TWO of Essex’s most exiting cricketers have been selected for England duty in the off-season as part of the International Pathway programme.

Tom Westley and Aaron Beard will represent the England Lions and the Young Lions respectively this winter, while Dan Lawrence will be sent on an overseas placement to Perth.

Westley will join the 18-man squad on a Lions training camp in Dubai in November and December, led by Andy Flower, including three 50-over matches against the United Arab Emirates at the ICC Academy and a three-day match against Afghanistan.

Beard and the Young Lions will join the full team in December, and will be looking to secure his place in the England Under-19s tour of India in the New Year.

Meanwhile Lawrence will spend a period in Australia, with the emphasis on developing independence as well as cricketing skills as he works alongside some of the game’s biggest names.

Former professional Andy Flower will lead the Lions tour and he said it was a real opportunity for the players.

"This squad is for the first half of our Lions programme this winter,” he said.

"Firstly to build on some of the leadership work we did at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst last winter, which leads into a short camp at Loughborough, before we head out to Dubai later in November.

“We are taking 18 players because whereas last winter, and in our Tri-Series this summer, our focus was specifically on white-ball cricket, this year we will be working on both white-ball and red-ball skills.

"Developing skill will remain the highest priority of our work, with a range of specialist coaches to work with the players in the excellent facilities at the ICC Academy, and initially the opportunity to do that away from the different demands of competition.

"However towards the end of the camp we will play as England Lions in white-ball and red-ball fixtures, and an England Lions squad will then be selected later in December for a tour of Sri Lanka in February and March which will again involve white-ball and red-ball fixtures.”

The International Pathway scheme provides a bridge to the England men’s team, with four different programmes in all for the stars of tomorrow.

Westley has long been linked with an England call-up, while Lawrence excelled for his country at last year’s Under-19 World Cup.

Beard also turned out for the age group last month against Sri Lanka and said it was a great feeling to be selected.

“That is the sort of step-up I want to make,” he said.

“Dan was in the Under-19s last year and look at what he’s done this year. He’s had a great season, hitting nearly 1,000 runs in the Championship and playing all formats, which is something I’d like to do in the future.

“I’ve just got to wait until I get my chance like Dan and take it like him.”