Harmison junior called up for World Cup

Ben Harmison, the younger brother of England's fast bowler Steve, has been called up for the Under-19 World Cup.

Harmison, 17, is a left-hand batsman and a medium-pace bowler, and will leave for Bangladesh on Tuesday after his Durham Academy team-mate Mark Turner was forced to fly home with an ankle injury. He will be flying out to Dhaka, where his elder brother took nine wickets and the Man of the Match award in England's first Test last October, before travelling down to Chittagong to link up with the squad.

"[Steve] hasn't said too much apart from that it's going to be hard work because it's hot." Ben told BBC Sport. "I'm really excited about playing for England, but it's disappointing how it's happened with Mark getting injured. I haven't been abroad playing cricket so it's going to be a good experience."

Harmison has spent much of the winter in the nets with Geoff Cook, Durham's director of cricket and a former England left-arm spinner. "The pitches are a lot slower and spin a lot more," said Harmison, "so hopefully what I've done over the winter will stand me in good stead."