Notts seamer Charlie Shreck couldn’t conceal his surprise today after hearing he had been called up to tour India with England Lions.

The 6ft 7ins Cornishman was selected following the withdrawal of Worcestershire’s Kabir Ali through injury.

And Shreck, who has been spending the winter playing state and club cricket in New Zealand, admitted he wasn’t even aware of the Lions schedule when coach David Parsons gave him the news.

He said: “It was a surprise to get the call, to say the least. I hadn’t even been looking at the news to see when the Lions were touring, I was just concentrating on my cricket with Wellington.”

Shreck only began his county career in 2002 after being spotted playing club cricket in Cornwall, but has since taken 195 first-class wickets in 49 matches.

After recovering from a career-threatening back injury in 2004, he finished ninth in the first-class averages in 2006 with 61 wickets at an average of 24.78, and was Notts’ leading wicket-taker last season with another 47 victims.

Now he’ll be heading out to join his England Lions team-mates in India next week, and added: “Playing for England has always been a dream but not something I’ve taken too seriously.

“I’ve always aimed to perform for Notts first and foremost, but I’m now looking forward to the challenge of playing in India.”

The Lions will play in the first-class Duleep Trophy on a month-long tour and Shreck will then return to New Zealand to continue his winter spell with Wellington.

Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell said: “I’m delighted for Charlie, who’s been a consistent performer over the past two seasons.

“It gets him on the international ladder and gives him the chance to learn about bowling in different conditions.

“And given that he’ll have plenty of overs under his belt when England are touring New Zealand, who knows what might happen if there’s an injury or two?”

ENDS

For more information contact BowlesAssociates on 0115 982 1210.