon Cricket League last summer and they played in the Devon team who became minor counties champions, an impressive double.

Jamie Overton took the new ball for England Under-19 against South Africa last summer. All-rounder Craig did not progress beyond the fringes, but that could change in Bangladesh. If the boys progress into the Somerset side, they will follow the path taken by twins Keith and Kevin Parsons, who represented the county together in the mid-1990s. The Overtons made their senior North Devon debut in the league at the age of 13.

North Devon flourished during the 2011 season, though they were hit by the death of former player and umpire Bill Shepherd. He was the elder brother of David, who died in 2009 as the club's most renowned member.

Kishen Velani, of Wanstead CC and Essex 2nd XI, is another youthful batsman with a big reputation travelling to Bangladesh, along with Essex batting colleague Ben Foakes, who joined Colchester & East Essex CC from Clacton-on-Sea CC this year. England will be captained by Kent all-rounder Adam Ball, of Bexley CC.

England Under-19s are due to depart on January 12 for a seven-match series of one-day internationals against Bangladesh, with the first match scheduled for January 20 in Chittagong. England have a very poor record there at this level.

England Under-19 Squad (to tour Bangladesh)

Adam Ball (captain) (Kent)

Muhammad Abid (Lancashire)

Shozair Ali (Warwickshire)

Daniel Bell Drummond (Kent)

Ben Foakes (Essex)

Gavin Griffiths (Lancashire)

Brett Hutton (Nottinghamshire)

Aneesh Kapil (Worcestershire)

Sam Kelsall (Nottinghamshire)

Jack Leaning (Yorkshire)

Craig Overton (Somerset)

Jamie Overton (Somerset)

Rammy Singh (Durham)

Kishen Velani (Essex)

Sam Wood (Nottinghamshire)