Cricket: Loudon takes charge

ALEX LOUDON, the Kent batsman, has been appointed captain of the 14-man England Under-19 winter tour party to travel to Malaysia and for the World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka.

England, the Under-19 world champions, have named seven newcomers - Loudon, Justin Bishop, Tim Murtagh, Ian Pattison, Tim Phillips, John Sadler and Nick Warren. The team coach, Tim Boon, said: "This is a young squad but one we believe is more than capable of winning the World Youth Cup."

England will leave London on 27 December for Malaysia, where they are due to play three one-day warm-up matches before arriving in Sri Lanka on 7 January.

The West Indies beat India by 70 runs in the second one-day game of their three-match Toronto Festival series due to aggressive bowling and atrocious Indian batting.

The West indies, who suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the opening match, scored a modest 190 for 6, but India were all out for 120. The final match takes place today.

ENGLAND UNDER-19 WINTER TOUR PARTY (to Malaysia and World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka): A Loudon (Kent, capt), I Bell (Warwickshire), G Bridge (Durham), J Bishop (Essex), M Carberry (Surrey), D Harrison (Glamorgan), J Maunders (Middlesex), T Murtagh (Surrey), I Pattison (Durham), T Phillips (Essex), G Pratt (Durham), J Sadler (Yorkshire), M Wallace (Glamorgan, wkt), N Warren (Warwickshire).