ENGLAND under 19s and Young Lions coach Andy Hurry has praised Worcestershire batsman Ollie Westbury after he won the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust Medal Of Achievement.

Westbury received the medal, awarded from among the players who had been granted scholarships during 2016 by the trust, at a dinner at Lord’s.

The £500 scholarship helped Westbury with the costs in commuting from Dudley to coaching and training sessions at Malvern College and New Road.

His England under 19 team-mate Amar Virdi won the Spin Bowling Medal Of Achievement.

Hurry said: “Ollie and Amar were newcomers to international under 19s cricket last year and both made significant contributions against Sri Lanka and gained a lot from the experience.

“They were both awarded contracts by their counties late in the summer. These awards from the trust are further deserved recognition of the progress they are making.”

Peter Such, the ECB’s lead spin-bowling coach, said: “The support provided by the trust has helped so many young players over the years.

“In terms of spinners, it allows us to have a network of specialist spin bowling coaches around the 18 first-class counties and MCC Universities.

“The trust also award scholarships direct to cricketers in need of financial assistance and Ollie is the latest of many young players to have benefited from that.”