JIMMY Anderson and Andy Flintoff aren't the only Lancashire players about to board a plane to tour with England.
For sixteen-year-old Bury schoolboy John Simpson has been selected in the England under-16 squad to tour South Africa in February.
The wicket-keeper batsman impressed playing for the England under-15 side last summer and is ready to don the gloves in the more exotic climes of Cape Town.
The England side will play three games against their Western Province counterparts under the guidance of coaches David Parsons and ex-West Indies star Otis Gibson.
John plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club's academy side and also turns out for Haslingden in the Lancashire League.
He belies his age to play in the Haslingden first team and his highest score last season came against Ramsbottom when he hit 62 coming in at his usual number seven position.
A pupil at St Gabriels, John also plays for the town team and a promising future lies in store.
And, what better way to start an important cricketing year than an England tour to South Africa in the last two weeks of February?
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