Cricket: Worcestershire trio supported by Brian Johnston Memorial Trust

Zain Ul-Hassan, Riecko Parker-Cole and Mitchell Stanley are to receive £600 scholarships after successful County applications.

Josh Dell, Zen Malik, Dillon Pennington and Alex Milton got similar scholarships 12 months ago after Ollie Westbury, Ryan Wheldon and Emily Arlott in 2016.

The trio will be helped with travelling costs to attend coaching sessions and matches at Blackfinch New Road and Malvern College.

Stanley hails from Telford and Parker-Cole from Mansfield while Ul-Hassan is closer in Stourbridge.

County academy coach Elliot Wilson said: “Once again we thank the trust for its support for Zain, Reicko and Mitchell after confirming our applications on their behalf have been accepted.

“It is much appreciated as in previous years and is an invaluable assistance to the players involved.

“Mitchell has been around our environment for most of last year. He joined us this winter and was so impressive that we added him to the full academy in January.

“He has done fantastically but lives in Telford and although we don’t ask him to come down to us for sessions too much he has gone above and beyond that and come down two or three times a week.

“He has made such a positive impression and I just feel with the amount of miles he does any support he can get financially is welcome.

“Riecko is a left-arm seamer who played in the seconds at Taunton Vale. He also took seven wickets last month for Worksop College on the Saturday and for Radcliffe on the Sunday in the National Knockout.

“He has travelled down every week this winter from Mansfield. There have been no complaints and he has got on and done his work and not asked for anything.

“Just to help people like him with a few pounds to cover expenses is great.

"Zain has been so independent since the age of 13. He is well supported by mum, dad and his brothers but anything to make his life a bit easier we will get our rewards from that in the future.”