Australian Cricket Academy team to tour India and Sri Lanka

SYDNEY, Thursday (AFP) - The next generation of Australia's elite cricketers will leave this week on a three-week tour of India and Sri Lanka to give them experience playing in sub-continent conditions.

The 14 tour members have just completed a 13-week training program and the tour marks the final stage of the academy scholarship program as they continue their development into senior ranks.

Academy head coach Tim Nielsen said the trip was a great opportunity for the scholars to experience match conditions in the sub-continent.

"International cricketers need to be prepared to play in all sorts of climates and conditions, and this tour will help give the scholars a taste of touring life," Nielsen said in a Cricket Australia statement Thursday.

"The scholars have been put through some rigorous training and match simulations during their time at the centre of excellence and were certainly looking forward to the trip to broaden their cricketing knowledge and experience."

Academy tour squad - Dane Anderson (Tasmania), Aiden Blizzard (Victoria), Liam Davis (Western Australia), David Dawson (Tasmania), Stewart Heaney (Australian Capital Territory), Clint Heron (Western Australia - captain), Mitchell Johnson (Queensland), Trent Kelly (South Australia), Clint McKay (Victoria), Peter Nevill (Victoria), Nathan Reardon (Queensland), Carl Sandri (Victoria), Michael Shaw (Australian Capital Territory), Ken Skewes (South Australia).