YOUNG Minehead cricketer Jordan Baker, 16, has been selected for the Kings College/Somerset Under 18s cricket tour to Sri Lanka in March and April.

The 16-year-old left-hand batsman is the only player from West Somerset in the touring party, which sets off on March 23 and returns on April 3 after visiting Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo and the southern city of Galle.

The tour involves six matches against some of the country’s best school sides and will include games at the test match venues of the 70,000 seater Premadasa stadium in Colombo and Galles Fort Oval.

“I’m so honoured to have been selected to tour such a special place and Sri Lanka has a special influence for me as my father has visited there three times and made many friends playing cricket himself there.

“To play on two test match grounds where legends of world cricket have played is just unbelievable.

“I just hope I can cope with the searing heat and do myself justice by scoring some runs.”

Minehead Cricket Club chairman Dick Strong said: “We are so pleased for Jordan that he has achieved this fantastic feat and we have asked him to come back to the club when he returns to give a talk on his experiences and stories and tell us how he gets on.

“This shows how well our club’s youth section is doing turning players out of Jordan’s calibre.”

Jordan needs to raise some sponsorship towards the trip and anyone interested in making a donations can make contact on 07775 915740 or 07523 377932.