ELLIOT Wilson believes several members of Worcestershire’s 2014-15 Academy intake will push to play second eleven cricket this summer.

Academy coach Wilson and batting coach-second team coach Kevin Sharp are keen for the cream of the Academy crop to play at that level sooner rather than later.

Slow left-arm spinner Ben Twohig, who has just returned from playing for the England Development Squad Under 17s against Pakistan Under 17s in Dubai, has already made several second eleven appearances.

Wilson said: “Kevin and I share a philosophy. If we feel we’ve got guys who are good enough in the Academy, we want to see them playing second team cricket sooner rather than later.

“We are in a great position now where we’ve got a group of guys who are going to push to play second team cricket.

“We would much rather see that happening rather than bring in triallist from outside.

“We’ve got a number of guys, Ben Twohig, Josh Dell, Nick Hammond, Ollie Westbury, a couple of fast bowlers in there in Josh Tongue and George Scrimshaw who, if their summers start strongly, they could very easily see themselves playing second team cricket.

“There are a couple of older guys who have been on the Academy for a while who will be chomping at the bit and will get some much deserved opportunity of second team cricket, the likes of Liam Smith and Ollie Westbury.

“I hope a number of guys get an opportunity during the summer but it is going to be competitive because there are a lot of good guys on the programme at the moment.

“In the next 24 months, we are going to be a very competitive group and we will see who ends up where.”

Worcestershire wicketkeeper Joe Clarke admits he would eager to return and play for another winter with South Perth CC.

Clarke finished top of South Perth’s batting averages and, in the Western Australian Cricket Asso - ciation first grade.

He said: “I’d love to go back to Australia. They way they play their cricket and the lifestyle is great.