NEW Worcestershire second XI coach Alex Gidman has named a 12-strong squad for the three-day friendly against Somerset at Taunton Vale beginning on Wednesday.

Opening batsman and England under 19 player Ollie Westbury will captain the seconds against county opposition for the first time.

Westbury had previously skippered the seconds last summer in Bromsgrove’s 175th anniversary match.

George Rhodes, Ben Twohig and Charlie Morris also skippered the seconds at various times during 2017.

All-rounder Ross Whiteley will make his first appearance in County colours since returning from Pakistan Super League action.

Paceman Dillon Pennington will also taste action for the first time since impressing for England in the ICC Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Staffordshire wicketkeeper-batsman Ross Coates will be behind the stumps.

He is the brother of Alex Coates who has played for Worcestershire academy.

Left-arm paceman Riecko Parker Cole, who was added to the 2017-2018 academy intake in February, is also part of the 12.

He had previously played for Nottinghamshire academy and is completing his A levels at Worksop College.

Gidman, who joined the coaching staff early last month, will hope for a change of luck with the weather as the two-day game against The Academy and a one-day match with Shropshire were both abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Worcestershire (from): Westbury, Wiffen, Dell, Whiteley, Malik, Twohig, Ul-Hassan, Coates, Morris, Pennington, Brown, Parker-Cole.