Tom Lammonby with the man of the series award he won playing for England against India in 2017

EXETER and Devon all-rounder Tom Lammonby has been appointed captain of a 14-man England Under-19s squad for two Tests against South Africa at Scarborough and the Emirates Riverside next month.

Lammonby, who joined the Somerset Academy in 2015, was England’s man of the series in last summer’s home Royal London Under-19s series against India at the age of 17 – only to be ruled out of the ICC Under-19s World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year when he suffered a broken hand in practice.

Lammonby, who has just completed his A-levels at Exeter School, played for Devon on Sunday in the T20 double header against Wales at Instow.

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said he wasn’t surprised the England selectors had asked Lammonby to captain the team.

Tom Lammonby on Devon duty “Tom has done well when he has played for England U19s in the past,” said Donohue.

“He has a good cricket brain and I think he will do well in the leadership role.

“It was such a shame for Tom that he missed the Under-19 World Cup out in New Zealand earlier this year because of breaking his hand during net practice.

“Captaining England in the series against South Africa gives him another chance to shine.”

Jon Lewis, the England head coach, firmly believes Lammonby is the right man for the captaincy.

“Tom Lammonby was really unlucky to miss the World Cup, but my experience of him is that he’s got a good cricket brain, and I’m looking forward to seeing him captain the side,” said Lewis.

Lammonby’s cricket journey started out in the East Devon District squad, which led to selection for Devon U10s under the stewardship of Ted Ashmman.

Lammonby played up through the age-groups for Devon, touring South Africa with the Development squad in 2015. He was signed by Somerset after impressing at the Bunbury U15 Festival in 2015

Also in the England squad is Lammonby’s Exeter team-mate, quick bowler Ethan Bamber.

Bamber, who is attached to Middlesex, is a student at the University of Exeter and played the first five games of the season with Lammonby across the road at the County Ground.

England will announce a separate squad early in July for the three-match Royal London One-Day Series against South Africa that follows from July 23.

England Under-19s: Tom Lammonby (Somerset, captain), Ethan Bamber (Middlesex), Liam Banks (Warwickshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jack Davies (Middlesex), Adam Finch (Worcestershire), Alfie Gleadall (Derbyshire), Jack Haynes (Worcestershire), Luke Hollman (Middlesex), Jack Plom (Essex), Hamidullah Qadri (Derbyshire), Oli Robinson (Kent), Harrison Ward (Sussex), Greg Willows (Gloucestershire).

Fixtures: July 3-4 v Unicorns (Loughborough), July 8-11 – first “Youth Test” v South Africa Under-19s (Scarborough), July 16-19 – second “Youth Test” v South Africa Under-19s (Emirates Riverside).