ED Barnard says Worcestershire team-mate Ollie Westbury will reap the benefits of his record-breaking Test debut for England under 19s against Sri Lanka at Fenners.

Westbury's 196 was the highest score by a County player for the nation in the age group.

Barnard hit 114 in Cape Town in 2013 for England under 19s and has established himself in the first team at New Road.

He “sees no reason” why his close friend Westbury cannot follow in his footsteps.

Barnard said: “Ollie has worked really hard over the past couple of years at his game.

"I’ve played with him for a few years now, both at school and at Shrewsbury Cricket Club, and he has always scored runs.

“He is a player who just loves batting. He just wants to spend time at the crease and, maybe in young players, you don’t get that as much anymore.

“Lots of kids want to play T20 cricket but Ollie is a proper old-fashioned player who leaves the ball well and just wants to bat for as long as he can.

“He’s scored a few hundreds for the seconds now. That would have given him confidence but to go and do it for your country and get that recognition would have given him that platform to go on even further from that.”

Barnard said of his first under 19s century: “It was a big deal. It just puts you out there a bit more. There is a lot more hype around it compared to seconds cricket.

“If you can do well on that stage, it is good for you and gives you confidence to go back (to your county) and keep scoring runs.

“Is Westbury capable of making the next step? I think so. From what I’ve seen this season, he has scored runs wherever he has played so I see no reason why he can’t.”

Barnard, part of the under 19s side who reached the 2014 World Cup semi-finals along with Joe Clarke, believes playing under 19s cricket is important to a player's development.

He said: “It can be important — the chance to play in different conditions against players from around the world.

“It gives you that extra experience. But there are a lot of players that have made it who haven’t played for the under 19s.”