PICKING the brains of a former England coach and sharing a flat with a Yorkshire first-team player will hopefully stand George Hill in good stead in his development.

Keighley-born Hill hopes to be a globetrotter during the winter months after being named in the England Under-19s squad for a Tri Series in the Caribbean. A 16-strong squad has been selected for England u19’s tour in November and December, where the Young Lions will play in a 50-over competition against West Indies U19 and Sri Lanka U19.

The 18-year-old is then targeting a place in England's squad for next year's World Cup in South Africa. The 16-team, 50-over format, which will also include Nigeria and Canada, will be held in January and February.

This has followed a successful 2019 summer season for Hill which has seen him continue his progress both internationally and in Yorkshire's academy and second string sides.

It was his experience at the start of the summer in England's home Tri Series against India and Bangladesh where the youngster got to learn from Andy Flower, who has just stood down from the England and Wales Cricket Board after 12 years.

Their paths crossed during Flower's spell as England Lions coach, but Hill also tapped into his knowledge as England first team head coach between 2009 and 2014, where they won three Ashes series and the 2010 World Twenty20 during his tenure.

Hill penned his first professional contract with Yorkshire in June and has played for the Yorkshire Academy side for the last two years. He also made his second-team debut in 2017.

Right-handed batsman Hill, who was named as Yorkshire's academy player of the year last month, said: "We definitely improved as a side as the series went on.

"I played for the Yorkshire seconds, but that didn't go as well as I would have liked.

"It was great to be around Andy Flower and I picked his brains a bit. He was an unbelievable player."

Besides Flower, Hill has also looked up to fellow Keighley-born player Harry Brook, 20, who has made the grade for the first team.

Hill added: "I moved away from Keighley a couple of years ago and moved to Cumbria. I have got a flat with Harry Brook in Guiseley. It's fun. I went to school with him. It's a relaxed relationship we have. We don't tend to talk about cricket.

"Seeing how Harry has progressed gives me lots of confidence that I can do it too.

"I started playing cricket from an early age."

Closer to home, the former Sedbergh School student was named as club captain before the start of the last school year.

Hill has gone on to represent the England Young Lions on tour in Bangladesh earlier this year. He also joined a winter training camp that travelled out to India in December last year.

He also paid tribute for his continued development to Sedbergh School's head of cricket, Martin Speight, who has coached him from the age of 12.

But Hill is looking forward and and is targeting a fruitful winter and then moving up the ranks with Yorkshire.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to getting out to the Caribbean. I have never been to the Caribbean.

"Hopefully I can show some form out there to get into the England Under-19s squad for the World Cup after Christmas. Hopefully I will get picked.

"Hopefully I will get into the Yorkshire second team next year. I definitely want to stay with Yorkshire."

"I will hopefully get more opportunities for the Yorkshire first team in the 50 overs stuff. I want to do well for the second team. The Hundred competition might open things up for me in the 50-over game."

Speaking when Hill signed his deal in June, Martin Moxon, Yorkshire's director of cricket, said: “George Hill has signed his first professional contract.

"George has finished his exams now at Sedbergh School and we’re really excited about him because he’s shown tremendous potential both for England u19s and for us when he’s played."