WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes is to take over as head coach of England Young Lions on an interim basis until the end of the ICC Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand early in 2018.

Rhodes, boss of the County since 2006, has been seconded to take the reins from Andy Hurry following his appointment as director of cricket at Somerset.

He has previously worked with England Lions and also the senior England set-up.

Rhodes said: “It is an honour to be asked to work for your country at any level and I’m really excited about this chance to work with the Young Lions this winter.

“I really enjoyed my time with the Lions in Dubai and learned a lot from working in an international environment which I’ve been able to take back to Worcester for the last couple of seasons.

“I’m grateful to everyone at Worcestershire for allowing me to take this opportunity and I’m lucky to have such high-quality staff who will relish the extra responsibility with me being away.

“My commitments with the Young Lions will end in early February at the end of the Under-19s World Cup which means I’ll be back in plenty of time to prepare for the 2018 season so it fits in well.

"I’m looking forward to the challenge of working with a new group of talented young players at international level.”

Rhodes will join the Young Lions for the first time at their warm-weather training camp at the Desert Springs Resort in southern Spain from November 11 where he will work alongside Hurry.