TWO promising Worcestershire youngsters, Ed Barnard and Joe Clarke, have signed contracts with the New Road club for the 2015 season.

Following recent news that Barnard and Clarke, both 17, have been selected to represent England Under 19s during the winter, the duo will both be on County summer scholarships during the 2014 season, before switching to full contracts the following year.

Barnard, who was also included in the England Under 19 squad in January, hit an unbeaten 114 in the first Test and took the winning catch to be named man-of-the-match, while fellow Shropshire wicketkeeper-batsman Clarke has scored over 600 runs for Wellington this season and he also recently made a century in an Under 17 international against Sri Lanka.

Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, said: "Both Ed and Joe have tremendous potential to make a big impact here at New Road. We can proudly say they are products of our academy system and are presently experiencing an England U19 batting camp in Sri Lanka.

“I am aware the England age group coaches also hold them both in high regard and they have bright futures ahead of them."

Worcestershire have also announced that wicketkeeper Ben Cox has signed a one year extension to his present contract until the end of the 2014 season.