Surrey's Stuart Meaker has declared himself "very proud" after learning that he had been selected for the England squad that is due to tour India next month.
The 22-year-old uncapped bowler has benefited from the selector's decision to rest James Anderson for the trip.
As news of his first ever call-up broke, Meaker revealed that he wasn't expecting his services to be required at this moment in time.
"It's a very proud day for me. This has been something I've been looking forward to since playing for Surrey as a young man," said Meaker.
"I wasn't expecting it so soon. It was definitely in my sights in the near future, it just happened to come sooner than I thought.
"I've been given a chance to show what I have got. I'll work very hard when I'm out there and hopefully they will see that hard work and it will give them confidence to potentially give me a game."
Although he has chosen to represent England, Meaker was born in Durban, South Africa.
