WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Josh Tongue’s memorable first year of senior cricket has reached new heights with a call-up into the England Lions squad for a training camp in Australia during November and December alongside club-mate Joe Clarke.

The 19-year-old played a major role in the County Championship Division Two promotion campaign with 47 wickets.

Redditch-born Tongue played all 14 games — a notable feat after his previous back problems.

He was initially picked to be part of the ECB Pace Programme but now the academy product has been chosen as a replacement in the Lions squad for injured Essex paceman Jamie Porter.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “Talk about wonderful opportunites. Josh will be bowling against the England Test boys (out in Australia for the Ashes) in practice.

“That is a marvellous opportunity for him to impress them. He has had a wonderful season in his first year.

“For a 19-year-old lad to get picked in that is unbelievable and testament to him and his skills as a bowler.”

Tongue said: “I wasn’t expecting to play as many games as I have this season and getting promoted is a massive achievement for me as well.

“It is one of the things I wanted to do in my career as well - to win a Championship. When I started out as a young lad, you want to play and win things.

“I was on the pace bowling programme but now being selected for the Lions this winter I can’t wait to start that. It’s an amazing feeling.

“Andy Flower rang me and said they had an injury in the Lions squad and wanted to choose me as a replacement.

“A lot of the squad play in Division One and it will be good to talk to some of the other bowlers who have been playing Championship cricket for two or three years and pick their brains.

“Have I got ambitions to play for England one day? That has been my goal ever since I was really young.

“The Lions is one further step on the pathway towards that but I know there is a lot of hard work to be done and much to learn.”

National selector James Whitaker said: “He is another exciting, young fast bowler who made a major contribution to Worcestershire’s promotion campaign and we believe he will benefit from the chance to work with the Lions and to spend some time in Australia in an Ashes winter.”