A BOLTON cricketer has been called up by England for a tour of Australia in April.

Eagley batsman Tim Rees has been selected for the England under 17s side that will tour Down Under for two weeks, leaving on April 1.

It's the latest cricketing honour for Tim, a pupil at Canon Slade School.

Last year he played for England under 16s in the World Cricket Challenge which saw him feature in wins over India, West indies and Holland before the side was beaten in the final by Pakistan.

An early order batsman and medium pace bowler, Tim is heading for a successful career in the game.

As well as his international call-ups Tim is also a member of an elite Lancashire squad along with Bolton League players Andrew Kerr of Tonge and Danny Guest of Astley Bridge, who are embarking on an intensive coaching course designed to develop the county players of tomorrow, while he has also been helped by specialist cricketing firm Peak Sports.

It's a busy year for Tim who also faces GCSE examinations but he's prepared to take a break from his revision for a practical geography lesson on his two week week break in Australia. England call for Rees