Miles Hammond has taken a major step towards his dream of becoming a professional cricketer by being selected for the England Under 17 Development Programme (EDP).

The 16-year-old Cumnor all-rounder is now effectively among the top ten players of his age in England and will tour South Africa with his country.

“David Graveney called me up and said I had been selected,” said Hammond.

“I played some games against the current EDP team this summer and was then shortlisted.

“I had to impress the selectors from then up until now.”

Hammond, who attends St Edward’s School, Oxford, is part of Gloucestershire’s academy, batting in the middle order and bowling off-spin.

He will join up with the others in the EDP squad this weekend for an introductory session and will take part in winter training before touring South Africa in February.

Hammond added: “It was my goal from last winter to be selected because I got into the the 15-man squad for one match, but didn’t get called up after that.”

The all-rounder is the first Oxfordshire player to make an EDP squad since Dan Housego, who now plays for Gloucestershire, in 2004.