Shreck startled by selection

Charlie Shreck

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Nottinghamshire seamer Charlie Shreck admitted to being shocked by his call-up to the England Lions squad for the tour of India.

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

Shreck has been spending the winter playing state and club cricket in New Zealand and was unaware of the Lions schedule before ECB performance director David Parsons told him of his selection.

Shreck 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.

“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.”

Shreck 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 47 victims.

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?”

Shreck will fly out with the Lions squad on January 23 to compete in the Duleep Trophy - India’s premier domestic competition - before resuming his winter spell with Wellington.